My Brilliant Career is Miles Franklin's very first novel, penned in 1901 when she was still a teenager. The 1970s film adaptation was very popular, with star Judy Davis winning a BAFTA for her performance.
Now Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank have created a new musical adaptation of the novel, following the life of misfit Sybylla as she balances the expectations of an Edwardian Australia against her own dreams. The musical is being performed exclusively at MLIVE, Monash's performing arts series.
Sybylla is from a drought-stricken farm and hopes to become a writer. But when a local aristocratic farmer proposes, she has to choose between a conventional marriage and trying to achieve a 'brilliant career'.
Dean Bryant wrote the libretto and Matthew Frank the music, with Petra Kalive directing. Luisa Scrofani stars as Sybylla, with Andrew Coshan playing Hal, the role played by Sam Neill in the film.
The score is a mixture of pop music and Victoriana and complements the storytelling as audiences follow Sybylla from a headstrong youngster to an accomplished woman.
This production is part of the Jeanne Pratt Musical Theatre Artists in Residence program, a collaboration between Monash University performing arts students and professional artists. The program fosters artist development and promotes Australian musical theatre.