Michael McStay’s Leopardskin is a quirky, silly, farce-like romp around the Kings Cross Theatre, with a capable cast and crew.
Luka and Val are small-time crims looking for their next big break. Luckily for them, an Italian billionaire and philanthropist is in town, looking to bequeath his glorious antique clock unto someone deserving. Plotting together, and against each other, they formulate a plan to grab the clock with both hands.
Director Samantha Young helms an energetic and dynamic cast, resulting in a wild carnival ride of a show. Without much of a storyline to be seen, Young keeps a tight hold on the action that could easily spiral out of control without a linear plot.
The cast play up to the farce, eliciting many laughs from the audience. Some handle the style better than others. As the profiterole-obsessed Italian mogul Giuseppe Monterverdi, Travis Jeffrey is a delight. He is maddeningly funny without being ludicrous, and manages to find nuance and truth. As Val, Zoe Jensen is incredibly watchable and extremely fun. Nick Gell and Emma Kew both display a great understanding of the style with their multiple characters, all highly amusing in their own way.
It would be remiss of the creative team to skimp on leopard skin costumes, and they haven’t disappointed. Plenty is on display.
McStay’s script is witty and fast-paced, and needs performers who are light of tongue. For the most part the ensemble charge their way through with aplomb, but on opening night there were a few moments that jolted when the ball was dropped.
Leopardskin is a funny, witty show with mistaken identities, love triangles, painfully incapable police and the sneaky robbers they’re trying to catch. Go for a laugh.
Playing at the Kings Cross Theatre until 6 April.
photos by Clare Hawley
Alana Kaye, Theatre Now Sydney
Leopardskin
Michael McStay
26 Mar – 6 Apr 2019
Tue – Sat 7:30pm
Sun 5pm
Venue: King Cross Theatre
Theatre Company: Jackrabbit Theatre
Duration: N/A
Leopardskin, the latest work from Michael McStay
When two young con-artists, hopelessly in love, crash a party being thrown by an eccentric Italian billionaire, they must contend with the local police, an aspiring politician, greedy charities, and their own hearts.
