Reviews

Advent Brass Band was founded in 1925 and this special event celebrated 100 years of activity. This is an organisation that reaches out to young people through Christian beliefs and practice and employs brass band music in this enterprise. The success of the band was consolidated in this illustrious gala event and provided an opportunity to showcase the many excellent musicians who operate in its orbit. Celebrating a 100-year history is indeed a very admirable milestone and the performance celebrated this by bringing its community together and providing some sterling entertainment.

This is a sweet musical and a good night out. The narrative might be thin, but as the lady herself has said - if you want a rainbow, you’ve got to put up with a bit of rain.

First let me help get your bearings about where this production is placed on the Dolly musical universe.

9 to 5 the musical, adapted from the movie, had its Australian professional premiere in 2022.  Currently on the way to Broadway, is the large cast all singing and dancing, fully autobiographical Dolly: A True Original Musical.

Before I embark on the actual review, I first need to thank the Maleny Players for producing this premiere. It’s great to see a community theatre not only taking a risk with a new play but taking a risk with a new play by a local writer. Without support at a grass roots level like this by community theatres, then so many works would never see the light of day. Their “risk” was justified with practically a sold-out season and usually an ecstatic reaction.

You may have seen writer and director of this wacky opus, Francis Greenslade, on the telly – in particular Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell. I say wacky because the show, being more of a gloriously unhinged black comedy, provides a somewhat indecisive presentation where one isn’t sure whether to laugh, cry or remain immune, all with bemusement; but for a number of reasons.