Little Miss Typecast, at Chapel Off Chapel - 60 minutes

Making it in the world of entertainment is invariably difficult. It is a path liberally splattered with potholes.

And so it is that Chloe Halley – in her mid 20s – charts just such a journey.

Is it her personal voyage? Well, we can’t be sure, but it definitely sounds like it is. 

Photos by Matthew Chen

It is a hilarious recounting in narrative, song and tap dance of a passion to be on stage … the centre of attention, from the age of eight.

She takes to the task – obstacles at every turn – with confidence and zest, carrying the audience along with her.

From school and amateur theatre in Canberra to Melbourne, starring roles and success often prove elusive.

And that is despite her deliberate showboating to ensure decision makers notice her.

The laughs come thick and fast, not just because of what Halley says, but how she says it. It is her actions and expressions that help gild the lily.

Put another way, copious dollops of relish embellish her storytelling. Gumption – there is no shortage of.

With her small stature, as she grows from eight to 13, 16 and then 18, she is frequently cast in supporting roles as a young child.

She is pigeonholed, hence the show’s title: Little Miss Typecast.

Far from ideal for someone who wants to be taken seriously as a capable adult performer.

Mind you, a surprise ending metaphorically brings the house down.

If there is one take away from all this, it is that persistence and resilience are the keys. A healthy enough ego to believe in yourself. A never give up mentality.

Musically, her choices reflect her journey.

From Born to Entertain and Let Me Be Your Star, to Defying Gravity and 16 Going On 17. From They Just Keep Moving The Line and Let It Go to When I Grow Up and Tomorrow. All the songs she has chosen and the words to those songs are meaningful.

Staging, props, costuming and lighting all play an important hand in elevating the spectacle.

Chloe Halley is a comic delight. Her timing is masterful and her shtick is met with roars of approval.

This is one energiser bunny who will never die wondering.

Directed by Dolly Diamond and Dom Hennequin, Little Miss Typecast is a wild ride.

You can find Chloe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloe_halley/