Hannah Reilly’s THE DEB is the winner of the 2019 Rebel Wilson Comedy Commission and as a result it is the play to open the Rebel Theatre, the Australian Theatre For Young People’s (ATYP) very own new theatre within Sydney’s iconic, multi-purpose Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.
There’s little doubt that this play will draw comparisons with P.J. Hogan’s Muriel’s Wedding as it features a main character, a dorky young woman, who wants to make something of her life.
Reilly’s play is set in the sleepy country town of Dunburn and it is coming up to the time of the annual debutante ball, one of the town’s major events of the year. Young Taylah wants to make a splash at the Ball but has some obstacles to overcome.
Her mum passed away early in her life and her grumpy father Rick is looking after her. He is more intent on Taylah helping him with work around the farm than in any silly Ball.
The other cloud hanging over her Is that Taylah is a bit of a pariah amongst her classmates and has little prospect of finding a date to take to the Ball.
Things get even more difficult for her when a distant cousin Maeve comes to stay with her and her father. Maeve comes from the city (after being thrown out by her mum) full of attitude which sees her condemning patriarchal society and men’s sexist attitude to women. She goes down like a bomb in Dunburn which makes Taylah’s life even harsher.
THE DEB is a good hearted, lightly satirical musical which makes for a good night’s entertainment.
The songs were appealing without any stand out hits
Hannah Reilly and Fraser Corfield paced the action well and adroitly navigated the audience through some major shifts in the narrative.
Emma White’s two levels set design works well.
Mason Browne’s costumes were a highlight with plenty of colour and variety.
The performances were impressive. Two very experienced actors- Tara Morice as Shell the woman in charge of the Debutante Ball and Jay Laga’aia as the town Mayor, led the way. In the other main roles Katelin Koprivec played the dorky but feisty Taylah, Charlotte MacInnes was the deceiptful Maeve and Monique Salle played a city beautician who ends up playing a main role in the action.
Recommended, Hannah Reilly’s THE DEB is playing the Rebel Theatre, Pier 2/3, the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct until the 22nd May, 2022.
Performance times- 6:30pm Tuesdays – Wednesdays; 7:30pm Thursdays – Saturdays; 2pm Saturdays, 5pm Sundays
Tickets: Adult $70 | Concession $55 | Under 26 $48 | Group 8+ $65
Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes including one interval.
Website: https://atyp.com.au/ATYP-productions/the-deb/
Story by Hannah Reilly & Megan Washington, Writer Hannah Reilly, Music by Megan Washington, Lyrics by Megan Washington and Hannah Reillym, Co-Directors Hannah Reilly and Fraser Corfield, Choreography Sally Dashwood, Music Director Zara Stanton, Set Designer- Emma White.
Cast : Georgia Anderson, Carlo Boumouglbay, Mariah Gonzalez, Catty Hamilton, Katelin Koprivec, Jay Laga’aia, Drew Livingston, Charlotte MacInnes, Tara Morice, Quinton Rich, Monique Sallé, Amin Taylor, Jake Tyler, Jenna Wo
Production photography by Tracey Schramm