The Sunshine Club

In the 25 years since Wesley Enoch’s joyful musical gem The Sunshine Club first enchanted audiences, it has rarely been seen in theatres outside Brisbane or Sydney. Now musical lovers around Australia will have the opportunity to see what the fuss is about. HIT Productions is touring a talent-rich team of triple threats under the direction of Wesley Enoch, who wrote the book and lyrics and who directed the Queensland Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company productions.

The story takes place after Indigenous people are barred from local hall. Returned indigenous serviceman Frank Doyle (Garret Lyon) would be allowed in to see his childhood friend Rose (Claire Warrillow) sing, but is incensed when his sister and others are denied entry. So he creates his own dance venue, The Sunshine Club, which welcomes everyone regardless of their skin tone. Chaperoned by his Aunty Faith and Claire’s father Reverend Morris, the club is filled with carefree joy where people can sing and dance and fall in love – until the reality of the prejudice of the times crashes in.

It's impossible not to be moved by the hopes and dreams of would-be couple Frank and Rose as circumstances conspire against them. Garret Lyon captures all of Frank’s hope and vulnerability. His early numbers are all joy, but his song “Homecoming” is full of bitterness and resentment. Claire Warrillow as Rose is sweet and naïve, but in a stunning dress in front of a tinsel foil curtain, is pure glamour, singing with her semiclassical lilt. Roxanne McDonald gives Aunty Faith a superhuman level of stoic kindness and inner strength. And as Frank’s sister Pearl, Tehya Makani’s song Passionfruit Vine is beautiful and utterly heartbreaking.

This production is sheer delight. From John Rodger’s marvelous music incorporating swing  and latin beats, Shenzo Gregorio’s musical direction making the compound band sound big, Yolande Brown’s vibrant, jazzy choreography to writer and director Wesley Enoch’s generosity, this show bursts with hope. Although this may not go as planned for the protagonists, the play ends with some promise of better things to come.

This is a marvelous musical. Go see it and take your kids.

Cathy Bannister