Hoot and Annie may be performing one of their last shows together in Hootenanny, they just might not know it yet. Should you see it?
Hootenanny are a children’s musical duo from Australia, made up of Hoot and Annie, on their last contractually obligated world tour. The two are at odds as Annie feels betrayed by Hoot’s public recklessness and recurring drug problems. Needless to say when these issues clash on stage during their children’s performance the audience is in for a bumpy, but very funny, ride.
Both artists, Kate Smith and Will Somers, are absolutely to die for. They are charming and likeable from start to finish, despite their characters personal issues. The two have such great chemistry and have really crafted an amazingly touching and emotionally painful story to be captured inside of this gut-busting musical comedy. They are able to share a palpable tension that is heavy to watch but too engrossing to turn away.
Hootenanny is an amazing time. The songs are hilarious and overtly inappropriate for children, but that’s part of the joke. Sometimes it feels like the songs go on for too long, but that’s an easy thing to forgive since the two are still so dynamic together.
The show is also interspersed with funny little videos that help keep the action going, but give the performers a chance to catch their breath. The only problem with the videos is sometimes the videos are so dark it’s hard to see what’s happening in them, and the blocking on the stage sometimes puts the actors standing right in front of the screen so audience members aren’t able to see anything at all.
Overall Hootenanny is a lot of fun. You will laugh. You might cry. You will definitely feel. The ending is emotionally heavy and I actually felt sad for the characters as I left the theatre. It’s an ending that I’m still thinking about. Do yourself a favour and check out this amazing piece of theatre.
For more information on Hootenanny (times and tickets) click here!
But that’s just my opinion and I’d love to know what you think. Were you able to connect emotionally to the characters? What was your favourite children’s song that they sung? Join the discussion and tell me what you think in the comments below!
I loved this show. The progression from hilarious to sad in merely one hour was so smooth that you weren’t even aware of it until you were leaving the theatre. My favorite songs were the inappropriate things that grandparents say and the final song that I found myself singing on the way home. A very well put together piece of theatre!