My Brilliant Career

This iconic Australian novel seems an unlikely contender for a musical adaptation. However, this production transforms the novel into a vibrant contemporary performance that inevitably sweeps the audience away. This is thanks to a variety of strengths that make this an unmissable and fabulously idiosyncratic Australian experience.

The music and the lyrics are written with humour and wit, targeting a contemporary or youthful audience. The songs are catchy but not trite, they are melodic but in no way soppy. The music is captivating and incorporates a blend of rock and pop styles to generate a very wide appeal. 

The casting of this show is particularly brilliant. It involves a highly accomplished ensemble of musicians who are also highly talented singers and actors. Each cast member gives a very impressive performance merging the music, the emotions, and the actions into a seamless journey of sheer joyous and impish fun. The highly dynamic mix of music, song and theatre is often electrifying.

Kala Gare (Sybylla Melvyn) leads this absolutely astonishing cast whose energy and synergy is so palpable it becomes infectious. The performers exhibit not only multiple talents but also great flexibility in their acting, traversing a variety of roles and making them plausible and amusing:  Raj Labade (Harry/Peter/Ensemble), Ana Mitsikas (Grannie/Rose Jane/Ensemble), Christina O’Neill (Mother/ Helen/Mrs M’Swat /Ensemble), Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward (Frank/Ensemble), Melanie Bird (Gertie/Blanche/Ensemble), Drew Livingston (Father/Jay-Jay/M’Swat /Ensemble), Lincoln Elliott (Jimmy/Horace/Ensemble), Victoria Falconer (Ensemble), Jarrad Payne (Ensemble).

Gare brings a vibrancy and relentless energy to the performance that literally blows the audience away. Her voice, her demeanour and her spirit inhabit the role in a wonderfully natural and authentic manner. She takes complete charge of the persona and complete control of the role. Labade gives Harry a great deal of charm and the chemistry with Gare is palpable allowing the romance enormous sensuality.

The creative team includes Victoria Falconer (Musical Director/Additional Music Arrangements), Amy Campbell (Choreographer), Marg Horwell (Set & Costume Designer), Matt Scott (Lighting Designer), James Simpson (Orchestrator/Vocal Arranger), Joy Weng (Sound Designer), Miranda Middleton (Associate Director) and Savanna Wegman (Associate Set & Costume Designer). Their collective efforts in creating an atmosphere that is faithful to the book yet relevant to a contemporary audience is extremely artful, clever and well thought out.

The production takes the feminist elements of the story very seriously but without being humourless or strident. This is a very original and refreshing interpretation of the novel and the opening night culminated in one of the most spontaneous and genuine standing ovations that I have seen in quite some time. 

Patricia Di Risio 

Photographer: Pia Johnson