Ordinary Days

Ordinary Days tells the story of four young New Yorkers and how their lives intersect in their search for love and “the big picture”.

Deb (Anna-Louise Hammar) is a disgruntled grad student doing her thesis on Virginia Woolf, who loses her notes on the subway. Warren (Nicholas Renfree-Marks) is an aspiring artist who finds himself working as an assistant to an established artist, handing out flyers to the faceless masses on the streets of Manhattan. Ever the optimist, he collects and muses over discarded items including Deb’s notebook. They meet “at the Met” where he returns her notebook. Their story - will they eventually overcome their differences and become friends?

Deb and Warren are the humorous characters – Deb has some fabulous acerbic comments and Warren speaks with a gentle innocence. They were beautifully realized by Anna-Louise and Nicholas, both displaying excellent comic timing.

Also at the Metropolitan Museum that day are Jason (Craig Irons) and Claire (Caitlin Penno), a couple who have just moved in together – she concerned that she has made the right decision, he frustrated by her concerns. Their story – will their differences tear their relationship apart?

Jason and Claire are the straight roles and we are not given any background – we just witness their disintegrating relationship and we must wait till near the end to get some insight. Craig and Caitlin do an outstanding job as people in a disintegrating relationship.

The characters’ lives come together briefly, as a spontaneous act by Warren, frustrated by his lack of career, causes them all to reflect and accept/change/commit to a possible happy ending, in true musical tradition.

All the roles were sung with confidence, and the only criticism being that at times it was a battle to hear the vocals over the piano.  

The staging was simple and very effective in the small space – an endless cyc, a piano and a series of painted boxes that became buildings or simple furniture, and the use of occasional projection assisted in establishing location.

The lighting in such a small space can be problematic but it was handled beautifully here – and who cannot love a rig of Strand Patt 23s and 123s!

Cheeky Theatre Company have done a great job bringing this relatively new and unknown work to Melbourne audiences.

Shirley Jensen