Canberra Reviews

Here You Come Again begins not with glitter or country glamour, but in an attic bedroom of a family home in Ballarat. It’s an unexpected and slightly bewildering opening for a Dolly Parton musical, and for a long stretch the production struggles to orient its audience. With the tone sitting somewhere between realism, nostalgia, fantasy and emotional crisis, I found myself repeatedly wondering: Where is this going?

The root of the confusion lies in the material, not the performances. The plot is thin, and the characters feel so underwritten that even the most dedicated actor would struggle to make them fully dimensional. Emotional beats appear, disappear, and reappear without adequate grounding. The central storyline drifts without momentum, leaving the cast to work hard to create clarity and connection in scenes that simply aren’t structured to support them.

To their credit, the performers rise to the challenge with unwavering professionalism. Tricia Paoluccio’s Dolly is warm, witty, and steady – a charismatic force who lifts the energy and intention of every moment she’s in. Dash Kruck does his best in the role of self-professed loser Kevin. The supporting cast of Kellie Rode, Laura Joy Bunting and Bailey Dunnage are all working their hardest, often delivering far more depth and humour than the story affords. Dunnage’s cameos are a particular highlight, offering energy, presence and a depth of character that I don’t see anywhere else.

The set features a series of beautiful skyline images – shifting palettes of dusky blues and sunset golds that give the production a tenderness and expansiveness. The costumes, overflowing with denim, rhinestones, and references to Dolly’s iconic aesthetic, are delightful. The visual world of the show is more inviting than its narrative one.

The undeniable highlight – the true anchor of the evening – is the live band. Led by Musical Director Andrew Worboys (keys), with Tina Harris on bass, Luke Herbert on drums, and Ash Murdica on electric guitar, the musicians deliver vitality, precision, and some kind of coherence.

If not for them, I likely would have left the theatre much earlier than I did.

Here You Come Again has moments of charm and beauty, but it’s the band, the design team, and the cast’s sheer effort that keeps the show afloat.