Tivoli Lovely - WAAPA
- Kate O'Sullivan
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Reviewed by Kate O'Sullivan
“Tivoli Lovely” is exactly what it promises to be, a heartfelt love letter to Australia’s golden age of variety. Written as a tribute to the beloved Tivoli circuit, the show blends nostalgia, humour and a dash of pathos to capture the moment when the glitter of live performance began to fade in the glow of television screens.
Corny in all the right ways and brimming with Aussie charm, Tivoli Lovely finds its rhythm in a cascade of running gags and warm-hearted wit. The recurring jokes, particularly one about how a person’s favourite biscuit reveals everything about them, are delivered with just the right light touch. Beneath the laughter, though, sits a thoughtful reflection on a nation shifting its values in the 1950s, as entertainment, gender roles, and identity evolved.
Caroline McKenzie as Kitty and Zoe Davidson-Wall as Charlotte lead the show with finesse, providing emotional gravity amid the sparkle. Kitty’s journey, reliving her past from within her own memories, gives the musical its heart, as the older performer and her younger self share the stage in a poignant conversation between eras.
It’s rare these days to see a cast of forty light up a main stage, and this ensemble makes every inch of the Heath Ledger Theatre’s space count. The big tap-dancing numbers burst with verve and polish, delivered by a cast that can truly sing, dance, and act with equal ease. The “Eleven" Kevins worked particularly well together, creating a slick and cohesive unit while still maintaining distinct, individualised characterisations, a clever and well-balanced piece of ensemble direction.
The design team deserves equal applause. The set transitions seamlessly between the frame story and the “show within a show,” aided by clever lighting that cues shifts in time and tone. There were a few opening-night wobbles, with a handful of performers occasionally stepping just out of light, and a sound balance that allowed the brass to overpower the singers from the Circle seats, but these are teething issues in a production that otherwise gleams with confidence. The costumes, complete with glittering headdresses, perfectly evoke the era’s razzle-dazzle.
At its core, Tivoli Lovely is a story about remembering, about the power of performance to preserve people and moments long after the curtain falls. It’s a generous, funny, and moving new Australian musical that celebrates where we’ve come from and why the stage still matters.
To borrow from Eddie Perfect: “Australian audiences love to see themselves and their history celebrated on stage. We are funny, bold, idiosyncratic and baffling people, us Aussies.” Tivoli Lovely does exactly that, and it’s a joy to behold.
Reviewer Note: Tickets for this review were provided by the theatre company.