The Dismissal (musical)

The Dismissal
An Extremely Serious Musical Comedy
Music	Laura Murphy
Lyrics	Laura Murphy
Book	Black Erickson Jay James-Moody
Basis	1975 Australian constitutional crisis
Premiere	31 August 2023: York Theatre, Seymour Centre, Sydney

The Dismissal is a musical with book by Blake Erickson and Jay James-Moody, and music and lyrics by Laura Murphy. Dubbed "an extremely serious musical comedy", it is a satirical depiction of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. ^{[1] [2]}

The Dismissal had a work-in-progress presentation at the Seymour Centre in 2019. ^[3] It was scheduled to premiere as a Sydney Theatre Company and Squabbalogic co-production, performing at the Canberra Theatre from 9–24 October 2021 and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre from 29 October to 18 December 2021. ^[4] However, the production was cancelled in August 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. ^[5]

Subsequently, as a Squabbalogic production, the musical premiered at the York Theatre, Seymour Centre from 31 August 2023 to generally positive reviews. ^{[6] [7]} It ran until 21 October 2023. ^[8]

At the 2025 AWGIE Awards, The Dismissal's book and lyrics received the Award for Music Theatre and the David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre. ^[9]

Musical numbers

Act I "God Save Gough" – Norman Gunston and company "Maintain Your Rage" – Gough Whitlam and company "March of Time" – Company "Rain Down Under" – Gough, Margaret Whitlam, Rex Connor, Dr. Jim Cairns and Company "Barwick's Proposal" – Garfield Barwick and Sir John Kerr "High Interest" – Tirath Khemlani, Rex, Jim and Showgirls "Barwick Proposes Again" – Garfield † "Where I Came From" – Sir John and company "Private School Boys" – Malcolm Fraser and Liberal MPs "Headline" – Junie Morosi "The House Doesn't Always Win" – Gough, Malcolm and MPs †

Act II "Why Would You Get Into Politics" – Norman "Crash Through or Crash" – Margaret, Gough and MPs "Private School Boys (Reprise)" – Anne Kerr and Malcolm "I'm Not Listening" – Queen Elizabeth II "Barwick Proposes Again… Again!" – Garfield † "Bigger Picture" – Company "Maintain Your Rage (Reprise)" – Company † "More Than This" – Sir John, Gough and Malcolm "Reign Down Under" – Norman and Company

† Not included on the original cast recording

Principal cast

Role	Performer
Sir John Kerr	Octavia Barron Martin
Rex Connor	Georgie Bolton
Garfield Barwick	Peter Carroll
Malcolm Fraser	Andrew Cutcliffe
Dr. Jim Cairns	Joe Kosky
Junie Morosi	Shannen Alyce Quan
Margaret Whitlam	Brittanie Shipway
Gough Whitlam	Justin Smith
Anne Kerr	Stacey Thomsett
Norman Gunston	Matthew Whittet

See also

• The Dismissal (miniseries)
• Keating!

References

1. Low, Lenny Ann (12 December 2022). "What's the song and dance about The Dismissal?". The Sydney Morning Herald . Nine Entertainment . Retrieved 10 May 2023.
2. "THE DISMISSAL: AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS MUSIC COMEDY announces key cast". AussieTheatre.com. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
3. "The Dismissal Cast Announced". Stage Whispers. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
4. Litson, Jo (21 March 2021). "Sydney Theatre Company announces Act 2 of its 2021 season". Limelight. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
5. Cerabona, Ron (5 August 2021). "It's not yet time for The Dismissal". The Canberra Times . Australian Community Media . Retrieved 15 August 2021.
6. Smee, Charlotte (6 September 2023). "★★★★☆: This new musical about the sacking of Gough Whitlam is an Aussie gem". Time Out Sydney . Time Out Group . Retrieved 17 September 2023.
7. Tongue, Cassie (6 September 2023). "The Dismissal review – Gough Whitlam musical both delights and drags". The Guardian . Guardian Media Group. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 17 September 2023.
8. Freeland, Anna (15 September 2023). "'Funnier than Hamilton': Australia's biggest political drama gets the musical comedy treatment". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 17 September 2023.
9. Slatter, Sean (13 February 2025). "'Inside', 'Addition' on top at AWGIEs". IF Magazine . The Intermedia Group. Retrieved 17 February 2025.