Palmerston North's Abbey Musical Theatre opens year on a winning note

Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon

Four make perfect company in this funny, charming and poignant entrée to the Manawatū theatre year.  The ordinary emotional lives of two pairs of star-crossed couples are explored in this engagingly quirky sing-through pocket musical. It's exactly the sort of sparkling entertainment on a scale that could easily be picked up, put in a pocket and taken home for a performance in the living room.

Director Andrea Maxwell and Musical Director Nick Ross are to be commended for the way they maintained the ethos and authentic New York flavour of this piece.

Jason, convinced he has found "the one", has moved into Claire's New York apartment. However, this could be too soon for Claire who finds she is ambivalent about the new arrangement, and the couple are at emotional cross-purposes.

In a scenario that many students could readily identify with, lit grad Deb has compromised her Virginia Woolf assignment by losing her notes. Fortunately, the notes have been found – not so fortunate from Deb's perspective; the finder is the well-meaning, hyper enthusiastic Warren, a wannabe artist and cat sitter.

These two stories incidentally intersect, crossing one another in the streets and art galleries of New York, and the four performers bring commendable voices and energy to the characters and the journeys they are on.

Tayla Clark's delightfully expressive Deb is matched by her beautifully phrased singing. Making the ideal foil, Tyrell Beck effectively captures the flamboyant but sensitive Warren.

Growing in stature in the emotionally nuanced role of Jason, Richard Brown hits his stride with the haunting song Favorite Places.

There's another finely pitched performance from stage newcomer Amy Doherty conveying the reserve and uncertainty of Claire still recovering from the death of her former husband.

The delicate and unobtrusive accompaniment courtesy of on-stage pianist Bronwyn Boddy adds to the overall accomplishment of this entrancing production.

(Richard Mays)