I grew up in Khandallah (a suburb of Wellington in the north-western hills) but left before its Academy of Performing Arts opened. In fact this is the first I’ve heard of it. Now Kickin’ Rad Productions’ Soap Factory is recreating its year of 1982 through a “totally improvised soap opera about fitting in, standing out, finding ourselves and following our dreams.”

Olivia Newton-John is the triple-threat icon the female students aspire to. “If Australians can do it, we can!” conscientious Sheryl Farmers (Jennifer O’Sullivan) tells her very rich and slacker best friend Jasmine Cholmondley the Third (Tara McEntee).

Overseeing the dance classes is the Academy’s director, Tatum Channing (Clare Kerrison), whose son Rudolph Baryshnikov Fontaine Channing, aka Rudi (Matt Powell) leads them. And a credible bunch of aspirants they turn out to be.

Peppermint Sparkle (Christine Brooks), who once toured NZ with the Buzzy Bee club, sees herself as more experienced than the rest and has a lot to learn – not least from deeply sensitive acting tutor Dr Bruce Rizzleswizzle (Luke Rimmelzwaan).

Country boy Quane Lively (Matt Hutton) may or may not be wise to trust in Albatross Adams (Sam Irwin) for advice – e.g. wear lipstick to class to make sure you stand out – and it turns out Alby is no so much interested in performing as in helping out (or supplanting?) the Academy’s Mr Fixit, Chad Mikaere Michaels (Wiremu Tuhiwai).

Meanwhile energetic Amelia Love (Dianne Pulham) compulsively expresses herself in dance while Jack Traddles (Liam Kelly) does sterling work on the keyboard (which could have less volume when singing is happening, given improvised lyrics need our close attention).

In this challenging environment the need for friends becomes the abiding theme, provoking a stirring song and dance number. Director Kerrison puts the players on their mettle by making them cut from the initial idea of a song ’n’ dance sequence to presenting it fully formed. And Darryn Woods, on lights, is ruthless in not allowing a scene to outstay its welcome.

Overall, a bit like an early rehearsal, Episode One of So You Think You Khandallah evolves with attentive players being rather tentative as they accept directives and each other’s offers in the process of establishing their characters’ back-stories, wants, needs and relationships. Stepping up to full-on showbiz schizzle will doubtless be achieved as the episodes play out.

Meanwhile they are all very accomplished improvisers and a sound foundation is laid – speaking of which, who is suddenly pregnant? This is the cliff-hanger designed to bring audiences back tomorrow – and each night for the rest of this week.  

Episode updates are posted on http://www.kickinrad.co.nz/so-you-think-you-khandallah so you can swot up before you go. 

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