Steve O'Reilly (as Dave) and Delia Hannah (as Sharon) in the home-grown musical State Highway 48. Photo / David Rowland
To deliver a full-length musical, with 27 original songs, is an admirable achievement and Hamilton composer Chris Williams has upped the ante by crafting musical theatre out of the desolation of a family break-up and a battle with depression.
The story of State Highway 48 follows a bleak downward spiral
as a successful salesman's mid-life crisis is turbo-charged by redundancy, marital separation and a bout of clinical depression. The situations, skilfully dramatised with minimal dialogue, all ring true and the story movingly captures the quiet desperation behind the suburban Kiwi dream.
A five-piece band kicks the action along with a pop-rock score and musical director Mark Dennison adds some delicate instrumental touches along with the occasional country and western inflection that is well suited to the melancholy tone of the drama.
Director Geoff Turkington has assembled a terrific cast, who hone in on the emotional heart of songs.
Steve O'Reilly neatly captures the stoicism of a Kiwi bloke who struggles to voice his feelings while Delia Hannah's assured vocal performance carries us through the anguish of a long-suffering wife.
