It may only take two to tango, but it takes more than that to make a great musical.

Lyric Theatre, Star City, Sydney

April 12, 2014

For a great many 30-40 somethings Baz Luhrmann’s hit musical film is a feel-good icon that touched the soul of 1990s Australia. Like Dirty Dancing or Saturday Night Fever before it, there’s a generation of fans who can quote you the lines and sing you the songs. In other words, tamper with this much-loved classic at your peril. Looking at the smart, glitzy show that’s currently filling Sydney’s Lyric Theatre, on the surface there is much to admire – sets, costumes, lighting and some fine performances – but scratch that surface and, alas, tampering is just what Baz Luhrmann appears to have done.

The plusses first. Top of the list should come the performers, as Luhrmann has assembled an excellent cast of seasoned pros and newcomers. In the leads, Phoebe Panaretos as Fran is a real star in the making. Hers is a performance of great charm, and with the aid of a Spanish grandmother and father (the earthy, warm-hearted Natalie Gamsu and flamenco-stepping Fernando Mira), she makes us care about her journey from strictly...