Muriel's Wedding (musical)
Muriel's Wedding | |
---|---|
Logo for the premiere production | |
Music |
Kate Miller-Heidke Keir Nuttall ABBA |
Lyrics |
Kate Miller-Heidke Keir Nuttall ABBA |
Book | P. J. Hogan |
Basis | Muriel's Wedding |
Premiere | 6 November 2017 : Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney |
Productions |
2017 Sydney 2019 Australian Tour |
Muriel's Wedding the Musical is an Australian stage musical, based on the 1994 film of the same name. It has a book by P.J. Hogan (the original film's writer and director), and music and lyrics by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, with additional songs originally written for ABBA by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson.
Productions
Sydney (2017 - 2018)
The original production began previews from 6 November 2017 with an official opening on 18 November 2017, and ran until 27 January 2018 at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in Sydney, produced by Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures. Simon Phillips directed, and Gabriela Tylesova designed the set and costumes.[1][2][3] The 28-person cast included Maggie McKenna in the title role, Justine Clarke (Muriel's mother, Betty), Gary Sweet (Muriel's father, Bill Heslop),[4] Madeleine Jones (Rhonda), Helen Dallimore (Deidre Chambers), Christie Whelan Browne (Tania Degano), Briallen Clarke (Joanie), Michael Whalley (Perry), Connor Sweeney (Malcolm), Ben Bennett (Brice Nobes) and Stephen Madsen (Alexander Shkuratov).[5][6]
Australian Tour (2019)
The musical will embark on a national tour beginning in March 2019 at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne.[7] The production will then open at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in July 2019.[8] With McKenna performing in the Dear Evan Hansen US tour and Jones joining the Melbourne cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, casting began in September 2018 for two new female leads[9]. On 7 October it was announced that Natalie Abbott would be making her professional debut as Muriel alongside Elizabeth Esguerra as Rhonda.[10]
Original Casts
Character | Original Sydney Cast (2017) | National Tour Cast (2019) |
---|---|---|
Muriel Heslop | Maggie McKenna | Natalie Abbott |
Rhonda | Madeleine Jones | Elizabeth Esguerra |
Betty Heslop | Justine Clarke | |
Bill Heslop | Gary Sweet | |
Deidre Chambers | Helen Dallimore | |
Tania Degano | Christie Whelan Browne | |
Joanie Heslop | Briallen Clarke | |
Perry Heslop | Michael Whalley | |
Malcolm Heslop | Connor Sweeney | |
Brice Nobes | Ben Bennett | |
Alexander Shkuratov | Stephen Madsen | |
Peter "Chook" Vernell | Aaron Tsindos | |
Nicole Stumpf | Hilary Cole | |
Cheryl Moochmore | Manon Gunderson Briggs | |
Janine Nuttall | Laura Murphy | |
Agnetha Fältskog | Jaime Hadwen | |
Anni-Frid Lyngstad | Sheridan Harbridge | |
Björn Ulvaeus | Mark Hill | |
Benny Andersson | Aaron Tsindos | |
Musical numbers
Act 1
- "Sunshine State of Mind" – Company
- "The Bouquet" – Muriel
- "Meet the Heslops" – Perry, Malcolm, Joanie and Betty
- "Dancing Queen"† / "The Bouquet" (Reprise) – Muriel, Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Benny and Björn
- "Progress" – Bill, Deidre and Company
- "Can't Hang" – Tania, Cheryl, Nicole and Janine
- "Lucky Last/Perry Heslop" – Muriel and Perry
- "Money, Money, Money"† – Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Benny and Björn
- "People People" – Tania, Cheryl, Nicole and Janine
- "Girls Like Us" – Rhonda and Muriel
- "Waterloo"† – Rhonda, Muriel, Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Benny and Björn
- "Amazing" – Rhonda and Muriel
- "Sydney" – Company
- "Any Ordinary Nightclub" – Company
- "Strangely Perfect Stranger" – Muriel and Brice
- "Any Ordinary Night" – Company
Act 2
- "Perry Heslop" (Reprise) – Perry
- "Here Comes the Bride" – Company
- "A True Friend" – Muriel and Rhonda
- "Never Stick Your Neck Out" – Brice and Male Company
- "Why Can't That Be Me?" – Muriel
- "True Friend" (Reprise) / "Super Trouper"† – Rhonda, Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Benny and Björn
- "Life Is a Competition" – Ken and Company
- "Mr and Mrs Shkuratov" – Muriel, Alexander, Ken and Company
- "Shared, Viral, Linked, Liked" – Tania, Cheryl, Nicole and Janine
- "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"† – Tania, Cheryl, Nicole, Muriel, Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Benny and Björn
- "The Bouquet" / "Can't Hang" (Reprise) – Company
- "SOS"† – Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Benny and Björn
- "My Mother (Eulogy)" – Muriel, Perry, Malcolm, Joanie and Company
- "Strangely Perfect Strangers" (Reprise) – Brice and Muriel
- "A True Friend" (Reprise)[a] – Company
All songs by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, except as noted (†): "Dancing Queen", "Waterloo", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "SOS" by Benny Anderson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson; "Money, Money, Money" and "Super Trouper" by Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus.
