Inner West Side: The Musical

Inner West Side: The Musical

What do you do when you want to put on a musical extravanganza that will resonate with Sydneysiders of the inner west?

You put together a great team of like minded theatre professionals and you organise a trivia night at Marrickville Community Centre to raise the necessary funds. This is precisely what Jake Bayssari, the director of Inner West Side: The Musical did along with songwriter and composer Tom Cardy.

The musical is centred on a privileged North shore girl Andrea or Andy for short who swaps her comfort zone for the grunge of the inner west. Newtown the ‘Hub of the universe’ is where she really wants to belong. But moving to the inner west and ‘fitting in’ socially is not all it’s cracked up to be and she has to ‘fake it to make it’. She has to pretend to be something she’s not and never was … a ‘Super Alternative’. She tells so many lies that she can’t remember the lies on which the new lies are based and her facade begins to wear thin. Not only that but it turns out she’s not the only one doing it. It seems everyone she’s met along the way is also telling lies. So who’s really cool and who’s not and does it really matter where you came from in the great melting pot of Newtown?

“People have become really gentrified and this is true not only in Newtown but all over the world” says director Jake Bayssari, “Being alternative is now really cool but what many don’t realise is that it was always cool in the inner west.”

This is a social musical with plenty of hip-hop routines, a couple of tap numbers and great storyteller songs. No tokenism, just all inclusive, musical magic. Expect some great songs too. I especially enjoyed the song Grind with great lyrics and raunchy choreography set in a pop up cafe with token coffee grinder.

The props are wheeled on and off with a graffiti covered Newton terrace painted on a flat being the permanent set. Lots of energy and enthusiasm. Well drawn characters and a clever script bring this show to life. Loved the reference to ‘Vinnies op shop’ being a ‘New Religion’.

Original indeed.

Until Sep 22. Seymour Centre, Cnr of City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale. $32-$37+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

Reviewed by Renee Dallow

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