The Play: Fun Home
The Company: Melbourne Theatre Company
The Theatre: The Playhouse at the Arts Centre
Stars: 4.5
Playing until 5 March
Last night was the first night where Melbourne felt like Melbourne again. People were out. The Arts Centre Car Park was full, thanks to the Ballet, the MSO and a play being on at the Playhouse. People were dressed up and out and about. It was great. I was feeling it. I'd also donned a dress and put on a bit of makeup to go out for the night. Things are feeling good (despite everything which is going on in the world.)
Tonight, after a quick dinner, we made our way to the Playhouse to see Fun House.
I loved every minute of it.
According to Wikipedia, "Fun Home is a musical adapted by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori from Alison Bechdel's 2006 graphic memoir of the same name. The story concerns Bechdel's discovery of her own sexuality, her relationship with her gay father, and her attempts to unlock the mysteries surrounding his life."
I walked in not knowing what to expect, other than it was a musical. And it's a bloody good musical. The production first came out for the Sydney Theatre Company - and now it's here in Melbourne in conjunction with the Midsumma Festival.
This is an exceptional show, which relates the struggles of an adult Alison (Lucy Maunder) as she unpacks her life as a child in the family's Funeral Home, while being witness to her parents difficult marriage. You see, her father, Bruce (Adam Murphy) is a closeted homosexual, but also a loving father and stalwart member of the community. Her mother, Helen (Silvie Paladino - and here I was thinking her only gig was Carols by Candlelight) tries her best to turn a blind eyes. As the play progresses, you find out that her father committed suicide while Alison was at college. Alison came out while she was at college, and having and inkling her father was also gay, wanted to connect with him - something that never happened.
There are some top song in this show. I loved I'm Changing my Major to Joan in particular, a rallying cry for the burgeoning baby lesbian was just great, delivered with aplomb by College Years Alison (Ursula Searle).
The staging is also incredible, using the Playhouse's circular stage to great effect.
As an ensemble, everything ticks the boxes here. The kids who play small Alison and her brother's are great too.
This is running for another week. I can't recommend this highly enough. It's sweet and funny, but thought provoking and emotional.
This is the second really good show we've seen at the MTC in consecutive weeks. Here's hoping the rest of the season is just as good.
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