Commerce Revue is famous for its song and dance, and this year’s lives up to the institution’s reputation. Very solid choreography from Gen De Souza and a few big MADSOC names performing made for a really very nice mix of contemporary dance numbers. Vocals were tight and well done, with well done leads from the entire cast, including some MUSE favourites.
Guys and Dollar Bills was forthcoming about where its strengths lay—not in sketches. That said, there were some really very clever premises in the show with a handful of brilliant twists. I loved watching Leo DiCaprio being shut down, a spectacular superhero-villain story, a fated cactus love story and someone who doesn’t understand what a woman is.
Particularly special congratulations must go to a few cast members who really dominated. Dominic Scarf, a veteran performer, completely sold the show, carrying sketch after sketch and solo after solo, but did mess up the YMCA. Isaac Carroll and Christie New were also good wherever seen, and Jeremy Blum’s abs were pleasing. Lisa-Marie Long as a barrister invoking the ancient law of Simon Says was spectacular, left the audience in hysterics; indeed, she consistently held sway over the stage when on it, and Georgia Britt was radiant as the sun she played.
While some premises were solid, it seemed that the punches often didn’t land, or landed just off. Some great ideas that needed development, like a television show where contestants fight to keep their personal secrets hidden is such a great idea, but only really got off the ground as it descended from the farcical to the confusing.
The nude sketch was thrown in and a weak nod to a dumb tradition. I will always be in favour of students debasing themselves by shamefully prising their hands away from their genitals for laughs but this one needed some premise at all, and would be better cut.
Another sketch song that I really didn’t like appeared to be making a date rape joke. I know the lyrics were faithful to the original song, but I think this was a bad idea.
The audio-visuals were very on point. Jack Savage shone as a traffic light something-washer, and performed solidly throughout. Though he was (almost) funniest when he realised and tried to cover a line drop.
Overall, there are a few great laughs, but price of admission is for the spectacle.
