Stage Bugs Productions ramp up the camp for a devilishly delightful season of wickedly witty cult favourite, Ruthless! The Musical.

All too rarely seen on local stages, 1992 Off-Broadway classic Ruthless! The Musical is given a lusciously glossy production with sharp direction and a terrifically talented cast. The mother of all backstage musicals, the theatrical in-jokes and generous peppering of references to Gypsy, A Chorus Line and more will bring extra enjoyment to well-versed theatre tragics. 

The book and lyrics by Joel Paley keep the laughs coming at a hectic pace, the black comedy building to a riotous, not to mention deadly, climax. Whilst mercilessly skewering backstage shenanigans, Paley deftly builds in plenty of surprising twists and turns to keep the story roaring along. 

Guided by brazenly rapacious agent Sylvia St. Croix, burgeoning child star Tina Denmark soon takes matters into her own fiendish hands to rise from understudy to leading role. Has talent skipped a generation or is there more to Tina’s demure wallflower of a mother, Judy Denmark? 

Perfectly matching the outlandish material with oversized performances, director Chelsea Matheson pushes stage energy to the max and yet skilfully prevents the overall effect from tipping over the edge. All six performers are attuned to the same camptastic playing style, resulting in a whole that is funnier than the not inconsiderable sum of its parts. 

While Paley’s lyrics probably have the edge over Marvin Laird’s music, the abundant songs are pleasantly enjoyable. The title song “Ruthless!” is the closest to a genuine ear worm. Co-musical directors Dave Barclay and Ned Dixon bring the score to life, with Dixon conducting five fellow musicians behind the set. Percussion occasionally threatens to overpower stage vocals but the overall sound balance is good. 

Choreographer Michelle David shows judicious restraint, focusing movement on tapping Tina and on the precious moments when all six performers grace the stage at once.

Set design by Damien Jones and costume design by Britni Leslie initially draw from a delectable palette of pastels, moving to darker walls and shimmering gowns for the glamorous second act. With little or no wing space, the set change to act two is achieved by a clever storybook-like turn of the page. Leslie’s costumes are a feature in their own right, adding immensely to the viewing pleasure. Luxuriant wigs are also impeccably designed.

Lighting designer Jason Bovaird performs miracles with a relatively simple lighting rig, creating showbiz razzle dazzle when the divas lose themselves in the spotlight.

Ruthless! The Musical is blessed by the casting of Dolly Diamond, more than ably filling the commanding, not to mention ample, girdle of Sylvia St. Croix. An expressive chanteuse with well-honed comic timing, Diamond balances Sylvia’s chutzpah with moments of tenderness. 

Britni Leslie complements her design work with a splashy lead performance. In particular, Leslie achieves a remarkable vocal and physical distinction when harried housewife Judy Denmark transforms before our eyes to driven diva Ginger Del Marco.

The role of precocious starlet Tina Denmark is shared between two talented performers, and Man in Chair was fortunate enough to see both. Having a young adult performer play the eight-year-old brat works perfectly with the overall style of this production. 

In a dark wig to match Tina’s dark heart, Luisa Oro (left, below) has a pert smile that can flip to a wicked grin or spoilt pout in the flick of an eyelid. A terrific tapper, Oro radiates with Tina’s self-satisfied glee. With porcelain complexion and turbo blonde ringlets, Chloe Halley (right, below) brings to mind nasty Nellie Olesen. Halley successfully plays up the fun contradiction of an angelic appearance and a devilish interior, and sings up a storm. 

Where a lesser production might primarily focus on the three leads, the quality of this staging is significantly bolstered by the depth of talent in the three supporting players.

Shining in dual roles, Olivia Charalambous nails her every comic moment, gamely bringing a dopey daftness to lacklustre Louise Lerman then channeling a manic John Waters style for demented personal assistant Eve. 

Stephanie Astrid John commands the stage in the featured role of tortured third grade teacher Miss Thorn. John scores abundant laughs with her nuanced comic delivery and zany physicalisation. Miss Thorn’s lament, “Teaching Third Grade,” is every bit the tour de force.

Emma Clair Waxman further raises the comic energy with her relatively late act one arrival as vicious theatre critic, and vodka-swilling lush, Lita Encore. Dare I even type the name of Lita’s big number (“I Hate Musicals”) but Waxman certainly relishes the witty humour of the lyrics. 

An ideal fit for the masses of musical theatre aficionados in Melbourne, Ruthless! The Musical is sure to delight the devotees and the uninitiated alike.

Ruthless! The Musical plays at Alex Theatre, St Kilda until 24 March 2024. For tickets, click here.

The Ruthless! The Musical program can be read online.

Photos: Angel Leggas