Above : Josephine Birch plays Karla in Uked!
Melbourne playwright Jane Cafarella has described her play ‘as a love letter to the humble ukulele.’ She also wrote the show, ‘ for all the Karlas out there, and as an antidote to the misery of the news.’
UKED! premiered in a sell out season in Melbourne in 2019. Producer David Spicer saw the show at the time and loved it. The show went on to have a successful season in Auckland in 2024. Now, David Spicer has brought it to the Bondi Pavilion.
The musical is essentially a two hander with Josephine Birch, a very natural and warm performer playing the main character Karla and Ian Stenlake, a well known stage and screen actor, and a clear drawcard, playing all the characters she meets.
The scenario sees Karla, an intelligent, attractive fifty year old woman who, on her 50th birthday, is dumped by her violin playing boyfriend. In response she buys a ukulele. Downhearted, but still wanting to stay in the ring, Karla boldly joins a dating site.
Plenty of humour is found as Karla spends most of her time online, sharing the time between finding good tutors to teach her how to play the ukulele, and scrolling through the singles website, and chatting to prospective new partners. Stenlake does so well, moving, with a lightness of touch from one character to the next.
There was a lovely communal feel to the production. Audience members were invited to bring their ukuleles, or to hire them in the foyer, and play and sing along to the show. A screen displayed all the chords and lyrics for them to follow. For those not bearing a ukulele, many choose to sing along to the pop standard.
A band featuring two ukulele player, Kristin Harris and Jamie Sturgess who sat at the right side of the stage, providing accompaniment as well as playing bit characters, Ruth and Joel.
The show also included a busy stage manager Roslyn Hicks who did some brief tidy-ups between scenes in a lightly humorous way.
Well directed by Ali Bendall, this show was a pleasure. UKED! plays the Bondi Pavilion theatre on select dates until June 28.
http://www.bonditheatrecompany.com.au
Production photography by Stephen Reinhardt
