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With an original instant sing-along soundtrack traversing multiple musical genres, Ride the Cyclone makes a strong case for life.
Six teenagers from a small-town Canadian choir are having the time of their lives on a rollercoaster… until they’re killed in a freak rollercoaster accident. Stick with me here, the comedy will present itself. In the afterlife, they find themselves in Limbo competing to win the good will of mechanical psychic Karnak, and the opportunity to come back to life. How? By telling the best story. As these teenagers think about all they thought was ahead of them in life, they become more appreciative of the short time they had on Earth.
This 2008 darkly funny musical was an instance cult classic, and more recently gained a loving audience on TikTok. It makes sense – this is the generation that reacts to jokes with skulls and ‘ded.’ What makes it appealing to older and younger audiences alike, I think, is the blissful naivety imbued in these kids’ fight for life. Direction by Richard Carroll and choreography by Shannon Burns emphasise this in their movements on stage, which are very exaggerated and peppy. The band, led by Musical Director Victoria Falconer, presents a huge range of musical genres with polish and seeming effortlessness. The stage itself, designed by Benjamin Brockman, is quite impressive to take in: a gargantuan rollercoaster envelopes the stage in its metal bars and provides a frame for the cast to jump and swing on.
Everyone character gets a chance to sing about what they saw in their futures, however strange and, in some cases, misguided. Karis Oka is the conscientious, arrogant Ocean, who sees her A-grade averages taking her far; Bailey Dunnage portrays Noel’s romanticised views of being an addict slash sex worker in Paris with classic I-was-born-in-the-wrong-era flair; Gruff Mischa, played by Lincoln Elliot, dreams of an autotuned rap career and meeting his online fiancé; and Justin Gray’s alien-obsessed Ricky is pretty sure he’s the UFO’s new leader. Then, to keep us in the real world, we have Ava Maddon as Jane Doe, who doesn’t remember her life nor what she had to live for; and Mel O’Brien’s Constance who, bullied all her life, realised her love for her tiny hometown a moment too late. Meanwhile, Pamela Rabe as Karnak is chillingly unconcerned with the afterlife of the choir kids, or of their own, as they countdown to their own end.
One note on this production is that it is quite reliant on tech effects to create the mystical Limbo environment, and at times the lighting and video screens didn’t quite hit the mark. The stellar cast and band are really the stars of the show.
Purchase your ticket to Ride The Cyclone here. The show will also transfer to Art House Wyong for a limited season from 28 June, find out more here.
Grenache | Wine Pairing
Grenache is a fruity and fun picnic wine, but it has an edge of acidity and tannin to keep things interesting.
My Pick: Alpha Box & Dice 2023 Tarot (Red), Langhorne Creek/Riverland, SA
I think this wine may have been created specifically for this musical, the Tarot character Death it’s muse and sponsor. Enjoy the red berry and earthy flavours and delicate tannins.
Ride the Cyclone, Hayes Theatre Co. | Tasting Notes
| Aussie Season | 23 May to 22 June 2024, Hayes Theatre Co, Sydney. 28 to 29 June 2024, The Art House Theatre, Wyong. |
| Ticket $ | $65-94 |
| Writer | Book, Music & Lyrics by Jacob Richmond & Brooke Maxwell |
| Director | Richard Carroll |
| Theatre Type & Genre | Musical, comedy, paranormal |
| See it if you like | SIX the musical, Rocky Horror Picture Show |
| Wine Pairing | Grenache |
| Criteria for Wine Pairing | Fruity and fun with an edge |
Toasting Aussie Theatre 