The Detective’s Handbook

The Detective’s Handbook

The New Musicals Australia program is an organisation all about finding new work and fostering writers to create new Australian musical theatre. With the legendary Hayes Theatre Co as their performance space, their first show is The Detective’s Handbook, a complex new work – intelligent and witty, with lots of rapid fire spoken/sung beat poetry. Unique and funny, it promises to be a great night at the theatre.

Justin Smith, who plays Detective Frank Thompson – a hard boiled, slightly jaded, dusty around the edges Chicago cop – spoke to City Hub about the show.

“It plays on that world that we all know: [that] film noir, Chicago American, moody femme fatale kind of world, but we are putting our own spin on it, having fun with it,” said Smith.

“Like that world of noir films, [such as] The Maltese Falcon, it plays on the stereotypes of that kind of story. The Detective’s Handbook has classic film noir themes, [it’s about a] downtrodden new young whippersnapper who’s eager and wants to do everything by the book, and that’s his formula to being a great detective. There’s love, there’s great mystery, it’s a good fun, old school musical.”

With a cast of six, this is a very ensemble like piece with some good old standard jazz musical numbers which are catchy yet evocative of a smoky 50s bar.

With music by Australia’s Olga Solar, this show also features a five-piece live band situated in their own little bunker at the back of the Hayes stage. There’s a great range of songs, with some in spoken word style. Writer Ian Ferrington is an Australian actor/writer, a smart young guy with a unique voice which lends it’s own kind of quirky, unique bent. (MS)

Apr 21–May 7, various show times. Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point. $45-$50. Tickets & info: hayestheatre.com.au or 02 8065 7337

 

BY MEL SOMERVILLE

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