I must confess, I hadn’t known the origins of Melbourne Theatre Company’s My Brilliant Career until after I saw the new Australian musical.
Based on the novel by Miles Franklin, with book by Sheridan Harbridge and Dean Bryant, music by Mathew Frank, lyrics by Dean Bryant, and directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, Melbourne Theatre Company’s My Brilliant Career brings forth to the stage an ambitious and modernised retelling of the Australian 1901 tale.
Stepping into The Sumner at Southbank Theatre, I noticed the stage was adorned with yellowish dry grass and hay, appearing like an open field in the countryside. In the centre, there was an elevated circular platform which had musical instruments sat upon its section.
As the Melbourne audience slowly began to fill their seats, members of the cast gradually took to the stage; sometimes one by one, other times in small clusters, with each individual setting upon a different musical instrument. This continued until everyone present, under the musical direction of Victoria Falconer, was making beautiful music together.
It wasn’t hard to spot Kala Gare from the cast, clearly identifiable by her beaming smile. Happily strolling in to take in the view, Gare then briefly joined her castmates to jam with them before separating and preparing herself to tell Sybylla Melvyn’s story.
In comparison, young Sybylla Melvyn has very little to smile about. Not getting along with either parent, especially her mother (Christina O’Neill), and being much older than her siblings, Sybylla finds herself missing the days where she lived her childhood at her grandmother’s place, in high society and where books are easily accessible. Longing for something more, but not knowing what she desires exactly, Sybylla declines her mother’s requests to go off on her own to make money for the family as a governess. When a letter arrives from Grannie (Ana Mitsikas), Sybylla finds herself summoned back to her grandmother’s home to be trained to be a lady and prepare for marriage.
Still a teenager, Sybylla is not ready for marriage but relishes any opportunity to stay in high society and surround herself with books again. Trained by her auntie, Helen (also, Christina O’Neill), it isn’t long before Sybylla has a meet-cute with the dashing Harry (Raj Labade). Despite Labade and Gare having wonderful chemistry together, Sybylla insists to the audience (on multiple occasions) that this tale is not a love story.
But I digress, My Brilliant Career is a story of love, just not a romantic one. In a time where women didn’t have the right to vote, nor had the power to choose how they lived, Sybylla’s tale is a story of love, where she chooses herself.
Admittedly, Sybylla’s initial humble beginnings didn’t resonate with me and it took a while to warm up to her story. One which I had aforementioned to not knowing about before. However, it was when Sybylla began to perform for her friends and family and outwardly yearn for a life far from society’s stereotypical blueprint, did I find her relatable.
Just when you believe things are looking up and Sybylla is finally headed in a promising direction, life finds a way to mess it up. Plans are dashed and it was painful seeing the character forced to go through a journey that she didn’t want to take. All while her heart and mind longed for something else entirely.
The visuals of My Brilliant Career are gorgeous, with set design by Marg Horwell, the yellow field was simplistic but still captivating enough while providing the perfect setting for Sybylla’s story. The show’s set changed slightly with a shower of flowers or a picking of umbrellas, always complimenting but never drawing away from the cast and its story.
The costumes, also designed by Marg Horwell, assisted the talented cast, differentiating their various roles. I was never confused as to which character was which, not only by the way they looked, but through the way they carried themselves and exhibited their different mannerisms.
Standouts include Hany Lee who aces every role, going from playing young sweet sister Gertie, to a stunning confident and couture adorned socialite, and then to an inquisitive child under Sybylla’s care. The choreography by Amy Campbell during ‘Make a Success’, that Lee fiercely devours, looks and feels like a Eurovision song in the best kind of way.
Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward is hilarious as Frank. Even when without lines, Bajraktarevic-Hayward is thoroughly entertaining and a welcomed scene stealer. Drew Livingston has the loveliest voice whenever he took to the stage as his multiple roles. Livingston, who plays a drunk husband, a fun uncle, and father who has to disappear for weeks at a time for work, never is unlikable due the actor’s portrayal and naturally warm charm.
Christina O’Neill is wonderfully vicious as Sybylla’s harsh mother, super sweet as the understanding Auntie Helen, and then absurdly quirky as Mrs M’Swat, showcasing she’s a master of her craft. Ana Mitsikas transformation from a high society Grannie to the unruly Rose-Jane is fascinating and made it difficult to believe that both roles were played by the same person. Plus, I was amazed that despite his height, Lincoln Elliott was so thoroughly convincing as the annoying and petulant child, Horace, to the point of being surprisingly adorable.
However, I fell in love with Harry. Appearing as the ‘Ying’ to Sybylla’s ‘Yang’, the pair appear to be the best of friends (or something more) and inseparable, thoroughly enjoy each other’s company no matter the task. Although Raj Labade does also play the role of Peter in the production, it is his Harry that is a standout. I’ve lost count the different number of expressions appear on his face, all while trying to figure out what’s going on in the head and heart of the bold, driven and stubborn girl that he loves.
It helps that Labade gets to perform one of the most beautiful song penned for this new musical; ‘Working My Way’ is honestly so gorgeous, I wish I wrote it. The way that the performance of this song alone is directed and executed has me believing that director Anne-Louise Sarks is a big fan of romantic comedies, which I really appreciated.
Finally, Kale Gare. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this incredible talent grow and Sybylla Melvyn is by far one of her best roles. Gare artfully draws in your attention with her genuine charisma, wit, and talent. Without fault, Gare effortlessly has the uncanny ability to captivate and emotionally hold your attention, making you feel like you’re the only one in the room that she’s telling Sybylla’s story to. A true gift.
If she doesn’t floor you during the stunning ‘The Wrong Key’ as her vocals dynamically cut through the silent air of Melbourne’s Southbank Theatre, Gare will majestically tug at your heart strings during the exquisite ‘Gargoyle’, and have you touched and possibly teary by the time you hear ‘Someone Like Me’.
I felt a rush of emotions from understanding and hope, to anger and heartache during Sybylla’s rollercoaster ride. By the end, I felt I knew the character like a friend. Her fight isn’t foreign to us, especially in modern times. We’re still struggling with inequality, women are still treated differently in society, and it’s exhausting.
It’s frustrating to remember that we live in a world where many are still to this day, forced to choose between their heart, their dreams, and can’t have both. Melbourne Theatre Company’s My Brilliant Career, while reminding me of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and the musical Once, is still a brilliant and unique Australian story in its own right. After all, there’s more than enough room for another story about a woman with ambitions that just wants to live.
My Brilliant Career successfully and masterfully tells the relatable tale of a young woman, one who deserved the right to choose her own fate and dared to dream.
Melbourne Theatre Company’s My Brilliant Career is currently playing in Melbourne at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner until December 18, 2024.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/whats-on/season-2024/my-brilliant-career
Photography by Pia Johnson.
