The Detective’s Handbook

The Detective’s Handbook
Book and Lyrics by Ian Ferrington. Music by Olga Solar. New Musicals Australia / Hayes Theatre Co. Directed by Jonathan Biggins. April 21 – May 7, 2016

There is a new voice in Australian musical theatre – and like the Broadway sensation Hamilton, it is set to the rhythm of rap, but with a jazz music score.

One theatre veteran in the foyer described it as the best lyrics to a new locally written work in decades. Here is a taste.

"We went to arrest him, carefully planned it,

caught him red-handed - his confession was candid

but when the man took the stand he recanted,

You understand what duty demanded:

I planted a plant in an incriminating nook. I did what it took"

Set 15 years after prohibition in a US city, The Detective’s Handbook hums along with laugh out loud gags around every corner.

Detective Jimmy Hartman (Rob Johnson) is the new cop on the beat, teaming up with veteran Detective Frank Thompson (Justin Smith) trying to crack the case of the murder of two other Police officers. Young Jimmy makes the odd rookie error and gets distracted by femme fatales.

There are many delicious characters. My favourite was Maria Kowalski, who runs a delicatessen and match making business all on one premises.

Played by Lara Mulcahy – she doubled as Officer Maria Spade. In this role she teamed up alongside Christopher Horsey as Officer Peter Hammett for some of the funniest moments of the musical.

The clackety clack on the typewriter segues beautifully into a tap dance. They also do a classy soft shoe shuffle on some questionable powder.

The Detective’s Handbook commenced as a musical staged by the Sydney University Musical Theatre Ensemble. By sheer fluke I was in the audience and can report that it is exponentially a better production now.

The 20 something writing team were given the chance to develop the work by New Musicals Australia and benefited from working with older hands.

The sweet score from (violinist) Olga Solar was fleshed out by the expertise of musical director Michael Tyack, and Director Jonathan Biggins was on hand to milk every gag possible.

Many Australia Council grants for new musicals have not borne fruit. The Detective’s Handbook is ripe for picking.

"So, that book tells you everything you need to know about being a detective, huh? How to talk the talk, walk the walk, chalk the – chalk…"

David Spicer

Photographer: Clare Hawley

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.