Smiley - The Musical

By John Watson, David Cocker, Clyde Collins,
Mark Jones and Lance Strauss

Directed by Debbie Keyt

Choreographer Lyn Laister

Musical Director Danny Forward

This was a chance to revisit the world of a small Australian country town in the late 1940s as we followed the (mis)adventures of Smiley, a boy who just couldn't seem to stay out of trouble! The play evoked memories of an unsophisticated Australia, where the little community of Murrumbilla unites to face danger and hard times together, where hard work and simple pleasures are valued, and where a boy's greatest wish in life is to own a bike.

This story first came to the big screen as a hit movie in the 1950's, starring Colin Peterson as Smiley, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell as the school headmaster and Chipps Rafferty as the police sergeant. It has been ably adapted to the stage as a truly entertaining musical by John Watson et al. There are two casts of very talented children in our production, with a strong cast of adults.

For those of us old enough to remember it, the song "Smiley" had us singing along to words we thought we had forgotten. The many other musical numbers in the show added to the colour and entertainment, and featured vigorous dance sequences. It was our children's show for 2004, a production that delighted all the family, and a musical not to be missed.

Debbie Keyt (Director of Smiley) with Bud Tingwell at the Victorian Drama League Awards 2003