It's been quite a while since I've seen a show that was enough to make a grown man cry. I'm still wondering whether these were tears of joy or whether Amity Dry's musical tapped into something even deeper, maybe the 'mother in me'. The laughter also ripples through this show like waves to the shore, their crests crashing with the regularity we take for granted at the beach.

This highly polished production is about not taking women for granted anymore. It is empowering in all the right ways. By letting the story and songs make their plentiful points perfectly palatable it is thoroughly entertaining. The theme of perfection is tackled from various angles, from the lawyer with a planned trajectory for her life to the shambles of having to manage raising three kids under five. Throw in a wedding, a funeral and a divorce and watch the fireworks.

It is a real treat to hear four professional voices completely across the music. The songs are presented with panache, pizzaz, and pitch perfect precision. The exquisite four part harmonies seem effortless. The accompaniment by a five piece ensemble on stage is excellent. The spoken script is honed to keep it flowing naturally, as tight as the clever choreography with no superfluous moves. Along with their extensive creatives team - too many to list here, check the program - the set by Bec Francis deserves a special mention. More than a mere meeting place, it ideally evokes the spirit of the show as a place of ritual, communion and mutual compassion.

There are surprises and troubling times when things get as tough as life can throw at us. 'It's not perfect but it's worth it' is only one of the takes on this theme. Another is the hilarious 'I Don't Care!', and the extreme opposites of the seduction song duo is pure comedy gold. Solos and various groupings bring variety, just as the fun and drama are beautifully balanced to keep the story constantly on course.

Although they are stretched to breaking point when people around don't always provide the support others need, the bonds of friendships retain their strength. By leaning into and on each other, we can get through another day together.

This is obviously the perfect hootenanny for women, being a celebration of being female, but males will also benefit from this frank, forthright dose of truth-telling. Perhaps it's true that nobody and nothing's perfect, but one thing is for sure, this is a bloody perfect musical.