Welcome to a new short and sharp Australian musical and get your tickets to support a world premiere! Seven strangers catch the train, each deep in their own worlds and worries until one passenger innocently breaks through the social barriers. They are told to board and leave emotional baggage behind but that is impossible.
Kudos to Producer and Playwright, Anna Notley and Musical Director, Composer and Pianist, Analise Wren (accompanied by guitarist, Abby McKimmie), for presenting new songs and leaping into the world of a mini Broadway-style musical. With hints of ‘Rent’, ‘Hairspray’ and a little of Sara Bareilles, we travelled with the passengers as each revealed their hidden selves.
Each character represented part of society struggling with their every day lives singing about how they were trying to ‘impress for success’. As the actors boarded the train, their stories unfurled. Freya Moore played a woman deep in depression looking down a dark road and Lizzie Tang, an effervescent young woman trying to weave a way through her future and rental costs. Aleksandra Ford portrayed a worn out but loving new mother whose identity is lost and Jemima Stratton played a character seeking to heal from heartbreak. Greg Thornton’s and Steve Rowe’s characters board the train as a father and son with obvious worry and fear around a father’s growing forgetfulness and finally Hannah O’Donoghue boards as a young woman with health issues putting on a brave face. Young and older, new love and love lost, health issues and worries about their place in life; it was a capsule of today’s post-covid life style and choices.
Each singer poured their hearts into the songs about who they are and their struggles. Freya Moore sang with a sad and lyrical gentleness contrasting with Lizzie Tang’s pizzazz. Aleksandra Ford and Hannah Donoghue presented their songs beautifully and Jemima Stratton tugged at our heartstrings. It was great to hear two male voices from Greg and Steve offering a gravitas as they sang about their worries around the same fears of ageing.
The musical is only an hour long but it is just the right length to take a ride with each character. The songs are the script and the well played piano and guitar gave enough support for the singers. Before it sounds too depressing, there are some fun songs and dancing as the ensemble gets to know each other and recognises in each person similar views of life and love. Some travellers bond and others support the breaking out of fellow passengers’ lives.
To book tickets to Behind Their Closed Doors, please visit https://sydneyfringe.com/events/behind-their-closed-doors/.
Photographer: Daniel Ferris
