The Critical Last ChanceYears
Pop the Bubbly, Miss 50 and, Party like a Cool Aunty!
Don't miss out on the best
girls-night-out of the year!
Critical Last Chance Years Vol. 3 is on its way to Australia after wowing audiences across Germany with its uproarious and heartfelt tale of self-discovery. Penned by local luminary Laine Loxlea-Danann, this jubilant show promises an unforgettable evening of laughter and reflection.
Starring Musical Theatre super nova Zoe Georgakis as Amy, a woman on a quest for the elusive Husband-House-Baby trifecta, this one-woman extravaganza is a rollercoaster ride through the trials and triumphs of modern love and life. Directed by the brilliant Marianne Kjær Klausen, the production brings to life Amy's hilarious misadventures, from disastrous dates to unexpected obstacles, all set to a toe-tapping jazz soundtrack.
Experience the highs, the lows, and everything in between as Amy navigates the twists and turns of life, with a little help from her trusty companion (Wine), and a dash of irreverent humour. Join us for an evening of laughter, tears, and empowerment. Grab your tickets now and be part of the phenomenon that is Critical Last Chance Years.
Show Dates
Friday 7th June 7 pm - Australian Premiere, Redland Performing Arts Centre
Saturday 20th July 5.30 pm Margot Fonteyn Theatre On The Boards Theatre Co
Saturday 20th July 8 pm Margot Fonteyn Theatre, On The Boards Theatre Co
Sunday 21st July 1 pm Margot Fonteyn Theatre, On The Boards Theatre Co
Sunday 21st July 4 pm Margot Fonteyn Theatre, On The Boards Theatre Co
More Performance Dates Being Added Soon!
This project is supported by Redland Performing Arts Centre, Redland City Council and, the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Loxlea Creative is proudly sponsored by On the Boards Theatre Co.
The Critical Last Chance Years
Challenging her, Bureau of Statistics status - “Women in their Critical Last Chance Years”, Musical Theatre super nova, Zoe Georgakis plays the role of Amy, a woman trying her darndest to achieve the highly coveted Husband-House-Baby package prize. In this original, one-woman, jazz-inspired musical, written and composed by Laine Loxlea-Danann, Amy, armed with old, faithful, supportive, loyal friend -Wine, and a myriad of self-help books, travels the very bumpy road of endless swipes right, blind dates, push up bras, toasters, compulsory DIY, flirting tactics, and dating drunk. And just when you think things couldn’t get any worse for Amy, she discovers she has a hostile womb. With luck this bad, Amy is destined to be triumphant, somehow! This frolic of a musical is being directed by Marianne Klausen (who also helmed the German production), and it is based on the true life events of the Musical’s writer and composer. After two highly successful seasons in Germany produced by artistic collaborative partner Theater an der Rott, The Critical Last Chance Years is coming home for its Australian premier 2024. So, don your best loungewear, tuck some diet jelly in your trousers, and come celebrate Husband-House-Baby package liberation with Amy.The Critical Last Chance Years, a one-person musical written by Australian author Laine Loxlea-Danann, is a dramatization and adaptation of the cabaret Critical Last Chance Years. The musical sheds light on the social pressures of being a single female in a culture that promotes couple relationships and the notion that, with enough effort, wishes can come true.
The story follows Amy, a 50-year-old single woman, as she desperately searches for her one true happiness. With a strong will and lots of well-meaning advice, she embarks on her journey, only to find herself questioning if she is really deficient, egocentric, incapable of commitment, or a complete failure.
The music of this mono musical mainly consists of styles popular in jazz music, such as swing, cha cha cha, and gospel. Throughout her journey, Amy is accompanied by a variety of characters and props, including daisies, a baseball bat, and a beanbag that threatens to devour her.
The Critical Last Chance Years has been praised by the press for its honest, open-hearted, and entertaining take on the subject.
For those looking for an amusing and touching story of a woman’s journey to self-discovery, The Critical Last Chance Years is definitely worth checking out.
The Critical Last Chance Years
The Critical Last Chance Years
A new musical by Laine Loxlea-Danann
Australian Season 2024/2025
Introducing our lead actress - Zoe Geogarkis
I am so happy that Zoe Georgakis has accepted the lead role of Amy in the Australian season of The Critical Last Chance Years! I am also thrilled that the original director from Europe's 2022 and 2023 seasons, Marianne Kjaer Klausen, has agreed to travel from Germany to direct the production. Furthermore, I am so honoured and humbled that Theater an der Rott and Dean Wilmington are collaborating with us as artistic partners.
