Music & Lyrics by Adam Gwon
Musical Director: Matthew Webster
Directed by Chris Zuber
Q The Locals production
Q Theatre, Queanbeyan to 7 September
Reviewed by Len Power 5 September 2024
“Ordinary Days”, was first developed by New York Theatre Barn
in New York City in 2007. Since then, it has had numerous productions around
the world, and this is the first chance for local audiences to see it.
It is a sung-through musical with a cast of four and a pianist. Adam Gwon’s music has the same challenging elements for singers that you find in the works of Stephen Sondheim and Jason Robert Brown, but it has its own unique voice that makes it tremendously appealing to audiences.
Set in New York City, the show follows the ordinary lives of four people and how they grow through their interactions with each other. It needs very capable performers who can develop strong characterizations while singing the challenging music.
The show has been cast with four experienced performers who between them have already proved their abilities with previous shows.
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| Vanessa Valois as Deb |
Vanessa Valois plays Deb, a feisty, nervy student who is struggling as much with herself as with others. Joel Horwood is a young dreamer and optimist, Warren, who looks for the simple beauties of life. Kelly Roberts is Claire, a young woman finding it difficult to live with the new man, Jason, in her life. Grant Pegg is Jason, a romantic, who is puzzled by Claire’s responses to him.
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| Joel Horwood as Warren |
All four performers give immensely appealing performances. Through their first songs, they skilfully bring their characters to life, making their stories very real to the audience. The sound, designed by Telia Jansen, is finely balanced so that the all-important lyrics can be heard clearly.
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| Kelly Roberts as Claire |
Musical director, Matthew Webster, also plays the piano accompaniment to the show. There are about 20 songs, all with challenging music, and Webster plays them all with skill and sensitivity. While it is a sung-through musical, a couple of songs, “Life Story” and “I’ll Be Here” are particularly memorable.
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| Grant Pegg as Jason |
The show, performed without interval, has been given a fine staging by director, Chris Zuber. The setting, evoking the atmosphere of crowded skyscrapers in New York City, is achieved with the director’s clever set design using hundreds of milk crates. It is enhanced with a thoughtful lighting design by Zac Harvey. Changes of scene are imaginatively handled, keeping the action flowing at a good pace.
This show has realistic and colourful characters whose lives become easy to identify with. It’s touching, sentimental, tuneful and very enjoyable. There are many fine musicals that get their start off-Broadway and this production with its fine cast is definitely one to see and enjoy.
Photos supplied by the production
Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.
