The Summer of Our Lives

It has been too long since Perth has had the pleasure of a new Woods and Jones musical. Thanks to Western Sky Productions, this brand new, beautiful and bizarre production is delighting capacity audiences as part of the latest Blue Room Season.

The creative development of The Summer of Our Lives was originally supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and through Black Swan State Theatre Company’s Emerging Writers’ Program, winning the Malcolm Robertson Award for Promising New Work. I had the privilege of attending a read through of this work some time ago, and although very impressed, it seemed very challenging to actually stage. Kudos to director Katt Osborne and her creative team, who have embraced the “challenging” parts of this text, to create a very watchable, very entertaining show, that is unashamedly theatrical and gloriously funny.

Dysfunctional pre-teen Penelope, and her introverted older brother Arthur, reluctantly embark on a Christmas holiday 'down south’, with their mother Beth, and her new boyfriend Ned. Still reeling from their father’s death less than a year ago, this doesn’t seem to be a promising vacation. When Penelope stumbles upon an alien creature, things quickly spiral out of control. This is an hilarious look at what may have happened if ET or Mary Poppins had stumbled across the wrong family.

Emily Semple is endearing and frightening Penelope, creating a complex and fascinating little girl with a smart mouth and some interesting perspectives. She works wonderfully with alien creature Derek, a wonderful puppet designed by Sally Phipps who also designed an effective set and appropriate 80s costumes. Derek is puppeteered with expertise by Tristan McInnes, who also plays some key cameo roles.

Older brother Arthur, as played with depth by Elliot R. Peacock, is gorgeously awkward and loveable. Flustered Mum Beth is given a wonderful journey, in a beautiful and relatable performance by Erin Jay Hutchinson. Beth’s new boyfriend and nobody’s idea of an ideal stepfather, Ned, is wonderfully cringeworthy in the hands of Nick Maclaine. Tory Kendrick completes the cast as the terrifically enthusiastic and mysterious teenager, Glance.

This show is deliberately and delightfully “low-tech”, with “special effects” “not-that-special” which works beautifully for this clever but unlikely plot. Continual laughs, with funny, hummable songs, make this an enjoyable watch, and the accompaniment by musical director Joe Louis Robinson, and Alex Baker is great. There are lots of surprises - especially later in the story, and looking around the audience at one point, I noted a huge proportion actually leaning forward in their seats - enthralled.

Sweet, really disturbing and very funny - this is a really “different” musical, and is “out there” even for a Woods and Jones product. A joy to watch.

Kimberley Shaw