An illuminating and inspiring discussion about creating new works, from blank page to stage
Presented by: Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Reviewed: 11 June, 2023
Every song we hear, every show we see, every standup joke that makes us guffaw — each one started as a blank page and an idea in someone’s brain. But how do they get from that tiny spark to the art we see on the stage? Eddie Perfect has curated a conversation with leading creatives and cabaret artists in a delightful nerd-out about the creative process, featuring: Matthew Frank and Dean Bryant, musical theatre writers known for Prodigal, Virgins, and others; comedian Michelle Brasier, who can also be seen at her shows Reform and Comedians Auditioning for Musicals; Leah Sprecher and Bradley Stevens, creators of the iconic Broadway Barbara; Virginia Gay, TV actress and playwright; and Gillian Cosgriff, writer of the new Australian musical currently in development, The Fig Tree.
The discussion that ensued was fascinating, entertaining, and, for all of us wanna-be creators, encouraging. Each creator shared a little of their journey into writing or composing, with the paths into writing as diverse as the people on the stage (though for many of them that path traveled via WAAPA). Matthew and Dean and Leah and Brad discussed the marriage of being in both a couple relationship and a working relationship, showing that there’s more than one way to make that dual partnership work. Michelle spoke about the incredibly fast-paced and evolving nature of writing for comedy, while Gillian spoke more about the long game of writing an extended work. Many of these discussions were accompanied by the artists performing one of their original songs. Eddie Perfect’s Taking Out The Bins performed by Virginia Gay and Gillian Cosgriff, accompanied by Eddie Perfect on piano, showcased his trademark deadpan humour and clever lyrics. Michelle Brasier’s relatable song about Millennials delivered punchline after punchline while also featuring her magnificent voice. Matthew Frank and Dean Bryant performed a sweet anti love song from their musical My Brilliant Career. Gillian Cosgriff’s moving number from her musical The Fig Tree was a standout, and also a taste of what audiences can experience at the workshop performance of the musical later this week.
While they each had different perspectives and pathways into writing, they had one thing in common: failure. As Virginia Gay eloquently put it, ‘Failure is vital.’ She spoke about writers and creatives needing to fail in order to remove the fear from failing. If you are afraid of failure, you’ll never create anything — a sentiment that was echoed by the entire panel and that reverberated throughout the room.
Eddie kept the discussion focused and moving, approaching the artists with leading questions about their lives as creators. The end result was an illuminating and inspiring insight into the many miles a work travels before it is ever heard by an audience’s ears.
Reviewed by Kristin Stefanoff
Photo credit: Claudio Raschella
Venue: Banquet Room, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: Ended
Duration: 1 hr 10 min
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