Emjay (Genevieve Lemon) is a disillusioned, cynical singer reduced to giving singing lessons for $30 per half hour in the local civic hall. It is a space she shares with many other community groups and users. On a particular day, Jenny (Kate Mannix) bursts into her day, space and life; asking Emjay to help her release the secret singer within. Over the course of the next 90 minutes, it becomes apparent that Emjay is the one really receiving the lesson on how to be an authentic human being.
After the opening scenes it was obvious that this story was based on a real life experience; that the writer (Joanna Weinberg) positioned herself as Emjay and Jenny, with all her eccentricities, was a real person. This was affirmed at the end of the evening when the Jenny of inspiration was presented to the audience who stayed behind for opening night celebrations.
It is a simple story and whilst no doubt worthy as Jenny’s past life is revealed, it was somewhat predictable and literal. Staging was not very imaginative and unfortunately the songs tended to be all of the same style which then blended into one, not terribly memorable tune. Lemon and Mannix managed creditable performances given the superficial material they were working with. The design (Brigette Thorn) was suitably evocative of the thousands of such community halls across Australia, employing the use of some beautiful screens and the architectural details of the Darlinghurst Theatre itself.
This could be, and should be, an inspirational story but it does not quite hit the mark. Ernest Hemingway wrote 47 drafts for A Farewell to Arms. The Secret Singer could do with a re-visit.
Kate Stratford – On The Town
Photography: Stephen Reinhardt
The Secret Singer
Joanna Weinberg
28 Aug – 9 Sept 2018
Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30 pm
Sunday at 5 pm
Venue: Darlinghurst Theatre Company
Theatre Company: Produced by John Feitelson and Lawrence Jackson
In association with Darlinghurst Theatre Company
Duration: 75 minutes
