Hats Off is an annual charity concert held by Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights Aids (OSCEFA). It is held each year in both Sydney and Melbourne and has a mainly musical theatre bent. It usually boasts a whole host of stars familiar to any self respecting musical fan. 2002 was my first Hats Off. As I had been initiated into musical theatre by Hey Mr Producer on television, I though it would be a good opportunity to see a similar event live. I was not to be disappointed.

When all was ready, the curtain of the National Theatre opened to reveal... wait for it... Christina Tan!!! Well, the rest of the night was set up to go downhill, but for a little while I was able to enjoy Christina, and a bunch of other people, doing a rehearsal number from A Chorus Line. I must say its a little odd to see a very good example of dancing that's purposefully not perfect.

Later, three up and comers (Chris Parker, Jarrod Carland and Damian Humbley), performed Being Alive from Company, as well as the two songs that were originally written for that spot in the show, Marry Me a Little, which was later reinserted before intermission, and Happily Ever After, both of which found a second life in the review Marry Me a Little. It was interesting to see how the song, and therefore the character of Bobby, must have evolved during the creative process. I believe that Marry Me a Little has to be the best song ever to be omitted from anything. I have heard two seperate stories as to why it didn't make it into Company. The first was that the original Broadway Bobby couldn't handle it; the other theory, that it made the character seem too self-knowing. I can't seem to understand the latter story, so I subscribe to the former, juicier one.

Now, back to Hats Off, the next number was of particular interest to me. OSCEFA was only weeks away from putting on a concert version of Into the Woods at the Regent Theatre, starring the cast of Oliver! I already had tickets, because as you will see from my other web site, I am just a little bit obsessed with Into the Woods. Seeing Tamsin Carroll and Queenie Van De Zandt sing No One Is Alone and Children Will Listen respectively, and then when the cast came out for the rest of the finale, I decided then and there I was in for a treat. Not only were Tamsin and Queenie amazing, but I managed to spot Christina Tan in the cast. My mind started to wander about who she may be playing. Since they were out of costume and all dressed in black, and Christina had the only splash of colour, a red scarf thingy, I thought she must be Little Red. An odd casting choice for sure, Christina is so much more Cindy, but the thought stuck, until she stepped forward at the end and said "I wish." Cinderella's line. My favourite character. Yay!

Following Into the Woods, Anne Phelan managed to come out and top it. A slight speech, was followed by a hilarious rendition of a number from Pippin, probably made all the more enjoyable as I'd never heard it before. Kudos. Then, I nearly fell off my seat, as Christina emerged again, this time in the most lovely dress. Alas she was only introducing the next number. It's possible that John Bowles and Theresa Borg could have done a stunning rendition of All I Ask of You, but I was still focussed on the introduction they recieved from their former Phantom costar, (and for that matter Theresa's former Anything Goes costar).

Act 2, which was entirely Christinaless, was largely taken up by a largely static medly of numbers. Fortunately it also contained a couple of highly comical numbers, including a slightly overweight version of You've Gotta Have a Gimmick from Gypsy. Melissa Langton, Susan-Ann Walker and Sally-Ann Upton, proved they are good sports with some highly unflattering outfits.

The penultimate number of the night, Bring Him Home, was performed by Martin Croft (or quite possibly Dean Lotherington if I have them mixed up). It followed a speech about the topic of the night, Aids, and in context, could very likely have been far more moving than it has ever been in the context of Les Miserables. And I can say that because it's my second favourite musical.

All in all, it's very hard to be at all critical of a show that provided pretty much the best array of talent you are ever going to see in Australia in one night, and it's almost painful to think that some members of the audience may have been there to support the charity, and that the significance of this may have been lost on them.

Hats Off 2002
Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights Aids
Sunday 10th November 2002
National Theatre
Review From Stalls O 10

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