Pollen:The Musical is Ian Carfrae's brainchild and it was a pleasure to be there at its birth tonight (October 20). I could never imagine that the Algarveans would be up to successfully performing another musical (Honk being the first), but tonight proved just how wrong I could be.
Set in an English country garden populated by animated flowers, the storyline is simple; wanton killing of nature by greed is overcome by the power of good.
Ian's professional career as a musician shines throughout the musical numbers that had us all tapping our feet and feeling every emotion possible. The alchemy of his partnership with director Chris Winstanley resulted in a show that was a worthy golden choice for the Algarveans' 25th anniversary production with five months in rehearsal and the smooth, professional product we saw on stage reflected that.
Ray Dillon, newcomer to the group, played Ben the gardener with accomplishment, an excellent pairing with Melanie's Mother Nature. The star amongst the flowers was Rose, the youngest of the talented Costa dynasty, and her Streisand-like song of the same title. Enthusiastic young Jack Craddock as the punning Spike-the-Thistle shone, whilst Lara Costa as the redolent Compost stole the show. Lara has that rare talent of capturing ones full attention on stage even when appearing to do nothing. A surprise was Steve you'll-never-get-me-on-the-stage Dackombe. His sleazy estate agent talk and his auctioneer's song had everyone seated around me doubled up laughing.
There were other little touches that I will treasure - little Eva's wavering hand as she put her all into her trumpet blowing, the dead Violet being maneuvered into the potting shed by a perspiring Ben, Compast nearly eaten up by the automatic trap of the mulching box and the temperamental door to the house.
Accolades go to Karen Carfrae for her patient coaching of unlikely singers which produced amazing results, to Karen Barroso for her painstaking choreography of the lively and watchable dance numbers, Chris for his meticulous directing and Dick Pursell for the wonderful set. And now Ian, how about a sequel?
Text David Butler-Cole | Images Zahra O'Shea
