The Deb
The Deb is a musical by Hannah Reilly with music by Megan Washington and lyrics by Washington & Reilly.
Premise[edit]
The Deb concerns high school outcast Taylah, her feminist inner-city cousin Maeve and the annual debutante ball in the fictional drought-stricken country town of Dunburn, Australia. Reilly describes it as "a love letter to awkward teenage adolescence and learning how to celebrate what makes you unique”.[1]
Production[edit]
The original Australian Theatre for Young People production was staged from 8 April to 22 May 2022 at ATYP's The Rebel Theatre in Sydney's Walsh Bay Wharves Precinct. It was co-directed by Reilly and Fraser Corfield with choreographer Sally Dashwood and music director Zara Stanton. The cast included Katelin Koprivec (Taylah), Charlotte MacInnes (Maeve), Jay Laga’aia and Tara Morice.
Reception[edit]
The Deb was positively received. The Guardian called it "an embrace and expansion of new trends in Australian musical comedy" and "a celebration of a new joyful onstage movement of women-centred, lovingly local stories with big laughs and big pop choruses".[2] The Sydney Morning Herald noted "fine original music – from ballads, hip hop, country, and rap – with witty lyrics".[3]
It received the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Production for Young People in 2023.[4]
Film adaptation[edit]
The musical is reportedly in development as a feature film with Rebel Wilson’s company Camp Sugar Productions.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Low, Lenny Ann (2022-04-19). "Rebel Wilson embraces new musical love letter to awkward teenagers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
- ^ "The Deb review – big laughs and big pop choruses by Megan Washington in small-town coming of age musical". the Guardian. 2022-04-23. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
- ^ Morgan, Joyce (2022-04-23). "The sparkling new Aussie musical cousin to Muriel's Wedding". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
- ^ "2022 Sydney Theatre Awards Winners Announced | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 2024-01-26.