REVIEW | After The Plane Has Landed

Reviews

26 Jul

`Benedict Powell and Claire Russell. Credit Andrew Smith`

★ ★ ★

Reviewer - Eliott

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review

Recounting the unimaginable story of John McCarthy, a man who back in 1986 was taken hostage in Beirut, Exit Productions has worked with writer Adrian Kimberlin to produce the show as a musical. This new musical focuses on the lives of McCarthy (Benedict Powell) and his girlfriend, Jill Morrell (Claire Russell).

As a performing duo, the harmonies are smooth as they resonate through the space, and they deliver the script with punch, though the lack of room to move about at times comes as a struggle in their stilted movement. Moments of meta-theatrical devices also fall sour with minimal laughter from the audience; we're taken away from what should be a gripping retelling of a horrendous ordeal.

With some major plot points told through song quite early on in the show, if the opportunity was to be presented of extending the length of the show. It would be nice to see these moments slowed down into dialogue as an alternative to a song, as a lot of potential tension is lost as a result. 'After This Plane Has Landed' does present itself with huge potential, but it feels as though it's lost the true pull of the premise, with a soft, often comedy-led focus, in its place, with mixed results.