Australian musicals are few and far between. Australian musicals written by an Adelaide artist are even rarer. Debuting back in the 2009 Adelaide Fringe Festival under the title Mother, Wife & The Complicated Life, writer, composer and performer, Amity Dry has continued to develop her semi-biographical musical both here and overseas. The result is The Perfect Life, a reflection on womanhood at various stages and life contexts, and the value of connection and friendships to get us through the ups and downs along the way.

The Perfect Life follows a circle of friends all at different stages in their lives, living different experiences. Jess is the younger of the four, caring for a sick mother after having travelled the world and fallen in love. Kate is a lawyer, single and independent until some pregnancy news throws her a curveball. Bec is a stay-at-home mum living in chaos with a loving husband and two children. And Lily is a newly empty-nester while her teenage boys enjoy a gap year, running a cafe and evaluating her relationships as her living arrangements change. All four of these women deal with aspects of life that represent a large cross-section of the enthusiastic, predominantly female audience on opening night.

The cast of women portraying these four are powerhouses in their own rights in musical theatre with exciting resumes for any theatre nerd. Amity Dry, Kerrie Anne Greenland, Chloé Zuel and Dee Farnell bring the quartet to life with warmth, heart and humour. They are all accomplished vocalists and their solo performances are the most riveting; each being given their moment throughout the story. Greenland’s transition from single girl delusion to post-partum challenges is heartbreaking. Zuel’s show-stopping number, I Don’t Care is brilliantly delivered and a great pick-me-up towards the end of the second act (memorable for anyone who is childless and had to listen to their friends regale every detail about their cherubs). Farnell’s character Bec is consistently an absolute standout. The character has always been a popular favourite in Dry’s writing even back in its first inception. Bec has all the laughs, the colourful/kooky costumes and “it’s funny because it’s true” moments that had audience members cackling raucously. Farnell is also such a strong character performer and it is fantastic to see her getting the chance to revel in the writing and develop her own take on the role. Despite these standouts it is the friendship and love between these women that is well led by Dry. She emanates warmth and seems to be genuinely thrilled to sing with and share the stage with these women. Hopefully seeing her drive and passion for this project coming into a new life is as fulfilling to her as it is to watch.

The set and props design by Bec Francis combined with digital design by Brad Pickford is well suited to the story and feels as comfortable and functional as Lily’s cafe evokes. Musical Direction by Martin Cheney ensures a tight band of musicians gives the musical a polish and depth that is well balanced in the Arts Theatre by Jamie Mensforth’s sound design. The music (composed by Amity Dry and arranged by Matthew Brind) is designed to tell a story more-so than create hit singles, which is the best type of musical theatre; but the aforementioned I Don’t Care, along with Baby, Come to Bed and What is Perfect do stick in the memory after the bows. The naturalistic script is accessible, heartfelt, and witty. Overall a bit of further editing and more balance between the dramatic numbers could help tighten the production further.

It is a huge undertaking to create a musical, let alone give it life to grow and develop. Amity Dry and her team have polished this show into a big production with plenty of heart and enthusiasm. While it is certainly aimed at female audiences and the girls night out, it is a story that shows care for the female experience without being at the expense of the men in their lives – it just brings these women to the forefront.  The few men in the crowd were seemingly enjoying it just as much, so be brave guys and take a chance; you might just love it and understand the women in your life a little better because of it.