Sport for Jove’s production of the musical Bright Star at the Hayes Theatre is one of the first to be staged outside of North America since its debut in 2014.
Opening on Broadway in 2016 it would later win three major NYC critics’ awards for its score over its limited run and highlight the 2013 Grammy winning album Love Has Come For You, which was its inspiration.
The work of comedian Steve Martin and singer Edie Brickell the music draws on the bluegrass and Americana traditions of North Carolina, while the book by Martin is said to be inspired by a true story set in the rural state between the two world wars.
As the lights go up on a stage set upon a stage, we see musicians assembling around the periphery, tuning up and moving props.
Setting the scene for what is to unfold is Alice Murphy (Hannah McInerney) delivering her song If You Knew My Story, joined by the company of 11 ensemble and band. Cut to a year earlier and a young serviceman and aspiring writer Billy (Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward) returns home to find that his mother has died.
Reuniting with his childhood friend Margo (Genevieve Goldman) who he informs her that he has ambitions as a writer and plans to submit to the Asheville Southern Journal, where Alice works.
Flashback to 1923 and a young Alice is flirting with Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Kaya Byrne), son of the local mayor (Seán van Doornum). Despite warnings from both sets of parents, of course the young couple get together, resulting in the birth of an illegitimate child that impacts the trajectory of the story across two acts involving all in the cast to some degree.
That Steve Martin was involved in writing a Broadway play is not unusual as his Picasso at the Lapine Agile first premiered in 1993. He is also an acclaimed banjo player within deep love for bluegrass music and supports an annual prize for excellence in banjo and bluegrass music.
Edie Brickell was briefly an alternative rock goddess with the band the New Bohemians in the mid eighties and has maintained a presence in music while being married to singer/songwriter Paul Simon since 1992.
While the story of Bright Star explores the depths of human pride, prejudice and conflict it never quite achieves what it promises as the characters are drawn so thinly and predictably, at times projecting like a daytime soap.
What saves this production is well-matched cast of actors and musicians, who often double threat with some outstanding moments such as the Act 2 bar scene Another Round in which Lucy (Deirdre Khoo) shines as a singer and hoofer.
At other times great poignancy is reached such as when Mayor Dobbs delivers A Man’s Gotta Do with Jimmy in Act 1 and Always Will with Billy and Margo in Act 2, while Alice’s So Familiar/So Long with the Ensemble is her Alanis Morrisette Jagged Little Pill moment.
Other cast members include Katrina Retallick as Mama Murphy, Rupert Reid as Daddy Murphy, Molly Margaret Stewart as Edna, Olivia Tajer as Florence, Jack Green as Daddy Cane, and Felix Staas as Max. Musicians include Alec Steedman, James Weaver, Eric Hutchens, Dom Cabusi, Jason Smith and Jarrad Payne.
All of the cast and musicians here shine and bring strong multi-disciplinarian performances in the hands of co-directors Miranda Middleton and Damien Ryan who keep the production well-paced while being aware of each performer’s strengths.
Special mention of choreographer Shannon Burns, who navigates a lot of performers around a tight stage and brings to life some of the more joyous moments.
One of the most exacting roles for the creatives is that of wrangling the sound from the many voices and instruments and credit must go to Jarrad Payne and Em-Jay Dwyer for flawless execution as sound designer and sound engineer respectively.
Set design by Isabel Hudson makes the most of the periods in which Bright Star is set as does costume designer Lily Mateljan with her tonal renderings. Performers throughout use North Carolina accents and credit goes to accent coach Laurel Farrell for keeping everyone on track.
Despite its structural flaws, this production of Bright Star shines and ultimately is an uplifting experience.
Bright Star
Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Avenue. Potts Point
Performance: Thursday 11 September 2025
Season continues to 5 October 2025
Bookings: www.hayestheatre.com.au
For more information, visit: www.sportforjove.com.au for details.
Images: The Cast of Bright Star – photo by Robert Catto | Hannah McInerney and Kaya Byrne in Bright Star – photo by Robert Catto | The Cast of Bright Star – photo by Robert Catto | The Cast of Bright Star – photo by Robert Catto
Review: John Moyle