What happens when an all-work-no-play man lands in an alternate dimension populated by characters inspired by classic board games? Roundhouse Theatrical Co. is bringing Mayfair: A New Musical to Melbourne audiences, redeveloping its 2025 Perth production, Monopoly: The Unauthorised Musical. We go behind the scenes to explore the new material, colourful characters and creative choices shaping this next chapter.
About The Musical – Mayfair: A New Musical
What is this musical about?
Very loosely, it’s about games!
An ‘all work, no play’ man from our world accidentally gets launched into an alternate dimension full of characters inspired by classic board games, and has to navigate this strange new place and try to make his way home.
What does this production bring to this musical that audiences may not have seen before?
This production is a redevelopment of our 2025 original work – ‘Monopoly: The Unauthorised Musical’, which debuted to great success in Perth. This remount was a great opportunity for us to go back and fix all the things we didn’t think worked about the original script + score, so it contains new scenes and moments that even our 2025 audiences haven’t seen!
Which number in the show is the one you cannot wait for audiences to experience?
Our show features a classic Disney-style villain, and her number (#7 – ‘Oh I Know’) is a swinging big band tune with a flashy dance break. Charmaine Gorman in the role of Mayfair (our villain) is absolutely chewing the scenery in this number, and audiences should love it.
What has been the most challenging scene or sequence to stage?
We have a staged sword fighting sequence that has been professionally choreographed by Scott Jackson, which our actors diligently practice before every rehearsal for safety and comfort. It’s a lot of effort and time, but the result is thrilling!
How does the music serve the story in this production?
I’m a big believer that every song in a musical should either explain something to the audience, or end with the lead character(s) in a different narrative or emotional place to when the song began.
Additionally, each character has their own musical style, theme, and motifs that turn up throughout the underscoring. It’s a very cinematic score in that sense!
What character in the show do you think will surprise people the most?
Baron Von Strategy always catches people by surprise and becomes our crowd favourite. The character gives the actor an opportunity to show off a really wide emotional range, as well as having a lot of the funniest moments in the show.
What is the emotional heart of this musical, and how have you approached it?
At the core of it, this show is about connecting with those around us through that open playfulness that we all have as children, but tend to lose somewhere along the way. The protagonist of the story starts out as an arrogant, sarcastic killjoy, and has to learn to reconnect with that side of himself.
What will people be humming on the way to the car park?
So many to choose from! There’s at least 6 musical hooks in the score that I think have the potential to become bona fide classics.
Who in the cast is most like their character, and who is least?
Akansha Hungenhally as a bookish nerd with a secretly big voice turned out to be the perfect casting for our Scrabble-inspired character Miss Wordsmith!
Charmaine Gorman’s transformation into the villainous Mayfair is by far the biggest shift. Charmaine is an absolute sweetheart off the stage and an absolute terror in this role!
What sort of person is going to absolutely love this show?
I think people from all ages and walks of life can find something to love here! Those who enjoy the silly and slightly absurd will probably find it extra special.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Just a call to action! Please buy tickets and come see this show. I can confidently say it’s very polished and ‘complete’ as far as new works go, but all of that comes at a cost! We need to get people through the door so we can keep doing this. Come support the next big thing! You won’t regret it.
Our thanks for sharing the imagination and care behind Mayfair. Beneath its playful premise is a heartfelt invitation to reconnect with others and rediscover a little of the openness we so often leave behind in childhood. To support this new Australian musical and experience it for yourself, visit Roundhouse Theatrical Co. for tickets.