Camden New Journal - Theatre: Perfect Pitch

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The Review - THEATRE by SIMON WROE
Published: 18th October 2007

It’s like X Factor, but with real X

PERFECT PITCH
Upstairs At The Gatehouse

THE X Factor gambit of unearthing “talent” by plonking a microphone in front of any lummox with an ego and a set of lungs has, as we all know, been an incalculable source of entertainment without any entertainers to show for it.
Those less concerned with the fickle trappings of fame and more concerned with the performing arts might well be found at one of the Gatehouse Theatre’s Perfect Pitch nights – a fortnight-long season of programmes showcasing new musical talent.
A sneak peek taster night on Tuesday revealed strong contenders in the form of Guilt by Douglas Irving and 80s-tinged family musical Tickledom, both numbers from each production delivered with admirable chutzpah.
Laura Main had the eyes of every straight male in the audience (both of us) agog with her red dress sex bomb number, part of musical black comedy All I Want For Christmas.
Two cleverly arranged songs about office life from Slow Motion Suicide by Andrew Taylor and Desmond O’Connor had the ring of quality to them. Meanwhile, The Boys in the Front Room plays fast and loose with the life story of Joe Orton and his murderous lover Kenneth Halliwell.
The tragic tale brims with dramatic potential, although a preview song found the morose, scruffy playwright Orton played by an immaculately groomed Tom Cruise lookalike, about as likely to deface library books as Joe Orton was to get a spray tan. On that one, the jury is out.
Macbitch, a high-school musical version of the Scottish play replete with slags, bloggers and Goths, was belted out promisingly, even if some of the sixth formers looked like they had mortgages.
But then that’s not necessarily a criticism. Suspension of disbelief and a tongue firmly in cheek are the rock and comfort of the musical form.
It might not all be of the same high calibre but the talent, unlike its high-trousered ITV rival, easily outweighs the dross.

• See www.perfectpitchmusicals.com for details of each performance
Until October 28
020 8340 3488

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