Musical - Whats The Show

Bec Pynor’s Someone Else’s Story: A Mesmerising Musical Journey

3 March 2025 Emma Bennett

Someone Elses Story Rating

★★★★★

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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.

Emma Bennett

Tick, Tick… Boom!

3 March 2025 Breanna Redhead

TickTickBoom Rating

★★★★★

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Presented in under 6 weeks, Limelight Theatre has shown that diamonds are made under pressure. Tick, Tick… Boom! is a slick and polished performance in all elements of production.

Telling the story of the life of RENT composer Jonathon Larson, this show is full of heart, humour and a healthy dose of reality.

Jordan Richards leads the cast as Jon, offering an authentic and heartfelt performance with strong vocals throughout. Though his voice did seem fatigued towards the end, I feel it served the character well as it mirrored his emotional arc.

Ellie Coburn shines as Susan, genuine and caring, working well with Richards whilst also showing her own vocal prowess. Best friend and artist-turned-businessman Michael is given life by Blair Price-Morgan – albeit a little young for the character – he too, was consistent throughout.

While this show is typically played out with trio, this particular production was rounded out with a small but sharp ensemble that filled out the wealth of smaller roles with great enthusiasm, each putting their all into their overzealous caricatures.

Personal favourites included Aliesha Archer’s talent agent Judy Wright, and Jake Battle as Jon’s father – both a great laugh. Georgia Goff enjoys her moment in the spotlight as Karessa Johnson singing a beautiful (duetted) rendition of ‘Come to Your Senses’.

Caleb Stevens’s choreography (which also doubles as ensemble) is simple but effective. It adds just the right amount of movement to build up moments without distracting from the main story.

But the testament must also go to the cast and the band, who are clean and concise under the guidance of Jasper Cruden.

I was also a big fan of the lighting design (Matthew Roberts) built into the cubic set. It was a fun and welcome surprise and added great flare to the otherwise simple brick set design.

Overall, I was highly impressed with the quality of this production from start to finish and highly recommend you snatch up a ticket to the remaining performances.

To book tickets to TickTickBoom, please visit https://www.taztix.com.au/limelight/

For Phone Bookings TAZ Tix @ 9255 3336

PERFORMANCE DATES:
FEB 27, 28, MARCH 1, 2*, 6, 7, 8
Recommended MA 15+

Times: Evenings at 7.30pm, *Matinees at 2pm

Tickets: $37 Adult, $32 Concession (seniors/students),
$30 Members, Groups 20+ $32 each
processing fees apply

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.

Breanna Redhead

Fresno: The Musical

27 February 2025 Adam Miller

Fresno Rating

★★★★★

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Let’s cut to the chase. If you like musical theatre, this is a must-see. It’s fun, it’s well-paced, and it’s imbued with the kind of effortless charm that you want to find at your friendly local pub.

Set in an Irish-American bar, Fresno explores a slice of life of young bartender, JJ (Jackson Cross) and the ragtag bunch of bar flies that surround him. While the themes and situations in the show weren’t uniquely American, the American setting gave it a distinctly “sitcom” feel and helped establish the stakes and the journey across the evening.

From the moment you walk into Chapel Off Chapel’s Loft, the world is established with a functional set and clever use of neon signs to define the locations. The Loft is the perfect home for this show, allowing the creative team to use the black box aesthetic of the room as an asset rather than a hindrance. I’ve definitely been in bars and pubs like this!

The music feels like a love letter to musical theatre, with clear nods to Jonathan Larson and Sara Bareilles, amongst others. The use of varied musical styles is well-considered, with a familiarity that lets you know what you are supposed to get from that number. Similarly, the book leans heavily on strong character archetypes and recognizable tropes, making it easier to invest in the characters early, knowing exactly who they are.

The cast makes the most of these archetypal characters, especially in the comedic moments and, for my taste, that’s where they shine. So much of the writing is laugh-out-loud funny and the cast settled in quickly to find the pace and timing that the audience responded to. There was an engaging sense of camaraderie and chemistry on the stage that was very appealing. Special mentions to Lachlan Edis and Antoinette Davis for some truly memorable comedic turns throughout the show.

Leading the cast were Jackson Cross, Douglas Rintoul and Naomi Leigh. Cross delivered an impressive balance of heart, comic timing and powerful vocals. He was paired perfectly with Rintoul’s charismatic acting and versatile singing. Leigh, playing an aspiring pop singer, brought a poignancy and authenticity that helped the music shine and made me long to hear this show recorded so I could listen to it on repeat.

Daniel Tusjak (keys), Eve Pinkington (drums) and Cody Leggett (guitar) formed a tight and responsive band and the sound was well-balanced, allowing the audience to revel in the music and engage with the text.

Dealing with themes of found family and the value of community, the writing is light touch with enough heart to keep you emotionally invested but not so deep that the comedic pacing is jarring.

Fresno is a fun evening out that brings all the best elements of “comfort watching” your favourite tv show. Hopeful, life-affirming and genuinely funny, Fresno confirms that Australian original theatre is alive, well and deserving of all the love we can give it. I think we can all drink to that.

To book tickets to Fresno, please visit https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/fresno/

Photographer: Shane Palmer

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.

Adam Miller

Light Up The Stage Musical Review

24 February 2025 Emma Bennett

Light Up The Stage Rating

★★★★★

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NOW Productions continue to demonstrate their commitment to developing the next generation of theatre stars—both on stage and behind the scenes! This time, they took on a brand-new challenge a full-blown Musical Revue. Thoroughly entertaining and a fantastic way to spend an evening watching the young cast do what they love.

What a brilliant way to let young performers and tech crews shine by giving them the creative freedom to bring some of the most iconic musicals to life. With such a selection of incredible musicals to choose from, it must’ve been a challenge to narrow it down, the selection allowed for a mix of large ensemble numbers and solo performances, which gave those with more experience and/or confidence, the opportunity to showcase their talents, whilst making it a safe and enjoyable show for those that are perhaps just stepping out.

Split into two acts featuring four musicals each, the show was the result of months of hard work. The show was put together in a relatively short intense rehearsal period, with rehearsals lasting little over a month, demonstrating the commitment and hard work to execute such an outstanding show.

The cast was a fantastic mix of ages and experience levels, and their energy was absolutely contagious! Everyone gave it their all, and the enthusiasm was undeniable. There were some standout performances, of course, but every single performer brought something special to the stage. With just a little more refinement in mic work and vocal blending, those already impressive group numbers will be even stronger in the future.

The costumes and props were simple yet effective, and you could tell the cast was having an absolute blast stepping into such a variety of roles. The show was cleverly structured so that each “Item” featured a selection of songs from a particular musical, with every performer taking on multiple roles throughout the night.

Act I kicked things off with numbers from Matilda the Musical, The Pirates of Penzance, Dear Evan Hansen, and Mary Poppins.

Act II brought even more magic with Come From Away, The Sound of Music, Into the Woods, and Les Misérables. And oh, that finale—One Day More from Les Misérables was breathtaking, showcasing the sheer talent and passion of this group. It was a goosebumps-inducing, heart-soaring moment!

So often, curtain calls feel like an afterthought, but not here. The cast came out in their respective musical groups, each with a uniquely choreographed moment that gave the audience a final glimpse of the show’s incredible range. It was such a clever way to ensure that all cast members were given their moment to receive applause.

With effective lighting, a well-planned (and quick-changing!) set, and a cast that clearly loved every second of being on stage, this Musical Revue was an absolute triumph. Bravo to all involved.

For more information about NOW Productions, please visit https://nowproductionssa.weebly.com/.

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.

Emma Bennett

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