For those who’ve always wanted to experience Broadway but don’t want the hassle of travelling to New York, The Flamingo at Gluttony might have just the thing. Celebrated singer Emma Kavanagh brings her acclaimed crowd-pleaser Broadway Off Broadway back to the Fringe for a tribute act to the great classics of musical theatre, accompanied by a live band and a crew of exceptionally skilled vocalists.

The cast all hail from South Australia, and it’s a delight to see so much local musical theatre talent on one stage. Kavanagh has an absolutely stunning voice, a trained soprano with perfect pitch. She sets souls ablaze with some truly beautiful renditions of classic ballads. She has wonderful harmonisation with fellow lead vocalist Madison Green, particularly in their duets for “Memory” (Cats) and “In His Eyes Lyrics” (Jekyll & Hyde). They’re joined by Jason Bensen and understudy Lachlan Nash (filling in for an ill Josh Spinello), who bring a playful camaraderie to round out the ensemble acts. Each performer shows brilliant versatility and discipline in their craft, and they complement each other’s energy to a tee.

The show is narratively sparse and reads less like an overarching journey and more like a roundup of hit songs. That being said, I was pleased with many of the choices. The fatigue of hearing “Defying Gravity” or “Let It Go” is real, and major props are owed for not choosing the easy but overplayed tracks you’d hear everywhere else. Choosing “Loathing” for Wicked or “Into The Unknown” for Frozen are inspired choices and a welcome relief. A few wild card entrances, such as “Good Morning” from “Singing in the Rain”, were also delightful to see.

If the music wasn’t enough, we also get several wonderful performances from dancers Maddie Apacible and Jayden Perlc as they wow us with an intriguing blend of tap, jazz and contemporary choreography. They elevate several of the songs with their precise and infectious energy, with some exemplary costuming to sell each number. The surprise addition of West Side Story was especially fun (who can resist those infectious finger clicks?).

The sound design is brilliantly realised, with excellent additions of a live band to complement the vocals. Steve Staben on an impressive drum set, Declan Horan on the bass. And David Goodwin on keyboard lends some solid percussion, especially when the group starts dancing to “Step In Time” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”. At one point, the microphones dropped out, and the singers had to do their best to project their pitch to the audience. An unfortunate error in an otherwise solid production.

The finale finds several young students joining the leads up on stage to perform Dear Evan Hanon’s “You’ll Be Found”, and you could tell the audience was spellbound by this emotionally charged number. Only the hardest of hearts wouldn’t be moved by the sight of so many kids with a passion for music, singing a song of hope in the face of despair. It was indeed heart-warming to see the future generation of theatre performers given a space to flourish.

Broadway Off Broadway is a little slice of big theatre energy packed neatly into a loving tribute show. It’s a wonderful family-friendly event that is sure to delight fans of musical theatre, young and old. A show-stopper from beginning to end. Perfect for indulging your inner theatre kid.

**** Four Stars