Centrelink The Musical

Centrelink the Musical is a glimpse into the world of four people who are in the queue at the Centrelink office and their interaction with one of the staff.

It is billed as a musical but vocals were not a feature of the night. Jacqueline Cook as Janine, the officious Centrelink case worker, took both the singing and acting gong. Her timing and vocal work stood out. Praise also toDylan Lloyd playing Gary, the Centrelink veteran, for his 110% effort in his song despite a lack of singing ability.

The cast also includes Artemis Loannides playing pregnant single mum Renee, morose and unapproachable;  Adam Wilson as wheelchair-bound Ed; and Harlene Hercules as an unemployable performance artist Thyme.

Staging was basic with a few chairs and lots of microphone stands – there was a big open acting area, generally underlit, and scenes were pushed over into the darker sides of the stage. The occasional projection on the cyc seemed disconnected from the action and under-utilized in a visually very bland staging. 

There were awkward transitions from dialogue to song and between scenes which made the show drag. There is a sudden serious twist in the tail yet it is not resolved. Maybe this is the lesson – that once you are in the Centrelink queue you are stuck there forever.   

Shirley Jensen