Much of what we learn about love comes from the media we consume. For me, the idea of love was always intertwined with play. “Love at first sight” was an unattainable ideal that existed only on screen. Shakespeare, perhaps one of the most well-known Western and colonial storytellers, captured the complicated realities of love in ways that still resonate today: that it is meddlesome, ever-evolving and often sustained by blind faith in an unspoken kind of magic.
Laura Murphy’s (The Dismissal, Zombie! The Musical) adaptation of the Bard’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Lovers, leads with magic. Its music and lyrics are grounded in the modern-day sensibilities of love – swiping right, choosing frivolity over fervour, and navigating the ongoing feminist challenge of knowing oneself while giving to another – all set to the perfect pop soundtrack for a meet-cute. For the theatre-savvy, Murphy’s musical realises the promise that &Juliet only flirted with, doing so through an entirely original score that wins the audience over with novelty rather than nostalgia.
What’s the premise of The Lovers?
Helena (Natalie Abbott, Muriel’s Wedding, Zombie! The Musical) loves Demetrius (Jason Arrow, Hamilton), who loves Hermia (Loren Hunter, Six), who loves Lysander (Mat Verevis, The Tina Turner Musical) – a classic love quadrangle complicated by friendship, loyalty and the constraints of parental approval. When Hermia defies her father and runs off with Lysander into the magical forest, chaos ensues under the watchful eye of Oberon (Stellar Perry, The Rocky Horror Show) and Puck (Jayme-lee Hanekom, The Tina Turner Musical): potions, mistaken identities and mischievous fairies conspire to make love and laughter boom.
Gone are the layers of Shakespeare’s “play within a play”; in their place is a sharp, modern sensibility that focuses squarely on the lovers themselves. This redirection leaves Murphy free to explore each character's inner workings, doubling down on the emotional tethers that tie us all together to find joy and reignite our belief in love. In a world of false advertising and an unrelenting chase for “hype”, Murphy’s The Lovers delivers exactly what it promises: “Love, pop and Shakespeare.”
What are the highlights of The Lovers?
Since its premiere at Bell Shakespeare in November 2022, Murphy’s music has transcended the story, drawing audiences back again and again. It weaves thoughtful reflections on rejection, defiance and self-love into melodies and genres that can find a home in the hearts of any audience.
This new production from director Nick Skubij and Shake and Stir Theatre Company is intoxicatingly glitzy, bright and confetti-filled. It’s the very personification of the love-heart-eyes emoji complete with an actual descending love-heart. David Bergman’s video design and Trent Suidgeest’s lighting design are inspired, employing disco balls and star-strewn displays to transform the Theatre Royal ceiling into a starry dreamland. The set design is comparatively simple for a production that otherwise holds multitudes of imagination, yet the attention to detail remains immaculate: a central fairy forest tree has branches that wave and the turntable is used with sufficient flair.
What makes this production’s new direction so remarkable is not just the dazzling spectacle it creates, but also the subtle way it interprets Murphy’s score, using music, dance and confetti as accents for humour. At times, I found myself wondering: is the bassist flirting with me? Why am I so utterly charmed by Arrow’s bodyroll or Vervis’s perfectly timed confetti throw? In the skilled hands of musical director Heidi Maguire and a vibrant four-piece band, the score finds a playful rhythm that seems in banter with the small ensemble.
Natalie Abbott and Stellar Perry reprise their roles, and the extra time with the songs is evident. Abbott is particularly disarming, lovable and vocally expressive as Helena. Vocal run after vocal run, she infuses each moment with a wistful innocence, as if the notes are arising spontaneously from her character rather than the result of months of practice. Perry is a fiery delight as Oberon, her voice is bright and agile and she leads the audience through this tale with ease. Hanekom’s Puck is another unexpected highlight, delivering complex raps with confidence and vivaciousness. It is equally enjoyable to see Jason Arrow out of his Hamilton tailcoat, his dulcet, velvety range that has been kept hidden in his most recent roles is on full display, playing beautifully off Abbott.
Why is The Lovers a four-star production?
Murphy’s book weaves Shakespearean language together with modern pop songs, but the transitions between the two often feel a little clunky. While keeping elements of the original text made sense when the production was staged with Bell Shakespeare, at this larger scale it adds more confusion and cringe than value. The sudden shifts leave some cast members momentarily tongue-tied, and when they happen during moments of high emotion, a little of the show’s energy and intention slips away.
This tension is felt most in the messaging. In the modern, song-filled world, Murphy gives these characters, especially the women, room to be bold, fearless and self-reflective. But when the script snaps back to Shakespeare, that spark fades, and so too does some of the audience’s connection. Skubij does his best to hold it all together, clearly signposting plot points and injecting visual flair, but it still limits the audience from being wow-ed, particularly in the second half.
It’s a shame that, in the whirlwind speed of pop culture, references that were fresh and funny in 2022 already feel a touch dated. Still, when you watch it through that lens, the humour lands – and you’ll find yourself laughing anyway.
Even with those small bumps, I left the theatre with a warm, fuzzy glow. It feels like this might be Australia’s antidote to the jukebox musical, and I'm all in.
Who is The Lovers the musical for?
Anyone who loves love, enjoys a laughter-filled night at the theatre, and wants to support original Australian work. It’s a show that celebrates romance in all its messy, joyful glory. For those thinking of bringing children or young adults, be aware there’s some swearing and a bit of cheeky innuendo – but all of it delivered with a wink and a laugh.
The Lovers is on right now at Theatre Royal Sydney. Get your tickets here.