An extremely long time ago I first performed on stage as a tiny 4 year old in my birthplace of Warrnambool, so when a show came up to review in my home town, I gratefully took the opportunity and my Mum for an overnight stay. We had a wonderful weekend. Warrnambool (3.5hrs drive from Melbourne) is a fantastic place (voted Australia’s most liveable regional city) and I highlight if you include in your visit their art galleries and a theatre experience, it’s an awesome artsy destination.
MY BRILLIANT CAREER was showing at the Lighthouse Theatre by Warrnambool Theatre Company, and what a company! A cast of 28 were hugely talented and entertaining. I did have a few favourites by the end of the show, their characters so enriched the play with warmth and laughter, but I could say a million positive things about everyone in the cast, truly; all amazing, worked so well together and I hope you had the best time putting on this show, because we had the best time watching it.
Great use of an inventive set design and sound/lighting throughout the show. The ‘horse and buggy’ travel adaption, very clever! The walk-on walk-off gum trees rather than still props made change of whereabouts quick and un-interrupting to the story being told. The giant book in the background where topics scribbled across digitally invited us to continue enjoying each chapter and the true sounds of the Australian bush playing as we were transported back in time was so lovely to hear.
Mia Copland playing ‘Sybylla’ is second to none I’ve seen play this role before. It’s hard to imagine that she is anything but strong willed and confident in her everyday life too; on stage Mia is full of her character tenfold. Her lead script is unforgiving and she is on stage constantly. I applaud her every word, every mannerism, action, stride and scream. She spoke with articulation of a versed poet. Standing out was her vociferation on living in Possum Gully – being a part of a family down on their luck. Sybylla, as oldest child, will remain responsible to help her family when needed. Will she succumb?
Though Sybylla’s society grandmother takes her in for a period, and a rich man shows interest in her; they are feelings of which Sybylla may be unsure whether to reciprocate. Amid the advancement of ‘Harry’ played charmingly by Elliot Cooper, there will be a call of ‘duty’ for Sybylla to repay a debt of her father’s. I could feel Sybylla’s pain as Mia brought that to the audience in devastative prospect on returning to a monotonous torturous life Sybylla thought she had managed to leave. A life where there seemed no future to do as she wished, where no one cared of her ambitions; a life where she may survive, but not thrive. A life of no career, excepting carrying babies and hopefully not dying in childbirth.
Lucy played by Angela Verspay, was a mother dealing with all the usual things a mother does and more. The baby ‘blanket’ appearing took a serious situation into comical laughter (my second time to witness labour in action on stage haha but the first blanket pulled out – who thought of that – different!). Finally, when Lucy played piano at the end, such action said 1000 words and I felt a magic moment of communication between mother and daughter, well done!
I loved Grannie Bossier played by Kate Head, delivery of her character was precise, as was Hannh Bellamy as Aunt Helen. Noteworthy were their interactions with each other. Little extra details in theatre help make every scene believable. It might be just an eyebrow raised, shoulder shrug or a glance away, a certain non-verbal tone used; things we may not consciously always notice, but subtleties that make dialogue come to life.
The character of Uncle Jay-Jay was funny and featured in Sybylla’s stint at her grandmother’s, played by Jeremy Lee – quintessential to his better life – bravo, he was my favourite! I laughed long after he delivered his line of ‘what on earth would I do in the kitchen, I don’t even know where it is’ – I daresay that would have been true for many a wealthier early-century gentleman.
Gertie played by Amelia Dumesny was a breath of fresh air in her acting, I felt she really did play opposite Sybylla beautifully in giving to her family and showing genuine sisterly love for Sybylla. Brother Horace played by Oberon Rothman also gave a compelling speech to Sybylla, and their father Richard played by Michael Hoffman was exactly rightly cast to be both a positive and negative influence on his family.
The family of Mr McSwat played by the hilarious Lachlan Turner were all excellent! Lachlan’s exaggerated persona worked his role on par as any professional (my Mum loved his antics). Little Arto playing ‘Jimmy’ was a cutie, as were Paddy and Lilibet playing cheeky ‘Tommy’ and ‘Katie’. Vivienne and Hannah playing ‘Maggie’ and ‘Rose-Jane’ were eagerly switched on in being naughty, and Ruby Nelson playing Lizer was exceptional – I noticed her in the clan even before her role took on a feature in the script. Mrs McSwat played by Anja Harley had a fantastic accent of country Aussie bush life and Alex Smith playing Peter (also taking a shine to Sybylla) was fun in his quiet shy way. We loved this rough and tumble family.
Worth mentioning too is that this play is derived from a semi-autobiographical book written more than a 100 years ago by Stella “Miles” Franklin. I wonder what Miles would think of today’s world where women can be anything they desire in majority of countries, but not all, as somewhere in the world today there are women who still live in cultures and environments struggling to be heard and educated for a better existence, the world for them today is not dissimilar to that of Sybylla’s.
MY BRILLIANT CAREER is a triumph of writing and taking that written work of yesteryear to the stage today is quite an achievement. Congratulations to Producers Penny McLeod and Matt Baker, Director Lisa Graham, Assistant Director Flo Roney, Stage Manager Warren Easley, Set Designers Claire Norman & Lyle Russell, Lighting Design Tegan Evans and all the creative team – an example of exemplary regional community theatre working at its best!
I thoroughly encourage others make the drive from surrounding areas for the Warrnambool Theatre Company’s next show ‘& JULIET’ playing 3-10 January 2026. If you live locally – go see everything this company produces – what a treat to have your theatre easy to get to, easy to park at, restaurants close walk and great bar service at interval. Not things we always get queuing up in Melbourne. Accommodation for anyone living further away too is affordable with plenty of choices.
Ticket and information link: https://www.warrnambooltheatrecompany.com/
Theatre venue: https://www.lighthousetheatre.com.au/
Our Accommodation: Magpie Lodge B&B (highly recommend)
CAST:
Sybylla Melvyn – Mia Copland (Flo Roney understudy)
Harry Beecham – Elliot Cooper
Grannie Bossier – Kate Head
Lucy Melvyn – Angela Verspay
Richard Melvyn – Michael Hoffman
Aunt Helen – Hannah Bellamy
Gertie Melvyn – Amelia Dumesny
Horace Melvyn – Oberan Rothman
Uncle JayJay – Jeremy Lee
Mr McSwat – Lachlan Turner
Mrs McSwat – Anja Harley
Peter McSwat – Alex Smith
Lizer McSwat – Ruby Nelson
Jimmy McSwat – Arto Bellamy
Tommy McSwat – Paddy McKane
Maggie McSwat – Vivienne O’Brien
Rose-Jane McSwat – Hannah Rothman
Katie McSwat – Lilibet Bellamy
Frank Hawden – Dean Field
Blance Derrick & Midwife – Heidi Benz
Aunt Gussie – Eila Lyon
Mary O’Farrell – Lousie Rothman
Tramps & Guests – Jo Owen, Annemaree Stonehouse, Margy Jackson, Ace O’Dwyer, Ross McCorkell.
Photography credit: Greta Punch
To book tickets to My Brilliant Career, please visit https://www.warrnambooltheatrecompany.com/current-production.
