Article by Breanna Smith.
When researching my other article about shows to see in July, I must say when seeing that Gang Show was coming up I remembered my times in Scout and decided to see this year’s show. But what is Gang Show, I hear you ask? Brisbane Gang Show is an annual performance put on by Girl Guides Queensland and Scouts Queensland in Brisbane each year. It's a variety show full of laughs and smiles, and this year's theme and the title was Captivating Covers: A Series of Immersive Journeys.
Now, I will say at the start of the show that it did remind me a little of a school play. I think this is helped by the fact that when talking to the front of house Scouts, I was asked who I was there to see perform. But it soon lost that feel as the play performed the first song and started the show. The next scene had singing, acting and sword fighting as the cast was able to react and perform well, and they were able to respond to any challenges put forward. An example of this being one of the swords in the scene broke and they were able to hide it well, so much I did not notice and only found out after the show because my boyfriend who teaches fencing was watching the "fighting" closely so he saw it break. Because the cast is made up of so many different people and personalities, allowing for everyone to play their part and everyone’s talents to come to light, it allows for quick thinking.
The show moves on, using the two bookcases at the front of the stage as props to transition the play from one scene to another. It also allows for the show to switch from songs, to dance numbers, to skits easily and not draw attention to them, allowing time for scene and costume changes. From the prompt given by the characters reading a book, we are then transported to a scene allowing for song and dancing in relations to that prompt. From there, within the scene, the first section ends and then a connection is made, which leads to another song or two, fixing that setting before moving on to the next.
While New York played a large part in the play just before the interval, my favourite was in relation to Mars. The scene starts with three school girls having to look up books on new technology to Mars, but not look only. (Side note: I couldn't help but think the information they needed wouldn't have been in a book ten years old, but that is beside the point.) The stage then moves to a song about travelling to Mars and the wonder and changes it will bring. The scene transitions and we find ourselves on the flight deck of the Starship Enterprise, and they perform a song I love dearly, Star Trekkin'. For each line/verse, a group would sing and have corresponding actions. Maybe it’s because I liked the song, or simple silliness, but I liked this scene. I enjoyed how the group would march in time to switch back and forth with each other to keep the focus on a new line. I also liked how groups at the back of the stage needed to sing while the group in front would hit the deck so the team behind could be seen.
Another factor I enjoyed, was the costumes. Gang Show has been going for many years, and with this comes a lot of costumes to recycle. One of the parts that interested me, however, is how they all matched and how at a glance they fitted in. What I mean by that is that they fit with each other, even if they don't fit perfectly with the era. An example of this is a set of songs that are performed in a 1920's style bar; many of the costumes are wonderful, but no costume is completely accurate to the era. But you know what? They don't have to be. The costumes are there to help tell a story and set a scene. They add character to each actor's performance and help share important details. The performers remained quick while being practical, both in reusing costumes and being able to dance in newer, more modern dance styles. This is something that is not possible in more accurate to the era dresses.
I also enjoyed the cast adding their own creation to the costumes used, which is focused on in a later scene which takes place at a fashion show. Complete with a runway, the scene shows off some very lovely looks, some of which I would have liked to wear myself, and some very out there looks which were designed for cast members. This is highlighted with photos of the cast being shown at the back. It doesn't take away from the scene, but in fact makes it more interesting and adds more depth and value to the scene. Not just because they are petty outfits, but because they have an interesting story.
The only major fault I could find was audio and the duration of the play. Often, mics were a little out of time which lead to it being a bit tricky to hear, and at other points when the younger members of the cast were singing in groups, the volume overall dropped. This is understandable, as they do not have the same skills as the older cast members, or the confidence. Even though I was sitting in the third row, at times it could be hard to hear and made me wonder what it was like for those at the back of the theatre.
Overall, I enjoyed the play very much. It was a great show to see with friends and family, and was great fun to talk about on the way home, discussing our favourite parts and bits we loved. And I must say, the reveal of the band at the end of the show – almost likely credits – was a great idea and shined a light on a forgotten role. It was fun to see all the passion and love the performers put into the show, and it reminds me what I loved about Scouts: the want to learn and share what we learn with others. The performance was a fun, light-hearted show full of smiles and laughs, and is a great show to see for a laugh. I was talking about it with those I saw it with for a long while after.
Four out Five Stars.
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