A heartfelt and funny new Australian musical that ticks almost all the boxes
Presented by: State Theatre Company South Australia
Reviewed: 30th July 2024
It’s always exciting to see the premiere of a new Australian work. We have so much talent here, and it’s wonderful that companies such as State Theatre Company South Australia take these on and showcase them. The Questions feels like Australia’s answer to the musical First Date, and it achieves most of what it aims to do.
The Questions is a sweet rom-com musical about an awkward blind date that extends much longer than either of them wanted when a sudden shelter-in-place occurs, leaving them trapped in the same house for weeks. In an attempt to ‘hate each other a little less’ while stuck together, they turn to ‘The Questions’, a real psychological questionnaire intended to help people get to know one another.
The concept is modern and relatable, combining our recent memories of Covid with the classic questionnaire featured in magazines everywhere. The script, written by Van Badham, is clever, finding the perfect balance of heartfelt and humorous, with natural sounding dialogue. Rather than making this work merely a two-hander, the show also features a neighbouring rock band, who just happen to be able to see through the windows into the apartment and observe the ill-fated couple. The neighbouring band also features as the band for the show, cleverly integrating the musicians into the show. While there are so many great ideas here, musically the show is not as strong. The songs (with lyrics by Van Badham and music and lyrics by Richard Wise), while featuring some pretty melodies, generally lack a memorable hook and there is often a disconnect between the musical and lyrical phrasing, making them difficult to follow as an audience member. Unlike most contemporary musicals, most of these songs do not advance the plot, but are more of a commentary on what has already happened in the play. The vocal harmonies are also unusual, often placing the male voice very low and the female voice very high, resulting in very wide harmonies that don’t always showcase the vocalists’ strengths or lend themselves to easy blending. However, the two numbers performed solely by the neighbouring ‘rock band’ (Sam Lau, James Bannah Jr and Jackson Mack) were clever and funny, and were a musical highlight of the show.
The two leads are wonderful to hear and see. Both Chaya Ocampo (as ‘Visitor’) and Charles Wu (as ‘Resident’) perform their roles with a natural sense of realism and authenticity, working off each other well as they argue their way through the show. They each have stunning singing voices and blend well in the songs, as best they can considering the unusual vocal harmonies.
The set is beautiful and functional, featuring the open plan living area of the house, complete with kitchen cupboards and under-couch storage, which director Mitchell Butel uses to great effect, keeping scene changes quick and seamless. The colour scheme is contemporary beige, fitting with the uptight and anal personality of the ‘resident’ character. To one side we see the neighbouring building housing the band, with blinds on the windows that are at times closed to keep the focus on the main apartment.
The Questions is a wonderful show in many ways, and is worth seeing for the story and excellent performances of all involved. Hopefully with some more workshopping in the songs, this show will be another Australian iconic musical.
Reviewed by: Kristin Stefanoff
Photo credit: Claude Raschella
Venue: Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 26 July – 17 August
Duration: 1hr 45min (no interval)
Tickets: $39-$95
Bookings: https://statetheatrecompany.com.au/shows/the-questions/
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