Review: Uked at The Bondi Pavilion Theatre

Review by Alison Stoddart

In the intimate Bondi Pavilion Theatre the performance of Uked! is a production that brings together music, comedy and a storyline the invokes compassion and genuine empathy from the audience. This is theatre that needs serious attention to the choice of partner one wishes to have accompany you, for its target audience is niche.  A love of the ukelele would be the major prerogative. Having said that, Uked is a delightful and inventive production that brings together music, comedy, and heartfelt storytelling in a way that feels both fresh and accessible. 

Written by Jane Cafarella, who sat in the audience singing along joyfully to every song, the story revolves around a 50-year-old woman Karla (Josephine Birch) who is unceremoniously dumped by her violin playing boyfriend. Karla decides that taking up the ukelele and diving into the online dating pool is the only answer.

Lessons on the ukelele are delivered through the medium of YouTube videos.  It is here that the performance actively engaged its audience by having the wonderfully talented Ian Stenlake portraying various characters from around the world hoping to indoctrinate novice uke players into following their various channels and signing up to a Patreon account. Karla watches videos from Pierre Bear, Uncle Scraggy and various other characters who lead Karla, and the audience, in rousing renditions of Mr Sandman, It’s So Easy to Fall in Love and Johnny Young’s Step Back, songs full of nostalgia and appreciated by this niche audience. Those audience members who arrived with ukeleles tuned and ready to go were supplied with the chords to each song on the back of the set. 

Uked! also features on-stage Kristin Harris and Jamie Sturgess providing backing vocals to the musical score.

The cast delivers energetic and engaging performances, with the ukulele serving as far more than a musical accompaniment. Throughout the production, the instrument becomes a storytelling device, adding humour, emotion, and unexpected depth to the narrative. The musical arrangements are clever and varied, showcasing both technical skill and a genuine sense of fun.

One of the show's greatest strengths is its ability to balance light-hearted entertainment with moments of sincerity. The script is witty without feeling forced, and the performers' charisma keeps the audience invested throughout. 

The staging is simple but effective, allowing the performances and music to take centre stage. 

The Bondi Pavilion Theatre makes it very easy to catch a show. The theatre bar is open before every show and parking is free after 7pm on the beachfront.

Overall, Uked is a charming, uplifting, and thoroughly entertaining production. It demonstrates how a seemingly modest premise can be transformed into a memorable theatrical experience through strong performances, inventive musicianship, and genuine heart. A crowd-pleasing show that leaves its audiences smiling long after the final chord.

Image Credit: Stephen Reinhardt