Original Cast Recording
Muriel's Wedding The Musical (The Original Cast Recording) | |
---|---|
Cast recording by Various artists | |
Released | January 12, 2018 |
Studio |
|
Length | 66:00 |
Label | Sony Music Australia |
Producer |
The original cast recording was released 12 January 2018 and debuted at #17 on the ARIA Albums Chart in Australia.[11] It has been nominated for the 2018 ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album.[12]
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Sunshine State of Mind" |
| 3:33 |
2. | "The Bouquet" |
| 2:14 |
3. | "Meet the Heslops" |
| 2:19 |
4. | "Progress" |
| 4:00 |
5. | "Can't Hang" |
| 3:18 |
6. | "Lucky Last / Perry Heslop" |
| 1:52 |
7. | "Girls Like Us" |
| 1:35 |
8. | "Waterloo" |
| 2:10 |
9. | "Amazing" |
| 3:25 |
10. | "Sydney" |
| 2:54 |
11. | "Strangely Perfect Stranger" |
| 2:32 |
12. | "Here Comes the Bride" |
| 3:36 |
13. | "Never Stick Your Neck Out" |
| 3:13 |
14. | "Why Can't That Be Me?" |
| 2:36 |
15. | "Life Is a Competition" |
| 3:42 |
16. | "Mr and Mrs Shkuratov" |
| 5:44 |
17. | "Shared, Viral, Linked, Liked" |
| 1:55 |
18. | "SOS" |
| 3:58 |
19. | "My Mother (Eulogy)" |
| 4:54 |
20. | "A True Friend" |
| 3:57 |
21. | "Sydney (Remixed by Pip Norman)" |
| 3:29 |
Reception
Muriel's Wedding received very positive critical responses.[13] The Sydney Morning Herald commented that: "Muriel's Wedding feels like the complete package: a beloved film seamlessly updated; a central character who retains all the ambiguities that made you root for her in the first place; a conspicuously inventive score peppered with classic pop hits, and a mainstage debut that will be talked about for years. Adapting his own screenplay to the stage and into the social media present, PJ Hogan's book amplifies the Cinderella aspects of Muriel's story without sacrificing the satirical and melancholic elements that gave the film its depth and heart."[14]
Awards and nominations
Muriel's Wedding received seven 2017 Sydney Theatre Awards, including Best Production of a Mainstage Musical and Best Original Score of a Mainstage Production, as well as for its direction, choreography, musical direction, Jones as female actor in a supporting role in a musical, and McKenna as newcomer. It was nominated for Best New Australian Work, and in four other categories.[15][16]
Its text received the 2018 AWGIE Award for Music Theatre, and the AWGIE Awards' David Williamson award for excellence in writing for Australian theatre.[17]
The musical won five 2018 Helpmann Awards including Best Original Score, and was also nominated for Best Musical and Best New Australian Work, amongst others.
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Helpmann Awards | Best Choreography in a Musical | Andrew Hallsworth | Won | [18] |
Best Direction of a Musical | Simon Phillips | Nominated | |||
Best Female Actor in a Musical | Maggie McKenna | Nominated | |||
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Christie Whelan Browne | Nominated | |||
Madeleine Jones | Nominated | ||||
Best Musical | Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures | Nominated | |||
Best New Australian Work | PJ Hogan, Kate Miller-Heidke & Keir Nuttall | Nominated | |||
Best Original Score | Kate Miller-Heidke & Keir Nuttall | Won | |||
Best Music Direction | Isaac Hayward | Won | |||
Best Costume Design | Gabriela Tylesova | Won | |||
Best Sound Design | Michael Waters | Won |
Notes
- ^a This song is retitled on the cast recording as simply "A True Friend".
References
- ↑ Hetrick, Adam (8 September 2016). "Muriel's Wedding Stage Musical Will Feature ABBA Songs". Playbill. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ↑ Taylor, Andrew (2016-09-08). "Muriel's Wedding revived as a musical in Sydney Theatre Company's 2017 season". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
- ↑ Gerard, Jeremy (8 September 2016). "Musical Muriel's Wedding Set To Become Global Creatures' Latest Stage Venture". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ↑ Pitt, Helen (2017-09-07). "Gary Sweet to play Bill Hunter's role in Muriel's Wedding the Musical". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
- ↑ Harmon, Steph (2017-06-13). "'Muriel would be a YouTube star now': Maggie McKenna to star in Muriel's Wedding the Musical". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
- ↑ "Exclusive: Muriel's Wedding the Musical has found its Muriel". dailyreview.com.au. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
- ↑ "Muriel's Wedding The Musical to head to Melbourne in 2019". Arts Review. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
- ↑ Cooper, Nathanael (2018-01-22). "You can't stop progress: Muriel's Wedding gets second Sydney run". The Age. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
- ↑ https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/musicals/muriel-and-me-pj-hogans-journey-with-australias-daggiest-bride-20180907-h152vy.html
- ↑ https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/musicals/the-next-incredible-muriel-newcomer-lands-the-role-of-a-lifetime-20181005-p5080g.html
- ↑ Hung, Steffen. "australian-charts.com - Musical - Muriel's Wedding - The Musical". www.australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
- ↑ Cooper, Rob Moran, Nathanael (2018-10-11). "Amy Shark leads the 2018 ARIA nominations in another big year for women". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ↑ Roundups, Review. "Review Roundup: The Critics Weigh in on MURIEL'S WEDDING – THE MUSICAL". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
- ↑ Blake, Jason (2017-11-20). "Muriel's Wedding the Musical review: Maggie McKenna's dream debut". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
- ↑ Nguyen, Justine (22 January 2018). "2017 Sydney Theatre Awards announced". Limelight. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- ↑ "2017 Sydney Theatre Awards - Nominees and Winners". Sydney Theatre Awards. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
- ↑ Maddox, Garry (2018-08-30). "Animated short film with no dialogue wins top writing award". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ↑ "2018 Nominees". Helpmann Awards. Retrieved 22 June 2018.