Ordinary Days (Clovelly Fox Productions), at fortyfivedownstairs - 80 minutes

What a stunning song cycle! It premiered off the West End in 2008 and off Broadway the following year and first appeared in Australia in 2012.

The work of American composer and lyricist Adam Gwon, it concerns two relationships in New York City.

Warren (Joel Granger) is an artist who is house sitting another artist’s high rise city apartment and watching his cat while the latter is in jail.

Photos by Ben Fon

The incarcerated artist made his mark by painting pithy sayings across the city.

To give you an idea of what I am talking about, here are a few:

“Never let tall buildings block the view of your dreams.”

“Change your socks and your perspective daily.”

“Opportunity is like an express train: there is always another one on its way.”

Now, Warren is spreading this vision by printing flyers with the expressions and trying to hand them out.

But, despite his enthusiasm and his own aspirations, no-one seems interested in taking them.

He also picks up random items left on the street, such as a bent photo and an unopened Valentine’s Day card, and romanticises about them.

It allows him to envisage the owners' life stories.

One day, he collects a notebook.

A specific reference in it enables him to make contact with the owner.

He reaches out to her to give her back the book, asking her to meet him at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

But when he is face to face with Deb (Melanie Bird), he finds a highly stressed person who thinks he is weird.

Deb, who has grown up in the country, has seen her ambitions constantly limited.

The notes are important to her because they contain the research for her grad school thesis.

Although it appears that their relationship is over before it has even begun, that isn’t the case.

Then there is Jason (Bobby Fox), who is excited to be moving in with his girlfriend Claire (Sarah Morrison) so there will be no tyranny of distance.

With space being limited, some movement of furniture and decluttering is in order.

But, not all goes according to plan and there are other circumstances where the pair don’t see eye to eye.

Jason remains committed and very much in love, but Claire holds back.

The question is why? Does she not think Jason is right for her, or is there more to it than that?

While Bobby Fox, who I had seen before (Jersey Boys) and greatly appreciated, was clearly ill the night I saw Ordinary Days, Clovelly Fox’s production is awesome.

The choice of performers is masterful.

They are so darn good. I am not just talking about their vocalisation, but the expressions on their faces – the personality they inject into their roles.

As Warren, Joel Granger is an infectiously energetic dynamo.

You wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of Melanie Bird, who is fearsome and demonstrative when expressing her frustration as Deb.

Vocally, the pair is outstanding and the chemistry between them is palpable.

Restraint is the hallmark of Sarah Morrison as Claire, leaving Bobby Fox as Jason to express concern about the trajectory of their union.

Again, I would have liked to have heard Fox in full voice, but applaud him for taking to the stage when under par.

A few cluttered desks with props is all it took to transport us to the heart of one of the world’s most boisterous cities. Richard Roberts’ set design hits the mark.

Gavan Swift sets the mood with his lighting design and the sound design by Jack Scandrett and Mitchell Dand is generally strong.

Musical director Vicky Jacobs has a critical role to play.

She elevates the offering with precision and poise, although the amplification on the piano should have been turned down.

The transition between songs and scenes is seamless (as good as it gets) thanks to pithy direction from Tyran Parke.

I loved Ordinary Days (it is such a great piece of work) and can’t wait to see it again.

It is on at fortyfivedownstairs until 31^st August, 2025.