Review by David Gardette
Clovelly Fox’s staging of Adam Gwon’s intimate musical Ordinary Days, finds a heartfelt home in Melbourne. Set in early 2000s New York, the show follows four individuals—Claire, Jason, Deb, and Warren—as their lives intersect through chance encounters and personal awakenings. With themes of grief, purpose, and connection, the production convincingly captures the quiet impact of everyday moments.
Director Tyran Parke’s approach is refreshingly restrained, allowing the music, lyrics and storytelling carry the emotional weight. The industrial charm of 45 Downstairs, with its warehouse windows and wide performance space, becomes a character in itself thanks to Richard Roberts’ minimalist set design and Gavan Swift’s effective lighting. While the wide staging occasionally obscures key moments (particularly the finale partially behind a pillar, get yourself a centre seat)—these are minor distractions in an otherwise engaging theatrical experience.
Vicki Jacobs’ musical direction is pitch-perfect, with her piano work providing a steady heartbeat beneath the vocals. The sound design by Jack Scandrett and Mitchell Dand adds texture, creating a bustling cityscape with excellent sound balance between music and vocal that never overwhelms the performers.
The cast is uniformly excellent showcasing stellar vocals and delivering compelling characters. Bobby Fox brings warmth and vulnerability to Jason, navigating the complexities of a relationship strained by grief. Sarah Morrison’s Claire is quietly devastating, her understated performance making the final emotional reveal all the more powerful. Melanie Bird is a wonderful Deb, balancing neurotic energy with wonderful humour – her comic timing is spot on. Rounding out the cast in his return performance as Warren, Joel Granger radiates optimism and charm, grounding the show’s message of hope.
In all, Ordinary Days is a heartfelt, finely tuned production that finds positivity in the mundane and meaning in the messiness of life. Clovelly Fox production delivers a moving, musically rich experience that lingers after the final note.
