In the entertainment Industry you have to make your own opportunities. The work doesn’t just come to you because you have drive and talent. Exclaim Theatre Company has the stated aim of providing opportunities for the professional growth of the alumni of AIM, the Australian Institute of Music. In GLORY DAYS, a one-act musical which is the company’s second outing, four talented young men have the stage.

It is a year after their graduation from some small town American High School and four best friends meet on the football field where they bonded though being crap at football and bullied by Jocks.

We first meet Will (Aaron Robuck) who has a plan to change the timers of the sprinklers so that they go off during the celebratory game the next day. He is joined by Skip (Julian Kuo) an Army Brat who tried to fulfil his father’s dreams by joining the ROTC. Andy (Damon Grebert-Wade) a muscle-man womanizer and Jack (Tim Dal Cortivo) the quiet one, fill out the foursome.

Andy is up for anything but the other two need to be talked into helping with the prank. During the time these four spend together waiting for the key to the timer box, they see how much each has changed. By the time Will is left alone again, we are pretty sure the friendships have not survived and their glory days have passed.

GLORY DAYS was savaged by NY critics in 2008 and famously closed after one night on Broadway. It was published for licence in 2010 and this is its Australian premiere. I see why it closed so quickly. Personally, I wasn’t fond of it. Not this production or these artists but the dialogue and the music.  Any libretto which has a character say, without reply, “We could have traded those bitches like Pokemon cards”, simply doesn’t want people to like it.

Nevertheless, I can also see why it was chosen by the company. It has life affirming themes around being who you are, four strong male characters and some songs that are perfectly matched to the boys’ voices. I attended in a group of nine and we all enjoyed it.

The stage features football bleachers, the Fighting Beaver’s publicity banner and a wire fence separating them from the band behind the main action. Each performer brings a well created character on with them. Andy is the most physical character and he is restlessness personified. There is lots of side play as he seems incapable of staying still, taking pleasure in annoying the others unless he is entertained by events. As reflected later in the script, the three put up with his nonsense because they understand that he needs them. The scenes with all four cast are well acted and the ensemble work is clearly realized.

Despite the cast’s best efforts, the songs for duos or quartets are not a strong feature of the show. But each performer has at least one song which showcases what they can do when the material is good. Jack’s wistful “Open Road”; Skip’s lost ideals in “Generation Apathy; Andy’s cry to be heard in “My Turn” and Will’s final song of acceptance “My Next Story” were all high points. As was the effectively choreographed “Forget About It“. The singers did need a bit more support from the band who were too often too loud. And from the lighting. It was a show crying out for a followspot and fewer sudden state changes.

I applaud Exclaim who took the leap of faith to mount the show. My companions and I look forward to their next showcase of emerging talents.

An Australian premiere, Exclaim Theatre Company’s production of GLORY DAYS, by Nick Blaemire and James Gardiner, is playing tonight (Saturday 25th at 8pm ) and tomorrow at 5pm at the Tom Mann Theatre, 136 Chalmers St, Surry Hills.