Truth, beauty and a picture of you

Since launching a few months ago, the Hayes Theatre Company has dazzled Sydney with the high production standards of the musicals it has performed on a compact stage.

After Sweet Charity and The Drowsy Chaperone has come the first original Australian production, Truth, beauty and a picture of you.

The trademark fiendishly clever staging and lighting was on display. This time, one box was pushed forward and pulled back to create the elevated stage of a rock band, or a bedroom underneath or even the edge of a high rise building.

Although it is a musical put together from existing popular songs by Tim Freedman, that he wrote for his band The Whitlams, it never felt like a juke-box musical.

His songs are naturally dramatic, dealing with issues as eclectic as the perils of poker machines, loneliness and inner beauty.

It makes for a lush and enjoyable score. A bit like sampling delicious flavours at a Thai Restaurant – both mains and desert. That was a theme milked more than once for a story set in trendy inner city Newtown.

The story cooked up by Alex Broun fits very comfortably around the music. A twenty something lost soul Tom, played by the well chiselled Ross Chisari, ventures from the country to meet friends of his late father who died before he was born.

His first appointment is with his father’s former band buddy and now grumpy underpants Anton. He’s played by Ian Stenlake, in  what could be the performances of his career, transforming from a spunky young rock’n’roll groover into a snarling fat lump.

Helping young Tom cope with inner city rigors is the lovely Erica Lovell as Beatrice, a Mosman film student. He needed all the support he could get as the story takes him in an unexpected direction.

If you were impressed with the Hayes Theatre Company’s first two outings you will also love this (inner) city (musical).

It is yet another feather in the crowded cap of the Producer/Director Neil Gooding. He helped found the Hayes Theatre with the aim of nurturing  new musicals.

This certainly is a musical that would be a strong contender for a main stage production with one of our State based theatre companies.

Memo Mr Andrew Upton and Brett Sheehy. Come and see what can be done on the smell of an oily rag and give quality shows like this a go.

David Spicer

Images: Toby Francis, Ian Stenlake and Scott Irwin; Erica Lovell and Ian Stenlake & Ian Stenlake, Scott Irwin and Toby Francis Photographer: Noni Carroll