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BrumHour saw Ordinary Days at the invite of The Old Joint Stock.
By Dave Massey x.com/BrumHour
Ordinary Days at The Old Joint Stock: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐”Fun and inviting”
Directed by Karl Steele music and lyrics by Adam Gwon
Set in a contemporary New York City, four characters sing their way through this story of themselves and their relationships. Deb (Dora Gee) and Warren (Aidan Cutler) meet at an art gallery after Deb misplaces her college notes for her course. Jason (James Edge) and Claire (Melisa Camba) explore their own relationship which is much more of a couples story. Each song is almost a stand-alone chapter in their lives with only one moment in the show where they all converge.
I found this to be a warm, friendly and amusing musical which includes the audience as often as it can. The Old Joint Stock Theatre always benefits from the intimate nature of its space. (Almost one hundred seats usually sat facing each other.)
From the umbrellas to the New York skyline it is easy to compare this to Rent meeting Friends, but the strength of the performances elevates this. Aidan Cutler‘s broad vocals boom across the theatre and then returns to its thoughtful reflective tones. Dora Gee’s Deb becomes a warm and quirky observer, seeing everything and telling us how odd it all is, connecting to the audience throughout. James Edge’s Jason is the infiltrator moving his personal items into his partner’s space offering security that perhaps isn’t longed for. While Melisa Camba‘s Claire is left to react, and dig down into her emotions whilst she discovers her own two feet.
The set is easily dismissed at first, just eight cubes making the chairs, tables and even a bridge. There is a neon skyline hiding in the set and the charming umbrellas above hold their own secrets. This type of three-sided seating makes the audience feel like witnesses to the action and it is fun to watch each other’s reactions.
I enjoyed this musical indulgence and was out of the theatre just before 9.30pm on my way home. A rare thing indeed.
Fun and inviting, Ordinary Days is at The Old Joint Stock until 20th April. Book tickets here: oldjointstock.co.uk/whats-on/ordinary-days.
