SHANE WARNE THE MUSICAL

This little musical has big shoes to fill. It’s not just the tale of cricket’s most adored and maligned hero: it also follows in the footsteps of the immensely successful Keating!, which singlehandedly made musical theatre in Australia cool again. Luckily, Eddie Perfect and his team of creative merry-makers have stepped up and delivered a highly entertaining, cheeky production, which manages to be satire, homage and tragedy all at once.

Expect plenty of power ballads, cleavage, wide legged crotch display and chubby men in their undies, with a quintessentially Australian “F**k me, musicals are f**ed!” narration style from Perfect’s Shane Warne. Supporting cast members show some great versatility, in particular Rosemarie Harris who plays Simone Warne with a touching strength and looks spectacular whether in a pink velour tracksuit or meringue wedding dress.

The sound was a tad confusing, with quite a few lines lost in the mix, and the choreography seemed a little loose at times, which raised the question of whether the show might have worked better at a more intimate venue. Overall though, this is a very clever, impressive project with a really enthusiastic cast who are a thrill to watch.

Until July 7. Enmore Theatre, 130 Enmore Rd, Newtown. $69.90-74.90, 9550 3666 or ticketek.com.au