musical portrays political career australian prime minister prime minister musical follows ascent leadership eventual electoral defeat written inspired write disappointment results federal election saw government returned fourth term musical takes humorous satirical tone presents positive image frequently criticising howard government describes originally performed musical group achieved rapid success low budget premiere melbourne international comedy festival enjoyed sold run won unprecedented festival awards directed extended company production acts new songs written company production toured australia receiving favourable reviews winning best musical best regional touring production live recording broadcast nationally released dvd november background labor prime minister australia ascending office leadership challenges predecessor prime minister interested big picture approach government engaging issues closer relationship asia reconciliation formation australian republic government defeated federal election coalition writer inspired write musical following disappointment result federal election saw howard government returned fourth term time laugh said says story appealed classic dramatic structure man struggles makes compete bad guys successive opposition leaders believed colourful personality ideal character musical theatre citing prime minister reputation sharp wearing suits collecting antique wrote weeks drawing biography bleeding heart describes piece ultimately aims funny entertaining production history originally performed musical group premiered melbourne international comedy festival low budget single act seat venue played lead role despite musical success melbourne plans end comedy festival producer partner trades hall insisted develop took tour australia including week shows return season melbourne trades hall week season adelaide festival week shows brisbane powerhouse nights darwin renowned director offered direct production sydney theatre company company production reworked musical act piece writing new songs original cast retained returned evans took roles joined cast howard says worried turn relatively simply staged roughly musical version original sense fun instead felt accomplished version original company version enjoyed sold seasons melbourne sydney adelaide brisbane perth canberra albany including run shows melbourne international comedy festival coming close august august broadcast live performance sydney centre recording released dvd november response premiere production melbourne international comedy festival met enthusiastic reviews praised musical best seen festival years age described clever funny week popular shows festival having sold fifth end melbourne run won major festival awards barry golden time production songs won green room awards best original musical score company version received strong reviews writer brisbane describing brilliantly satirical reviewer melbourne age awarding rating stars paul writing criticised musical bias calling script safe insult voted howard won award best musical awards best direction best actor supporting role following year won best regional touring production end sydney season taken box office earnings final total audience reached people australia attended multiple times believes popular politics public life today humour game says satire lot cut believes reason increased interest unsettled issues national debate question republic seen commented enjoys satire thought musical far better prime minister synopsis following summary refers extended act version musical act sung production begins introducing political situation contrasting personalities enthusiasm cricket deputy fond works right hand man economic prowess man australian interests emerges shares life story hopes gain leadership agreed deal known venue reached style deal returns bench rock ballad style queen sings resolving challenge prime remember confronts blue eyed soul style time song refers prime minister famous 1970s campaign uses fondness collecting antique motif belief time change leadership prime minister sings ambitions nation including treaty australian republic improved relationships australia asian neighbours reggae song ruler land celebrates success political life prime minister limited minor key latin tune beginning end ghost counsel maintain rage faces opposition leader freestyle rap battle arguing merits policy platform winning battle superior command colourful drawn actual quotes floor angered challenges early election refuses song wanna slowly song title refers known quote takes sexual interpretation slow funk number government contests federal election animated video report incoming results green labor wins sings unexpected victory victory famous phrase actual election night speech sweet act tune end earth refers private description australia evans complain day day issues economy unfavourable portrayal commercial media getting way larger agenda including new flag reconciliation replaces opposition leader short unsuccessful period costume alludes photograph actual posing competition sings belief leadership evans affair australian democrats leader typically played male heavens evans understated minor key nova song sings need recognise damage white subsequent australian population upbeat decision attempts use decision promote reconciliation agenda leader opposition presenting new threat howard describes intense desire power revenge petty child menacing minor key march power media presents normal costume changes attempts cast sports fan friend australian soldier farmer song implies costumes song refers children overboard affair criticism political use immigration political issue occurred actual howard subsequent election prime minister slow rock duet howard voters choose electoral polls close concludes doomed sings dreams bitterness sees backward looking message opponent country influenced ballad referring labor prime minister description labor overarching goals light hill final number historical election dramatically results come hang single polling booth theatre musical playing wins howard line sorry lost reference support formal apology people song title indicates actual win election song reprise ruler land music songs employ wide range musical styles including nova blues rap reggae soul swing beer barrel written highly entertaining academic study generic hybrid blending theatre musical comedy switch traditions myth making vol december lyrics frequently draw quotes real political figures particularly floor contains numerous quotes debates expanding company production wrote new songs adding act curtain number sweet exploration time office end earth songs reconciliation native title song howard dogs song original version evans warns political life limited replaced similarly themed beginning end live recording original single act version played sydney opera house released available website company released cast recording extended containing musical numbers featured stage green features company production original cast howard evans band consists drums bass keyboards acoustic guitar electric guitar sold copies year live recording extended version performed sydney centre audience members attended recording real life appearance recording currently available dvd musical numbers
Keating!