One of the great strengths of the Fringe is the sheer variety of venues, ensuring a stage for all manner of performances.
Bec Pynor’s Someone Else’s Story found its home in the intimate setting of Star Theatre Two, a perfect choice for this deeply personal production. Following a sell-out run in 2024, the show has returned by popular demand, and on opening night, the venue was packed with a diverse audience of devoted music lovers.
The set is simple and tasteful—no gimmicks, just exquisite music.
Pynor, accompanied by the accomplished pianist Daniel Brunner, takes the audience on a moving journey through her life. From the little girl enraptured by musical theatre, nurtured by her grandparents’ shared love of the art form, to her high school years where she first took centre stage as Jasmine in Aladdin, and finally, to her rigorous Music Degree studies in Queensland, which challenged her, broadened her repertoire, and helped shape the remarkable performer she is today.
Her selection of 14 songs spans beloved classics from Mary Poppins, Wicked, and Hamilton, as well as lesser-known gems from The Notebook, Avenue Q, and Waitress. Given the diversity of the repertoire, it would have been helpful to have the song titles announced, allowing the audience to better connect with the music both during and beyond the performance.
Pynor opened the show with a commanding presence—tall, poised, elegantly gowned, and every inch a star beneath the spotlight. Her voice soared with note-perfect clarity, captivating the audience from the outset. Her duet with Brunner provided a delightful shift in tone and pace, offering a charming contrast to the solo numbers. However, while her renditions were undeniably polished, there were moments where I found myself wishing she had leaned more into her own vocal identity, rather than adhering to the American accents of the original songs.
Throughout the performance, Pynor shares what she describes as ‘only the lessons that music can teach,’ encouraging the audience to cast aside fear and pursue their dreams—a philosophy she has clearly embraced herself. Should she choose to return to the Fringe, I have no doubt she will be gracing a larger stage, commanding an even greater audience.
Song List:
1. The Secret of Happiness – Daddy Long Legs
2. Feed the Birds – Mary Poppins
3. Palace Walls – Aladdin
4. Medley (Someone Else’s Story, Fine Fine Line, Heavy Help My Heart, Times are Hard for Dreamers, I Never Knew his Name)
5. The Wizard and I – Wicked
6. Burn – Hamilton
7. When he Sees Me – Waitress
8. No Day but Today – Rent
9. My Days – the Notebook
To book tickets to Someone Else’s Story, please visit https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/someone-else-s-story-af2025
This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.
