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Review: 35mm: A Musical Exhibition - Passion Productions & Allentertainment


Written by Jake Goodall

Pictures tell 1,000 stories, and in Passion Production's newest revival, 35mm: A Musical Exhibition, does just that, through energetic ensemble numbers and heart-wrenching ballads. Housed within the beautiful Pip Theatre, this production is set to wow audiences left right, and centre. 

In 35mm, each photo creates a unique song, moments frozen in time; a glimmer of a life unfolding, a glimpse of something happening. This intricately woven collection of stories told through song re-imagines what the modern musical can be. 

Directed by Harrison Allen, the interpretation of the different songs were inspiring and quite different from the usual. For example the changing to a Female Gay 'Seraph' rather than Male was a delightful change that, whilst keeping the meaning of the song, provided us with a different perspective. Additionally the use of a wedding in 'Hemming & Hawing' was jaw dropping and heart wrenching again providing an unusual but delightful new perspective. Occasionally it did feel as if there could have been more done with the blocking of the piece, especially during numbers such as 'Good Lady' & 'Cut You A Piece,' however this could be due to the limited space Allen had to work with. 

Musical Direction by Seán Fagan was impeccable, the intertwining harmonies were tight and its clear Fagan has worked with this ensemble to whip their vocal into shape. This reviewer has been lucky enough to be in a production of 35mm, so they know how extremely difficult the score is. The cast and band should be extremely highly commended on taking on such a challenging production musically. 

Costume & Set Design by Laurent Milton & Renee Milton was amicable, this duo created such a simple and plain aesthetic to the production that just worked. The use of photographs strewn up across the space created a photographic 'Red Room' vibe, perfect for the production. Additionally the use of 2 vertical scrims to project each photo on was a visual feast again helping to portray each song and it's interpretation. The Costuming was also simple and effective, all the cast wore blacks and then added costume or prop pieces to each song to help portray the meaning behind each tableau. Sound By William Toft was commendable, at the beginning of the production there were a few mixing issues with the band, however as the production continued this faded out to create a fantastic mix of vocal and band. Lighting by Tim James was beautiful, James created some fantastic colour postcards to help with the intent behind each song. Occasionally there was a late or potentially missed cue meaning the cast were in darkness (or perhaps they missed their mark!) however as the season continues this is sure to fade away. 

The powerhouse behind this production is the cast, this troupe of 7 performers have worked incredibly hard to show their skill and talent. This incredibly cast included Rae Rose as Actor 1, Mabelle Maynard as Actor 3, Connor Clarke as Actor 4, Tomer Dimanstein as Actor 5, Bethanie Walsh as Ensemble and Samatha Sherrin as Swing. All of these performers provided stunning performances, telling us important messages and stories. 

However the true highlight of this production was Aurélie Roque as Actor 2. Roque was jaw-droppingly stunning. Their rendition of 'Leave Luanne' was harrowing and frightful, whilst their portrayal of Sarah in 'The Ballad of Sarah Berry' was bitchy and sassy in the best way possible. It is almost impossible to talk about how incredible Roque is in this production because they were just THAT good!

35mm: A Musical Exhibition is a stunning display of stories and music that is a MUST SEE by Brisbane Arts Lovers. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, or getting tired of the typical musical thetare troupe, this is EXACTLY what you need in your life! Closing May 4, be sure to get your tickets now!

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