Melbourne Reviews

Step aside The Boy from Oz, there’s a new contender for the title of ‘The Great Australian Musical’. Melbourne Theatre Company’s My Brilliant Career, based on the 1901 Miles Franklin novel has returned for an encore season after a wildly successful 2024 premiere.

The all-singing, all-dancing, all-musical-instrument-playing (seriously, I mean, everyone can play all the instruments) is a twisted fairytale of nostalgic Australiana led by the incredible Kala Gare as Sybylla Melvyn.

The wildly ambitious protagonist from Franklin’s novel is given an update by the creative team of Mathew Frank, Sheridan Harbridge and Dean Bryant, who turn the beloved heroine into a bona fide rockstar, bouncing around the stage with glee and total improper behaviour for a turn-of-the-century lady.

With a complete lack of a fourth wall, the audience is included on Sybylla’s journey, which is expertly told by Gare. She even warns us that there is no plot; she jumps forwards when things get too ‘sentimental’ or difficult to share and claims her space as both a character and actor with conviction and charisma.

However, Sybylla is lying just a little bit; there is a plot, she just hasn’t finished out the ending yet, which is a nice metaphor to take forward. We see her grow from an impetuous teenager sent to live with her grandmother (Ana Mitsikas) to a young woman who has lived through hardships and come out stronger for it.

Gare is joined by much of the original cast from 2024, who are so wildly multi-talented it’s both awe- and envy-inspiring. Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward plays Frank, an overly pompous Englishman with a Mr Darcy quality, who professes to love Sybylla despite her flaws. Playing the cello, singing and providing one of the most glorious dance routines, Bajraktarevic-Hayward is a hilarious foil throughout. Against the more traditional love interest of Harry (Raj Labade), a whip-cracking, guitar-playing dreamboat, Frank doesn’t stand a chance, and despite her protestations, Sybylla can’t help being swept off her feet by him.

The cast engage with each other with the ease and familiarity of a close-knit family. The jokes land effortlessly and to great effect in a subtle tribute to classic Aussie humour. The audience is let in on the quiet in-jokes, making the whole experience more intimate and immersive.

Led by Musical Director, Victoria Falconer, the score is a phenomenal achievement by Matthew Frank and Dean Bryant, combining elements of folk, country, rock and pop to create a truly unique production.

My Brilliant Career is a testament to Melbourne Theatre Company’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program which helped develop the production into the wildly successful musical it has become. It’s encouraging to see companies taking chances on new work and championing local artists, because just look how good it can be.