Creating a night of compiled villain anthems, UMMTS took to the stage to bring the audience to the dark side of Broadway with Villains. The good guys always come out on top but when it comes to musical theatre, there’s no denying that villain songs reign superior.
Journeying from high school mean girls Heather Chandler, Regina George and Sharpay Evans (not without her Ryan of course), to Claude Frollo, Javert, and Orin, the audience of Villains was taken through a whirlwind of awe and laughter through this myriad of beloved antiheroes. The refreshing fluctuation of styles and musicals, taking us directly from Mean Girls to Les Misérables, and from The Hunchback of Notre Dame to High School Musical, was the most noticeable – and my favourite – aspect of the Villains concert. The seamless integration of beloved antiheroes through a mix of contemporary camp and philosophical neo-operatic anthems encapsulated the concert title, leaving everyone satisfied with hearing at least one of their favourite songs.
Situated in the intimate SU Theatre, anticipation was high as soon as the lights dimmed and the spotlight filled the stage. Opening with Regina George’s bombshell song ‘World Burn’ from Mean Girls, the standard of the night was immediately established – these villains could sing! Taking on Taylor Louderman’s vocals is no simple task but as the theatre was filled with Rachel Burnett’s power-hungry belting, the concert had begun, and the audience was enthralled.
Aside from the vocal talent – which was undeniable for every performer – the dedication to the characters truly made this concert a spectacle. From Lizzy Rackstraw’s drunken Miss Hannigan, stumbling as they approached the microphone, to the camp dances of our high school villains Sharpay, Ryan, and the Heathers, UMMTS brought their characters to life and surpassed my expectations for the night. Ryan Evans (performed by Robin Collins), never breaking character when re-setting the microphones kept the audience enthralled and the atmosphere unserious. Meanwhile, Mrs Trunchbull’s facial expressions, and the complete encapsulation of her demeanour by George Aldridge, brought a satirical comedy to the concert – while never undermining the vocal talent.
However, it wasn’t all just impressive belting vocals and dance accompaniments. Sweeny Todd (performed by Eve Klien and Arjan Dhatt) brought an ironically wholesome comedy to the stage, alongside the alluring and capturing Hades. Masked by sunglasses and deep growls, Adam Fox transformed their demeanour to one that belonged in Hadestown. Accompanied by Miya Atherton Patel’s angelic vocals, the performance was contrasting and compelling. I must give special credit to one of my favourite musical songs ever, ‘No Good Deed’, brought to life by the green hue flooding the room, alongside Erin Walfisz’s wicked vocal work.
It would be impossible to review Villains and not include the closing song, ‘Cell Block Tango’. As it emerged from the audience and back of stage, we were immediately engulfed in this performance. I think I speak for the whole audience when I say this song was perfect, each actor encapsulating their individual characterisation and demeanours without a note out of place. Such powerful vocals and female rage made it impossible for any of us to avert our gaze for a second – truly the perfect way to close such an incredible show. The standing ovation was very necessary.
It’s safe to say that UMMTS are, once again, not going to disappoint this year. With their performance of Into The Woods playing from December 4th to 7th, be sure to buy your tickets while you can (if Villains was any indicator of its standard) to hopefully see some of these talented, familiar faces perform again!
