Printable CopyJUST LIKE THE MOVIES
Until 16 Mar 2012

Review by Ben Crisp

Josephine Were’s charming solo show tells the story of her cross-country journey through the United States in 45 minutes of swift, referential rhyming set to the soundtrack of Matthew Gregan’s nicely understated guitar.

Part poetry, part comedy monologue, Were enchants the audience with her cute and quirky tales of the search for love and adventure which never quite turn out just like they do in the movies. Always in the moment, Were bubbles and dances as the subtle strumming of Gregan’s strings transport the audience to New York, Memphis, New Orleans and San Francisco; each city transitioning smoothly into a new tone, a new theme and a new adventure.

Were’s rapid-fire delivery remains just within the bounds of coherence, but her confident poetry ensures that the audience never loses the rhythm. Gregan’s playing at times rightly trades geography for tone, but gives the entire show a wonderful feeling of immersion that paints the intimate, minimalistic stage in imagined rural and urban landscapes that swallow the ever-hopeful, wide-eyed star.

Sweet, funny and honest, “Just Like The Movies” is a delightful road-trip well worth hitching a ride on.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)