Renascence by WAAPA

Luke Barker (as Editor) and Sarah Watson (as Vincent)
Photo Credit:  Stephen Heath

On a cold and blustery Friday night my partner and I made our way through the uncharacteristically quiet Perth city streets to the State Theatre Centre of WA. Despite the inclement weather, we were not alone as parents, grandparents, family, friends and musical theatre lovers had made their way downstairs to the Studio Underground to watch the award winning musical Renascence, performed by WAAPA’s third year Music Theatre students.

I didn’t know anything about the play, but having been to a couple of other WAAPA productions at the State Theatre Centre, I knew I was in for a professional performance. And what a performance it was, with six of WAAPA’s finest owning the Studio Underground stage for the full two hour show (Luke Barker (as Editor), Hamish Stewart (as Father), Harry Ortuso (as Kathleen), Alice Williams (as Mother), Tabitha Kerlin (as Norma), and Sarah Watson (as Vincent))

Renascence, as it turns out, is a musical based on the early life and achievements of American Pulitzer Prize winning poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, who was born in 1892 and died in 1950. Millay’s poem Renascence, written at just 19, catapulted into fame and fortune, and the first two acts of the musical look at her family life before fame, and then her coming of age and ups and downs of her celebrity lifestyle. The third act of the play brings the title poem to life on stage, with the full 200 line poem being performed in song in a triumphant and uplifting finale.

And while all that may sound a bit dusty and dry to the average person, the cast and crew of Renascence, accompanied by the music of WAAPA alumni Carmel Dean, breathes new life into the story of Millay – no doubt she would approve! The six performers on stage all do a wonderful job, both with their acting and singing prowess. While each get their individual chance to shine, some of the group harmonies brought out my goosebumps – awesome! Props too to their accompanying musicians, also performing live on stage with the cast – an unusual arrangement but one that worked well.

I must also give a quick shout-out to the set designers, who managed to pull off some absolutely breathtaking effects on what must surely be a tight budget.

After two hours of song, dance and performance, the cast and crew received a well-deserved standing ovation by much of the appreciative audience. WAAPA has once again pulled off a wonderfully professional production, and my partner and I look forward to the entry of another talented group of graduates into the Australian theatre scene, no doubt we will be watching them on stage again soon!

Renascence by WAAPA is on at the State Theatre Centre of WA until the 1st April.

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