Review by Stephanie Johnson For the Adelaide Theatre Guide

    The Met's "Thoroughly Modern Millie" is a toe tapping, top-notch musical that captures the razzle-dazzle of the Roaring 20s with fun and style.

Director David Sinclair and Musical Director Mark Delaine have produced a tight and professional show.

Design by Hermonn is aptly Art Deco. He has delivered a beautiful set that enables the most efficient changes seen in amateur musical theatre in some time. As a result, the production is well-paced.

Owner of the hotel, Pam O'Grady, practically steals the show with her performance as Mrs Meers. From the moment she enters, it is clear she relishes the comic role of the nasty Chinese hotel proprietor - a character the audience loves to hate.

Rachel Rai is funny and enchanting as Miss Dorothy Brown, a sweet and innocent society girl while also milking as much ironic humour as she can. Melanie George as Sincere Trust's head stenographer is also fantastic and April Stuart delightful as Muzzy Van Hossmere.

While the women in this show shine, it is not at the expense of the men.

Joshua Penley has been well cast as Millie's love interest, Jimmy Smith. Both Lockett and Penley imbue their scenes with just the right ingredients for a good romantic musical. The scene at the window ledge with "I Turned the Corner" is a highlight.

Quality key to Millie's success, Samela Harris (in the Advertiser 29-10-07)

    This is a short season, when compared with the long, award-winning run this show had on Broadway. South Australia's premiere production may not have the big budget but, by golly, it has the big quality, such a very polished presentation and it has the legs for a long run. As it is, audiences will have to move swiftly or miss out.

Marc DeLaine has filled the pit with a large and competent orchestra, director David Sinclair has whipped up a cream of musical talent and Carmel Vistoli has drummed them into a quality chorus line. The dance work is simply terrific. So are the costumes – by Hermonn. And the set is unfussy and effective, with the hilarious mobile typing desks working a treat.

“This show belongs to Greg Hart, who plays Johnny O’Keefe. Hart gives a faultless performance full of vigour and power. He has a gorgeous voice perfectly suited to this style and these songs. His vocal performance is flawless: always in tune, whether belting or crooning, and he commands attention with the power and tone of his voice. It is a performance of great concentration, charisma and skill.”

       John Wells, The Adelaide Theatre Guide

“Director Hermon gets the picture, keeping everything in this MET production light, bright and tight. His 1950’s Sets and costumes are a technicolour marvel. Colour and movement fill every inch of the stage, Thanks to Carmel Vistoli’s Skirt Twirling , en-masse  Rock’n’Roll Choreography. Go along - it’ll make you wanna Shout!”

    Patrick McDonald, The Advertiser

Russelle Starke - Adelaide Review

    ...it's a very brave amateur group which takes on those challenges. The Met succeeds brilliantly on all points.

Director Osborn delivers a remarkably sensitive ,well paced production of very professional standards.

Choreographer  Vistoli overcomes  astonishing challenges fitting the cast of more than thirty into complex movement routines on  a multi level small stage.

The tight and snappy orchestra  under Ben Saunders balances sentiment and chutzpah with ease.

Standouts in this well chosen cast are Ian Rigney as the palsied and ageing Gus ,The Theatre Cat, charmingly vague  in the sort of masterly understated performance we've come to expect of this fine actor.

Equally unforgettable  is the Grizabella of Trish Spence. Once glamourous and famous now  bedraggled, fragile , tottering toward her own Heavy Side Layer through the song ""Memory"" , this is an award winning performance of sustained subtlety and pathos.

Gold stars also to David Gauci , in a welcome return to the Adelaide stage as patriarchal Old Deuteronomy , Paul Rodda and Belinda Price in their Mungojerrie/Rumpleteaser routine , Jenny Scarce as Jennyanydots/Jellyorum.