A sweet, heartwarming musical comedy, this show glows. They’re Playing Our Song was originally produced on Broadway in 1979; this reviewer saw the original Australian production, starring Jacki Weaver and John Waters, in 1980 at the very same venue as this new touring production – Sydney’s Theatre Royal.
Set in the late 1970s, the creative team of Neil Simon, Marvin Hamlisch and Carol Bayer Sager tells a fictional story that is based on the real-life relationship of Hamlisch and Bayer Sager. The show opens as wisecracking composer Vernon Gersch (Scott Irwin) agrees to meet his offbeat new lyricist, Sonia Walsk (Danielle Barnes) in his posh Manhattan apartment. It signals the beginning of a tumultuous professional and rather complicated romantic relationship for these two very different personalities. They collaborate brilliantly work-wise, producing many hit songs – musically, they are a terrific match. But their personal life together (with or without Leon, Sonia’s on/off and troublesome ex) is somewhat disastrous, especially at first – will the right note be found?
The script is deliciously witty and full of wicked one-liners and theatrical and cinematic in-jokes. We see how Sonia and Vernon change, grow and develop over the course of the play. Structurally there is a lot of Vernon singing a song then Sonia mirroring/echoing or vice- versa, giving us both points of view (e.g. ‘If S/he Really Knew Me’ and ‘They’re Playing My (Our) Song’). In Act One, Vernon has the wonderful song ‘Falling’; in Act 2 it is Sonia who heartbreakingly sings ‘I Still Believe in Love’.
Staging-wise this show is relatively simple and sparse. There are no trios of guys or gals as Sonia or Vernon’s inner selves, as in most versions of this show – but there are two pianos, some chairs and tables, and a huge music note podium in art deco style to hide the second piano. I particularly liked the model of the Empire State Building, and the small models of buildings arranged like footlights across the front of the stage, to evoke the New York setting. Much use is made of the magnificent lighting design by Jason Bovaird, which at times is atmospheric and softly glowing, at others starry and romantic.
Both Barnes and Irwin (a real life couple) give excellent performances. As Sonia, Barnes (The Boy From Oz; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) is both charming and annoying – outspoken, vibrant, intelligent, very caring and actually quite shy underneath her eccentric shell. She has a dazzling array of costumes and sings and dances up a storm. She is given a close run for her money however by the handsome, toothy, rather goofy Irwin (Hairspray, Les Miserables) as composer Vernon. Both perform with power, pizzazz and panache.
A delightful and thoroughly enjoyable evening that will have you humming the songs and doing the dance retro moves as you leave.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
They’re Playing Our Song
Book: Neil Simon
Music: Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager
Director and Designer: Terence O’Connell
Music Director: Robyn Womersley
Lighting Designer: Jason Bovaird
Choreographer: Alana Scanlan
Costume Designer: Kim Bishop
Cast includes Danielle Barnes and Scott Irwin
Theatre Royal, Sydney
3 – 4 May
