The Drowsy Chaperone

The Drowsy Chaperone

The Drowsy Chaperone Rating

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The Stirling Players return for their final production of 2024, The Drowsy Chaperone, and they’re certainly going out with a bang.

One thing you can count on when it comes to community theatre is the traditional complimentary glass of sherry, and The Spotlight Bar at The Stirling Theatre has you spoiled for choice with a range of different types.

This quirky little theatre at the Innaloo Recreation Centre drew a full house for their Saturday evening performance. The tiered seating was a plus for those of us who often find ourselves missing parts of the stage when there’s a tall person in front of us.

The Tony Award-winning musical by Bob Martin and Don McKellar opens on Man in a Chair (Ben Clarke), who, feeling a little blue, shares with us his favourite record, the cast recording of a fictional 1928 musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. The curtains open, and we’re told to use our imaginations as the recording comes to life.

And so, the stage is set for a hilarious evening with a young couple on the eve of their wedding, a disorganised best man, a desperate theatre producer, a forgetful lady of the house, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a self-proclaimed lothario and an intoxicated chaperone. Will the wedding go ahead, or will it be derailed through mistaken identities and the allure of a life in the spotlight?

Even with a relatively simple set, the production values of this show are top-notch; it’s easy to forget you’re in a community hall watching a local production; this could be a cast of professionals at The Regal or His Maj. The costume department was busy with the many costume changes, all of which perfectly suited the era, and a band playing live backstage immersed you in the production when you expect local theatre musicals to come with a backing track.

Danielle Battista shines as Broadway starlet Janet Van De Graff, building on her amazing performance earlier this year in Stirling Player’s production of Evita, and Sonni Byrne is pitch-perfect as the chaperone who is clearly more concerned with her own love life than that of her young charge.

The exchanges between bridegroom Robert Martin (Max Leunig) and his best man George (Oliver Temby) were also a joy to watch, providing strong vocals and great comic timing. I also have to congratulate the wonderful ensemble performers who were perfectly timed and made the most of the relatively small stage. But it’s Ben Clarke as Man in a Chair who steals the show with his hilariously understated delivery that had you waiting with bated breath to see what he’d come out with next.

This one-act, laugh-a-minute musical has to be one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. Having read the synopsis, I really didn’t know what to expect. Even my not-so-musical-enthused husband had a smile on his face every time I glanced over. With just a handful of performances left, get in quick.

To book tickets to The Drowsy Chaperone, please visit https://www.stirlingplayers.com.au/

Playing dates: December 5, 6, 7 at 7.30pm.
Matinees: Sunday December 1 at 2 pm.
Tickets: Adult $25, Concession $22 Members $20

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.