Review: Catch Me If You Can

Based on the hit film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, and an incredible true story, Catch Me If You Can is a musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught.

When his parents' marriage hits the rocks, teenager Frank Abignale, Jr. runs away from home.

Armed with cheeky charm, big dreams and millions of dollars in forged cheques, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer – living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams.

Frank's lies catch the attention of FBI agent, Carl Hanratty who pursues Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes.

Catch Me If You Can is a bright and highly entertaining spectacle with high-energy dance numbers, striking costumes and a riveting story that will stay with you long after you leave the theatre.

With plenty of blues and jazz, it is not your traditional musical. One minute the audience is laughing at the antics of cheeky Frank and people's gullibility, and at other times the emotions portrayed on stage in song and acting are so powerful, it hits you in the pit of the stomach.

Former Otumoetai College boy Matt Lee is outstanding, his acting experience shining through as he confidently commands the stage. He conveys a huge range of human emotion - his short solo 'Someone else's skin' expresses the heartbreak for children in divorces.

He successfully shows how Frank is driven by loneliness and his failed attempts at trying to help his alcoholic father played by Jaden McLeod brought tears to the audience's eyes.

McLeod plays the challenging role of the jilted father with equal great depth, moving from comedy to extreme pathos, expressing the despair of a man who has lost everything. Like Lee, his voice is powerful and experienced.

Stephen Ormsby as the FBI agent who ends up feeling a strange affection for the man he is chasing also sings with great passion, learning in the end that he and Frank are not that dissimilar as men in search of their dreams. Ormsby carries most of the blues numbers with great finesse.

And Sarah Coleman's searing solo 'Fly, Fly, Away' sends shivers down your spine such is her skill conveying the pain of love lost.

It is not all tears though, there is plenty of laughter and big scale entertainment with brilliant group performances including Frank's escapades with the air hostesses singing Jet Set, and the nurses taking his Doctor's Orders.

Professional level talent right here in Tauranga, don't miss this, one of the best shows I have seen here and my colleague who came with me loved it so much she is going again this week.

Catch Me If You Can
Tauranga Musical Theatre
17th Avenue, Tauranga
17th to 28th April
Tickets: iticket.co.nz