The Goodbye Girl

Director Pam O’Grady has assembled a stellar cast who do their best to capture the charm of Neil Simon’s witty and at times sentimental script, based on his screenplay for the successful 1977 romantic comedy of the same name which earnt Richard Dreyfuss a best actor Oscar.

In the early nineties New York City, single-mum Paula McFadden and her 12 year old daughter find themselves abandoned by Paula’s boyfriend, who has taken an acting job in Spain, subletting their apartment to another actor, Elliot Garfield. Despite initial tensions, Elliot and Paula’s daughter Lucy form a bond, and a romance develops between Paula and Elliot.

Fiona DeLaine (Paula) does her best to bring energy to a score which doesn’t deliver the magic you’d expect from composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist David Zippel. Lindsay Prodea (Elliot) is strong in his role and provides the right amount of charm albeit a little cheesy at times.

With most songs delivered standing facing the audience, a little imagination was called for. The lyrics, full of rhymes and witty one-liners, make the songs, but there’s no stand out tunes to speak of. Highlights came in act two with the touching ‘I Can Play this Part’ delivered by Elliot (Lindsay Prodea) and the sassy Mrs Crosby (Megan Humphries) in her rendition of ‘Too Good to be Bad’.

Comedy was predominantly provided by the cameos, from the lady walking through Central Park to the hilarious television host Ricky Simpson (Paul Rodda).

Henny Walters (Lucy McFadden) is delightful in her role; her bond with her mother is authentic and she has a stage presence and talent beyond her years.

Choreography by Shenayde Wilkinson-Sarti was inspired and showcased some fabulous dancers.

It is hard to deny the talent on and off the stage, but the show lacks that spark that many of the modern musicals possess.

Kerry Cooper

Images: L to R Lindsay Prodea, Henny Walters and Fiona DeLaine, & Bec Kemp, Mandy Fisher, Mitchell Smith and Tim Mackie.