More than simply a gig or concert, Home Grown: Musical Theatre by Australian Writers had the blissful vibe of a Love-in, with singers, musicians, composers, and audience members coming together to share their talents and their love of musical theatre.
Approaching the impressive landmark of their tenth anniversary, Home Grown continues to enrich the local musical theatre industry as they facilitate, celebrate, and elevate Australian composers.
And there is much to celebrate, with Australian musical theatre seasons this year including a high profile commercial season for Midnight: The Cinderella Musical (John Foreman, Anthony Costanzo), while Bloom (Katie Weston, Tom Gleisner) played the subsidised stage at Melbourne Theatre Company, and Bananaland (Keir Nuttall, Kate Miller-Heidke) enjoyed a premiere staging in Brisbane.
The program for this instalment of Home Grown was bookended by songs from upcoming professional seasons. Teenager Annie Jones kickstarted proceedings by belting Lydia’s lament “Dead Mom” from Beetlejuice the Musical (Eddie Perfect) and Kala Gare, supported by Connor Morel, memorably brought home the night with Rita’s “If I Had My Time Again” from Groundhog Day the Musical (Tim Minchin).
Commemorating 20 years since the passing of Nick Enright, Imogen Spendlove thrillingly revived Bonnie-Mae’s torch song “I’ll Hold On” from Miracle City (Enright, Max Lambert).
If the sense of a theme is coming through here, it is that this instalment of Home Grown was definitely a night for powerhouse female vocals.
Belting “Hard As A Diamond,” Chelsea Gibb unleashed a devilish force as evil queen Eve, soon to be seen in a concert season of Villainy (Craig Christie). Strong vocals and gorgeous harmonies from peak trio Bree Tipoki, Danielle Matthews, and Angela Scundi brought vibrant life to “Cold War” from Confessions, a female spy musical.
Gare brought the house down with the premiere performance of “Delete The Crush,” which composer Yve Blake (of Fangirls mega-fame) mysteriously introduced without sharing the title or plot of her new musical.
Gentler numbers included Deirdre Khoo singing the endearing I Wish song “City of My Dreams” from The White Rose (Isabella Dymalovski, Oliver Thomson). “Found” from Gary is Jesus (Conor Neylon & Jackson Peele) was a true standout in the first half, with Ariana Rigazzi delivering a beautiful vocal line that sweetly enhanced the lovely tune and lyrics.
Mel O’Brien nailed the very funny lyrics of “Friends,” the first of two songs from Westberg (Darby James), a comedy thriller musical about a share house after an alien apocalypse. Anisha Senarante followed with sweet, optimistic ballad “Who I’ll Be.”
Another amusing number was the duet “Love is Dead” from “Jack of Two Trades” (Lucy O’Brien, Andrew Strano), sung with deadpan humour by Sean Donehue and Bek Schilling.
Cassie Hamilton had the audience in the palm of her hand with a pair of songs from her own musical A Transgender Woman On The Internet, Crying. Performing to sharply arranged backing tracks, Hamilton scored abundant laughs with “Grinding on Grindr,” continuing the personal connection with “Is This What You Came For.”
Also performing their own material to stirring effect, Samuel Gaskin shared “Pressure” from RECKŌNING, the presentation completed with AV images and a recorded backing track. Gaskin’s heartfelt reflection of the timing of his appearance coming after the disappointment of the Referendum vote on the weekend moved the audience to give a full standing ovation.
An I Wish song with the power of an 11 o’clock number, “Someone” from Caesar (Joey Dessman) raised the roof, as sung by Callum Warrender who landed an extraordinary final note.
Delightful host Gillian Cosgriff moved the evening along with delectably daffy humour and sharp comic delivery. Cosgriff treated the audience to her own wonderfully witty song “Presents,” which captures the sinking dread and guilt that accompany an unwelcome but well intentioned gift.
There is nothing but welcome gifts to be enjoyed at Home Grown. The tenth anniversary celebrations of 2024 are keenly anticipated.
Home Grown: Musical Theatre by Australian Writers played at Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne on Monday 16 October 2023.
The Home Grown: Musical Theatre by Australian Writers program can be read online.