" . . entertaining script, good music, solid direction, a strong cast and clever use of video technology ... With music and lyrics by Sean Peter and book by Barry Lowe, Scam!, like any good opera, is packed with personal and political intrigue."
- Louise Nunn, Adelaide Advertiser, 7 August, 1998 (page 64)
"Scam! borrows from John Gay's the Beggar's Opera to tell a cynical tale of crooked dealings in high and low places, with echoes of current political personalities and trends ... The result is exhilarating and accomplished, handling the technological challenges with ease and a cracking pace. Sean Peter is a composer of wit and eclectic fluency conjuring up several fine tunes (Paulie's phone call to her mother is haunting). The more recitative-style sections had a narrative and dramatic ease to which the authoritative performances of the principals were eloquent testimony."
- John Edge, the Bulletin, 25 August, 1998 (page 71)
"Junction [Theatre] has pulled off a really great Scam! They've created a new musical about up-to-the-minute issues on an epic scale, with a Ben Hur cast, which goes off close to flawlessly. The company has begged and borrowed a king's ransom in equipment from sources like the Sydney Opera House and harnessed a dazzling team of techs. The result is a beer-budget local work in the cavernous space of the Old Queen's Theatre that has the sound quality and range of some squillion-dollar Les Miz or Miss Saigon. From Barry Lowe's book of power and corruption in high and low places, Sean Peter has created a melodic and diverse score with a libretto that is satirical, sharp and passionate."
- Jackie Tracy, Sunday Mail, 9 August, 1998
"This 'bigger than Ben Hur' show has it all - music, dance, music, humour and drama and more music, 'in a show that is a sexy, dirty, gritty satire of power and corruption - 60 Minutes on ecstasy!" as quoted by stalwart Junction director, Geoff Crowhurst ... Original music by Sean peter blasts the audience and rocks the foundations as biting lyrics set the pace ... Based on the book written by Barry Lowe (author of Seeing Things and Dutch Courage previously produced by Not so Straight Theatre Co), Barry shows 'behind the scenes' manipulation and the 'win at all costs' scenarios ... Digs at governments, the selling of state assets, party politics and hidden agendas provide a continuing barbed edge to the play."
- Jonathan Loveletter, Adelaide GT, 21 August, 1998
"Scam! is a good example of how to blend technology and performance in such a way that they balance and complement each other without getting in the way of the story and its message or entertainment value. Barry Lowe's adapted libretto has Lucy (Johanna Allen), a young first year journalism student eagerly getting in some practice by doing a story on those who live in a squat. It's here that she meets the devious deal making Sharky (Rory Walker) and his heroin addicted girl friend Paulie (Billie-Jo Cook). Lucy's eagerness to stop the squat being turned into a casino land her in some hot political water. Her mother is Lockett (Rosalind Aylmore) the Premier of the state and mother's boyfriend Peachum (David Cox) is her advisor and the big businessman behind the casino ... Sean Peter's score is a well-crafted, easily flowing one, rich in a variety of styles, with each perfectly slotted into the narrative for maximum effect that never fails to enhance the action and please the ear. Thanks to Peter's work, Scam!, shimmies, sways, jiggles and jives to his equally wonderful lyrics."
- dB Magazine, 12-25 August, 1998
"I had the distinct feeling throughout of being at a performance of an unsuccessful entrant in Rock Eisteddfod. Sorry, kids, but it's not a patch on that other local show, Dutch Courage, a season or two ago."
- Russell Starke, The City Messenger, 12 August, 1998 |
