Tell Me On A Sunday

Full praise and kudos also goes to the amazing pianist Darren Hesketh, who doesn’t just accompany Shelley brilliantly as she pours heart and soul into this musical, but he also physically embodies the story arc as he plays! It is powerful to see him throwing himself into the drama behind the music with so much energy and passion. Back up vocalists appear for several numbers and there is support from stagehands in the “Hollywood” scene, which all seamlessly wove the threads of Emma’s story together into a colourful tapestry.

For those not in the know, Tell Me on a Sunday follows a young English girl, Emma, who has recently landed in New York. Brimming with optimism, she sets out to seek success, companionship and, of course, love.

However, she then encounters a string of romantic misadventures and heartbreak. As she chases new love and a fresh start, she moves away from Greenwich Village to Hollywood, but then eventually back to Manhattan. It’s a journey of loss, heartache and an eventual gathering of maturity and stoicism along the way.

Shelley’s powerhouse vocals are always a soaring delight and she brilliantly captures Emma’s hopefulness and despair in equal measure. Her story plays out in “conversations” with a friend, as well as her romantic interests. Further insight into these chapters is revealed through letters to her mother back home in Muswell Hill in the UK.

Bravo to everyone from Suncoast Repertory Theatre Inc for a stunning, intimate and powerful production, perfectly staged in the Black Box Theatre within the Old Ambulance Station in Nambour. Head to the event link for the last few shows this weekend - but be quick!

Lisa Lorne Blair

Photographs by Travis MacFarlane