★★★★☆
The Middle Room is a sweet and whimsical musical that covers all aspects of life, set in the middle room of a country family home. Written and directed by Grace Spinks, this original, acoustic contemporary musical covers issues from the mundane to the profound.
Intimately exploring the dramas of everyday life, The Middle Room is being presented as part of this year’s Anywhere Festival. An open access arts festival, the Anywhere Festival presents theatre in unconventional spaces rather than traditional theatres. It has grown to host 500 performances annually since 2011 and has solidified its place as a fixture of the Brisbane performance calendar.
The Middle Room chronicles the comings and goings of the people in a household throughout a generation. Featuring songs about the trivialities of youth and ageing, as well as the tragedies and misunderstandings that life entails, it is a moving production.
The characters Rae, Liz, Louise, Andy, Jaime and Mum all take centre stage to give their unique perspectives on the many and varied stages of life. Together, they convey a sweet coming-of-age story filled with romance, loss, love and death.
Through song, we meet the earnest daughter, Rae (Kate Hudson-James), who is still at school and eventually marries her childhood sweetheart. Rae’s standout number is What’s So Scary About My Boyfriend? where she explains that when she is at a party, nobody wants to talk to her once they find out she is attached.
As her charming boyfriend, Andy, Jack Flanagan is equally musically talented and offers much comic relief throughout the production. As Jaime, Ethan Coleman plays their quiet brother, and is part of the smooth accompanying band alongside Matthew Teakle and Charlie Green.
Liz, played by Chloe Flanagan, is the adventurous sister. She returns home after a break-up, only to take off overseas on a new adventure and novel romance.
The feisty Louise, played by AJ Betts, is taken in by the family because of her troubled relationship with her mother. Louise and Rae’s continuing friendship is pure, and Louise’s loyalty and gratitude to her adopted family is endearing.
Finally, we meet Mary, the wonderful mum. Brilliantly acted by Christina Keen, this character is genuinely convincing as the constant in all of their lives. Supporting and loving them all as they leave and return, Keen beautifully expresses the enormous role of motherhood through song and impressive acting.
The voices of all of the cast are angelic and emotive, with duets and trios filled with exquisite harmonies. The singing is sincere, perfectly pitched with a hint of Missy Higgins-esque angst. The talented cast can dance, play instruments, act and sing – quite an impressive quadruple threat.
Memorable lyrics include Romeo, am I a Capulet again? sung by Flanagan as Liz expressing her return home after another break-up. The musical asks poignant questions about life, love and family, gently exploring how the roles of carer and cared-for can shift over time.
At its heart, The Middle Room is a deeply moving reflection on what “home” truly means. It is not simply a place, but the people who continue to love us through every stage of life. Warm, sentimental and filled with sincerity, this is a beautiful musical that deserves a life beyond the festival.
The Middle Room runs 16 – 17 May and 29 – 31 May as part of the Anywhere Festival. The remaining shows run at New Tricks Wine & Gin Distillery. 26 Collingwood Street Albion Qld 4010.
Tickets: https://anywhere.is/event/the-middle-room/
Website: https://www.gracespinks.com/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/themiddleroommusical/
Images supplied.
