Poignant 2008 musical Ordinary Days delivers timely inspiration in this heartfelt, impeccably cast revival.

While the production rate of commercial musical theatre is thriving, independent musical theatre has been far slower to return after the pandemic, making this season from Clovelly Fox Productions all the more welcome. An ideal complement to the company’s success last year with Elegies: A Song Cycle, Adam Kwon chamber musical Ordinary Days is itself a song cycle of sorts, being through-sung, and yet telling a clear story with distinct characters. 

In the “Hundred-Story City” of New York, the musical covers a brief run of ordinary days of two pairs of people finding meaning through connection. Claire and Jason have decided to erase the 14-block space between them and move in together, but there is an underlying element holding Claire back from fully committing herself to a deeper relationship. Meanwhile, laidback Warren finds uptight Deb’s thesis notes on the street and emails her, beginning an unlikely, slow-burning friendship.

Working with an exceptionally strong cast, director Tyran Parke successfully explores the rich humanity of the four seemingly straightforward characters. The story may only cover a few days but there is a clear sense of rich and complex life at play, making the characters’ journeys all the more compelling and affecting.

Elegantly accompanying the performance on piano, musical director Vicky Jacobs delivers expert musical preparation. Kwon’s beautiful songs are gently melodious yet primarily lyric-driven and each performer completely inhabits the songs as if their character’s stream of consciousness is unfolding spontaneously. 

Sound designers Jack Scandrett and Mitchell Dand provide a gentle boost of amplification for the singers, achieving a perfectly natural sound.

With New York City practically playing a fifth character in the piece, the warehouse windows of fortyfive downstairs make the perfect backdrop for loft conversion apartments. Set designer Richard Roberts simply provides some furniture and lets the location do the rest. The windows look particularly attractive as lit by lighting designer Gavan Swift, who effectively draws the eye back and forth across the wide performance space as the characters take turns in coming to the fore. 

Costume designer Louisa Fitzgerald expertly brings a unique look to each character, capturing the style of the late 2000s without drawing undue attention to retro outfits. 

Bobby Fox brings a vibrant sense of five boroughs everyman to Jason, winningly conveying Jason’s upbeat outlook and his related confusion over partner Claire’s hesitancy. Fox successfully brings an underlying sensitivity to Jason, with patience and understanding foremost in Jason’s reactions to Claire’s confusing behaviour. 

Sarah Morrison draws the audience towards her with a gentle, deftly judged performance. When Claire finally reveals her past in 11 o’clock number “I’ll Be Here,” Morrison unleashes a torrent of raw and tender emotion, crying real tears of catharsis. 

Outlining Deb’s restless backstory in “I Don’t Wanna Be Here,” Melanie Bird immediately establishes a driven but somewhat unfocused young woman who is searching for her elusive sense of self. Earning some welcome laughs along the way, Bird captures the tension that living in New York City has brought to Deb, completing a satisfying arc when Deb ultimately allows herself to find her place of  “Calm.”

Reprising his role of Warren, Joel Granger engagingly portrays the pure happiness and surprising depth of a simple soul. Warren’s mission to spread his employer’s words of inspiration and empowerment eventually has a broader impact, and his love of art is celebrated in the final song “Beautiful” as Granger sweetly expounds the beauty to be found in the ordinary. 

A welcome dose of positivity, Ordinary Days artfully argues the case for connection. Lovers of musical theatre will thrill at the opportunity to enjoy the four lead performances in such an intimate and personal setting. 

Ordinary Days plays at fortyfive downstairs, Melbourne until 31 August 2025. For tickets, click here. 

The Ordinary Days program can be read online.

Photos: Ben Fon