Whether you are a fan of Marvel or not, there is no denying the impact the characters have left on pop culture. With one of the highest-grossing films of all time being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was only a matter of time before we saw some of our favourite superheroes jump off the page, through the screen and onto the stage. Luckily for Sydneysiders, that time is now with MARVELous The Show playing at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta.
Having launched at The Concourse at Chatswood in July last year, the cast and crew have been touring the show nationwide, most recently seen at Adelaide Fringe. After five years of development, Writer / Director Samwise Holmes has created a show unlike any other. It is part musical, part circus, part burlesque and full parody. Picture Tony Stark as Magic Mike (Pony Tony) or Fat Thor pole dancing. It is wild, completely unexpected, and so much fun. With Deadpool as narrator, you learn about superheroes like Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange and Spiderman. How they make up the Avengers, and how they spend their day. In an adults-only way.
From the moment you walk into the theatre, there is a buzz in the air. People are dressed as their favourite superheroes, sipping on themed cocktails with ‘90s pop music playing. The show starts with a Marvel Studios-style introduction on a screen with flashes of the comic book characters on a red background, showing them at different points of action and finishing with the word Marvelous.
As the screen fades, we see the set, which is designed like a city of skyscrapers with windows cut out and LED lights. It is made from scaffolding and has movable parts that the cast manoeuvre throughout the performance. There are different levels for the cast to stand on, stairs, and, of course, a fireman’s pole. Production Designer Dan Potra clearly thought of everything when creating this set: creating height for rigs to be set up, providing the cast with an easy way of moving around the stage and places for gym mats to be placed to ensure the cast’s safety.
James Wallis on lighting design made the smart decision to use colours that feature in the superheroes’ costumes as the lighting inspiration for their individual performances. Seeing Loki lit in green and purple was so satisfying, especially when she defied gravity. My favourite use of lighting was during the Black Widow performance. There was a blackout except for a backlight which showed the shadows of the cast in a fight sequence. It was cool imagery and very well done.
Costumes play a large role in this show. With each member of the ensemble playing a superhero and performing a song, costumes have to be both easily identifiable and be able to be taken off. Quickly. Costume Coordinators and Designers Maxine Mueller and Laura Cagnacci have done a wonderful job of re-creating costumes or highlighting just one part of the costume to make it clear who each character is.
Whether it is just a mechanical red and gold arm for Iron Man or the light on the heart, it is always clear who the character is. All departments work closely to make this show visually appealing. This is very clear during the Iron Woman number, where operational lighting is built into the costume to create magic.
The cast is made up of quadruple threats. Not only are they singing and dancing, but they are also performing choreographed fight scenes, flying, spinning, and twirling in the air. It made me question which talent came first. Just like the heroes they are representing, this cast is confident, brave, and having a great time.
As Captain America, Michael Boyle is a clear stand-out for his bravado and ease. As Loki, Andrea Zappacosta thrills with her vocals. As Pony Tony, Emma Wong shines not just from the heart but with her whole body. Samwise Holmes really embraces the character of Deadpool and, at times, sounds a lot like Ryan Reynolds. His accent is spot on, and the level of edgy realness makes it even more believable.
Overall, MARVELous the Show is a lot of fun. It is witty, refers to pop culture in ways that everyone can understand and gives every Marvel fan the happy ending they have always wanted. By incorporating some of the best-known moments in musicals from Dirty Dancing to Hamilton, it really is a love letter to stage and screen.
Samwise Holmes has created a show that is fresh, woke, and makes all the Marvel fans giddy. The in-jokes and innuendos prove just how loved these characters are. If you are a fan of Marvel or have only seen Avengers: Endgame (because who hasn’t at this point), you are in for a wild ride.
MARVELous the Show runs until 22 March at Riverside Parramatta, Corner Church and Market Streets Parramatta 2150.
It then runs in Melbourne from 10-20 April 2025.
Tickets available here.
Website: https://marveloustheshow.com.au/#home
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/marveloustheshow/
Photo credits: Ben Dingley
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