Stepping through a light haze in Chapel Off Chapel’s Loft, into the twilight world of The Forgotten Songbook instantly transports the audience to bygone era of music-making. The set, dressed simply but evocatively with a piano, a few furniture pieces and faded posters of long-forgotten musicals like Vienna Days and Girl Leaves Boy, conjures a smoky dive bar in the middle of nowhere and everywhere. It’s the perfect frame for a show that unearths the dazzling, almost unbelievable, fragments of composer Wilbur Weissman’s lost career.
What follows is a two-act whirlwind of longing, misfires and brilliance, pulled together by a creative team whose passion for Weissman’s story pulses through every beat.
Emerson Hurley’s compositions form the heartbeat of the show. Sitting at the piano with a relaxed command, Hurley not only plays with casual virtuosity but delivers a score that is tuneful, witty and remarkably affecting. His pastiche writing honours the Tin Pan Alley style while crafting songs that feel entirely fresh. “I’ll Never See Memphis Again” is one of the evening’s most poignant moments, unveiling emotional depths in both character and composition that stop time. Hurley may be at the beginning of his career, but The Forgotten Songbook suggests a voice with the sophistication of a modern-day Gershwin, or dare I say Weissman? Either way, he has the originality to stand on his own.
Co-writer and producer Dylan McBurney brings theatrical structure and dramaturgical clarity to this sometimes chaotic rollercoaster tale. The narrative, full of unexpected turns (a hippo attack??) never wavers in purpose. It’s comedic and poignant in equal measure, an impressive feat that speaks to the balance and restraint of McBurney’s work.
In his debut as director and choreographer, Mikey Halcrow crafts a staging full of flair and control. He uses stillness to great effect, allowing quieter moments to resonate and leans into the physicality of the performers to heighten the absurd and the powerful beats. The rapid pace never falters, but the show knows when to let a moment land and when to let the music speak for itself.
Karla Hillam gives a stellar performance. Channelling the style and swagger of a classic torch singer, she moves with elegance and sings with great versatility. Her character work is razor-sharp, shifting styles and personas with impressive precision. Her natural chemistry with co-star Jonathan Guthrie-Jones anchors the piece. Together, they deliver both belly laughs and broken hearts.
Guthrie-Jones, in turn, feels like a Hollywood leading man of yesteryear brought to life. His rich, beautifully controlled voice wraps itself around the material with ease and his performance is laced with charisma and genuine vulnerability.
Together, the cast form a dynamic double act (or trio including Hurley at the piano), effortlessly slipping between satire, drama and song. Their rendition of The House Un-American Activities Rag is a showstopper. It’s choreographically tight, musically rich and laugh-out-loud funny.
The Forgotten Songbook is more than a showcase. It is an excavation of talent, myth and memory. In a country where new musical theatre often struggles to find space, this piece deserves to travel far beyond its opening weekend. Don’t miss it and don’t miss seeing the work of any of this team in the future.
To book tickets to The Forgotten Songbook, please visit https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/the-forgotten-songbook/.
Photographer: Kristopher Wardhana
