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Somewhere that's green: Potty the Plant at Wiltons Music Hall

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"I'm Potty the Plant," sings a potted plant in this odd little fringe concept of a show. It's hard not to get the tune out of your head, even if the show is brief. It's an earworm for a show that features a worm-like plant as a puppet. And given the show's brevity, running at only an hour, it's hard to get too annoyed by a lack of a coherent story, even if it still seems like the show could use a bit more development (which is underway). It has made its London debut at Wilton's Music Hall. The premise is that Potty, the plant, lives in the hospital office of Dr Acula (geddit?) and dreams of a life with the cleaning lady Miss Lacey (Lucy Appleton). But Dr Acula might be responsible for why all these children are disappearing while trying to romance Miss Lacey for her family's money that she doesn't have. Three nurses are on the case, trying to solve the mystery.  If the show settled on a convincing plot, location and set of characters, it could ...

Sing like nobody’s watching: Songs for Nobodies @WiltonMusicHall

Songs for Nobodies starts as if it is a theatrical happening. There’s a hush at Wilton’s Music Hall as it descends into darkness. And when the lights go up there is a small, middle aged woman on stage looking somewhat meek. But soon there is an astounding transformation as she channels a range of musical greats. Mimicking their style and intonation. Starting with Judy Garland, then Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and finally Maria Callas. It’s thrilling and bewildering. 

The piece is billed as a play with music by Joanna Murray-Smith, created to suit the vocal talents of Australian singer Bernadette Robinson. The premise is that a series of “nobodies” whose lives briefly intersect with these stars. There’s the lady, Beatrice who fixes Judy Garland’s hem and the usher Pearl who becomes backup to Patsy Cline and so on. 

It’s clear that Robinson has a unique talent and she holds your attention. And the production shines in Wilton’s music hall.  The faded grandeur of the venue blends in well with the production’s evocative lighting and sound effects. The band directed by Greg Arrowsmith sounds great too.

The only thing is that as the piece progresses the thrill of the transformation diminishes. By half way through it seems like the vocal tricks and transformations have been done. Too bad a greater contrast of singers was not considered rather than just the belters and divas. Covering Billie Holiday feels like a mistake now that Audra McDonald’s show has been to London. And the story about Maria Callas and her nanny lacked conviction. 

Still it’s a stylish and sophisticated night out at Wiltons. And Bernadette Robinson deserves to be world famous in London. Not just in Melbourne... 

Directed by Simon Phillips Songs For Nobodies is having its European Premiere at Wiltons Music Hall until 7 April

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by Nicholas Brittain

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