From the show’s event listing in the Fringe Program, I expected Alanis Morissette meets Joni Mitchell in a bitterness-fueled true tale of betrayal and divorce. In short, I expected a revenge show.
But if that’s what you’re expecting, All These Pretty Things isn’t it.
Like so many good stories, Tracey Yarad’s musical theatre romp divides itself into three parts. First, the fairytale 23-years of togetherness after her ex-husband turns up at her door at 4.00am having just broken up with his wife.
During this first part, the two of them travel and support each other’s interests in the arts and teaching as captured beautifully in the song, Soul Love. It’s together that the two of them invest a lot of time and money in raising their god-daughter, who they met when she was seven.
Then we hit the second part. Here, Yarad’s ex announces that he’s “crossed the line” with the aforementioned (now legally aged, but no less reprehensible) god-daughter. The appropriately dark song, Storm Brewing, captures this time.
This news leads to a bitter divorce and sends Yarad on a downward spiral, though she is blessed to have the support of a group of friends and her father.
As someone who has always loved travel, Yarad decides to go for a holiday in New York accompanied by a tiny suitcase, kicking off the show’s third act. Here, Starting Over provides the transition to her healing in New York City.
Making that joke about how the way to get over someone is to get under someone else, Yarad meets a man and they become lovers. The combination of this new love interest based on friendship and a fresh start allows Yarad to heal from her divorce.
During the second “bitter” part, Yarad did such a good job of tapping back into her bitterness and hurt and betrayal that I worried this was going to be a revenge show. But I needn’t have worried.
It takes courage and skill to be this vulnerable in front of such an intimately-sized audience as Georgie’s Bar allows and maintain that vulnerability for the show’s 60-minute run time. Yarad’s voice carries both strength and vulnerability, moving effortlessly between folk-inspired storytelling and more emotionally charged moments.
While comparisons to Joni Mitchell aren’t misplaced in terms of range and control, Yarad’s voice has its own distinct quality that particularly shines in her more introspective numbers.
In the pictures and videos from New York, we see a different view of the city than we’re used to from its landmarks and American shows set there. In New York, we also get to see a return to happiness for Yarad.
It’s her ability to tap into her pain, through original songs, that allows anyone who has been through a bitter breakup to go through the pain and then join her for the healing journey.
While All These Pretty Things would appeal most to middle-aged divorced women, the show speaks to anyone who needs hope after an acrimonious breakup.
All These Pretty Things
Georgie’s Bar at Woodville Town Hall, 74 – 76 Woodville Road, Woodville
Performance: Sunday 23 February 2025
Season continues to 7 March 2025
Bookings: www.adelaidefringe.com.au
For more information, visit: www.traceyyarad.com for details.
Image: Tracey Yarad (supplied)
Review: Daniel G. Taylor