Meet the Team
The Critical Last Chance Years Creative Team
Credits
Starring - Zoe Georgakis
Music, Lyrics and, Book - Laine Loxlea-Danann
Director/ Dramaturgue- Marianne Kjær Klausen
Adaption - Marianne Kjær Klausen
Musical Direction - Laine Loxlea-Danann
Choreographic Support - Mina Aaanat
Technical Support - Caleb Barlett
Production Assisstant - Markella Kroll
The History so far...
The Critical Last Chance Years
Germany Season 2022/2023
Where Did It All Begin?
In 2017, I had a chance meeting with an old university buddy, Dean Wilmington. He was now the artistic director of a German theatre company, Theater an der Rott. We shared a humble lunch at Stafford Plaza. The conversation eventually moved to my original one-woman show, The Critical Last Chance Years, and Dean insisted that he wanted to assess its potential to become a Stage Musical. I was honoured and sent him everything related to the work. Now, The Critical Last Chance Years musical has had two very successful seasons in Germany in 2022 and 2023 and is being prepped for its Australian release in 2024. The original director from the German season, Marianne Kjaer Klausen, will be coming from Europe to direct the Australian season. Theater an der Rott will also continue to support the work as an artistic collaborative partner. I'm thrilled to bring this work to the Australian stage and an eager audience in 2024.
In 2023, I was fortunate enough to visit Germany and witness Yvonne Koestler's incredible performance in the second season of The Critical Last Chance Years. I was overwhelmed by the warm response it received from the audience and felt privileged to have been a part of it. It was an experience beyond words. This motivated me to bring the show back to Australia and produce the Australian seasons and beyond.
The Show
The one-woman musical "The Critical Last Chance Years " is based on the cabaret "Critical Last Chance Years" by the Australian author Laine Loxlea-Danann. Translation, dramatization, and editing of German treatment by Dean Wilmington and Marianne Kjær Klausen.
The musical examines the social pressures of being single in a culture where couple relationships define the norm and where you're told at an incredible volume that if you try hard enough, wishes can come true.
Equipped with an iron will and plenty of well-intentioned advice, our protagonist Amy devoted herself to the challenges of finding a partner. But what to do if you haven't received the man-house-baby package at the age of 48? Can one then finally be described as deficient, egocentric, incapable of commitment or even a failure?
Between daisies, a baseball bat and copious self-help books that threaten to devour her, Amy takes us on her musical search for happiness and her way to herself. Honest, open-hearted, touching and entertaining.
The music of this one-woman musical sits mainly in styles that have become popular in jazz music, such as swing, cha cha cha, and gospel.
Testimonial
"A great achievement" was the verdict of the press for this one-woman show, which will be resumed on International Women's Day 2023.
Inclusivity Statement
This production recognises the diversity of the Australian performing community, and we seek to foster a more realistic and more creative representation of Australia on our stages. To this end, we strongly encourage applications from performers of varied experiences, perspectives and circumstances including performers from all cultural and linguistic, religious, sexual and gender identities or expression, political views, disability, and neurodiversity.
The German Seasons - 2022 and 2023
The second mono-musical "The Critical Gate Closing Years" is based on the cabaret "Critical Last Chance Years" by the Australian author Laine Loxlea-Danann. Translation, dramatization, and editing are by Dean Wilmington and Marianne Kjær Klausen.
The play examines the social pressures of being single in a culture where couple relationships define the norm and where you're told at an incredible volume that if you try hard enough, wishes can come true.
Equipped with an iron will and plenty of well-intentioned advice, our protagonist Hannah devoted herself to the challenges of finding a partner. But what to do if you haven't received the man-house-baby package at the age of 48? Can one then finally be described as deficient, egocentric, incapable of commitment or even a failure?
Between daisies, a baseball bat and a beanbag that threatens to devour her, Hannah takes us on her musical search for happiness and her way to herself. Honest, open-hearted, touching and entertaining.
The music of this mono musical moves mainly in styles that have become popular in jazz music, such as swing, cha cha cha, and gospel.
"A great achievement" was the verdict of the press for this one-woman show, which will be resumed on International Women's Day 2023.
Written By
Laine Loxlea -Danann
Musical Direction
Dean Wilmington
Direction
Marianne Kjaer Klausen
Set Design
Julia Krawczynski
Performers
Dean Wilmington
