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Reviewed by Fiona Talbot-Leigh, Saturday 11th March 2017
Amity Dry has done it again with 39 Forever. Penned by her own hand within 24 hours, this show is Dry's latest offering after the success of her hit musical, 'Mother, Wife and the Complicated Life,' which has played at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, the United Nations, been translated into Norwegian for a European season and performed over 100 shows nationally; and more recently it is booked to play in London. After winning critical and audience acclaim for her honest account of marriage and motherhood Amity now explores the ageing process and the very real pressure women face to stay forever young.
Right from the outset, Dry draws her audience in as she regales tales from her childhood and teenage years through to marriage, motherhood and embracing the next decade that awaits her.
The show is cleverly put together with a range of songs from the 80s and 90s as well as a couple of original ballads. Each number is performed flawlessly as Dry's incredible voice brings to life all that she feels in that moment as well as from back then.
Her emotion is palpably raw as she lets the audience in on her private life and in return endears them to her so easily that impromptu sing-alongs happened all throughout the performance as most there, knew the words to sing along with her.
Many things make this show one of which is Amity's talented musical director Jamie Burgess who has come over from Melbourne to be her accompanist. The two have a great rapport and his harmonizing and quips added to the allure of the show. (As did Dry's dress, which also required a moment of its own!)
The other is Dry's honesty as she speaks her truth, letting us know that she too feels she has flaws she needs to hide.
This is an important show as in this day and age of Mummy shaming, trolling and women using feminism as a stick to beat each other with, Dry's ability to embrace her whole self and make peace with who she is, gives other women permission to do the same.
Dry takes you from laughter to tears and back again and by the end of the night you will be up singing and dancing along.
Her shows at the Spiegel Zelt are sold out with just a few left for her show on Sunday 19th March at the Octagon. There is a rumour that she may possibly tour the show in the near future, so let's hope this comes to be.
