You’re a Catch! Why are you Single? pulled off a fabulous debut at the newly launched arts venue, The Motley Bauhaus in Carlton. The show captures the hurt, joy and frustration that is different for every person looking for love and wraps it up in an unique musical number for your own cathartic enjoyment.
When I was offered the opportunity to go to a musical about dating in the 21st century, I obviously jumped at the chance, and then immediately added a +1 to the door list. In some cruel twist of fate, my date didn’t actually show up, but I was not deterred. I know what it is like to date in the era of apps and covid (clearly), and I was ready to be seen.
You’re a Catch! Why are you single? was written and created by local Victorian Sarah Wynen. When Wynen was single, she couldn’t cope with the loneliness, so instead of letting herself go and crying on the bus like I would have done, she challenged herself to go on a date every single day until she found the one. Spoiler alert: she didn’t. She did, however, go on enough shitty, shocking and sometimes “nice” dates to inspire her to write this musical of which we will be forever grateful.
The show was held in a cozy theatre tucked away behind the bar at the Motley Bauhus, and is presented as a collection of songs and mini stories that all follow the same theme: loneliness and looking for love – think Love Actually but with slightly less Christmas decorations.
Wynen hopes that this experimental form will help people connect with the big ideas and start having thoughts and discussions that go against the current norm. “The pandemic has been hard. But what about all those people who were lonely before covid and who’ll be lonely after? This show is for them. I want people to know it’s okay to go to a wedding or reunion or Christmas dinner without a plus-one. I wish I had known that sooner”, she urges. “Make no mistake, this show is about sex, heartache, grief, lust… lots of these big ideas that people don’t seem to want to dwell on. But we should! We should talk about it. Especially at a time like this.”
This is Wynen’s first full musical to be produced and is her directional debut alongside collaborator Simon McWilliam. Simon and Sarah have seemingly delved into our hearts, secretly read our terrible tinder conversations and created a one act musical song cycle full of pizzazz and catchy tunes which will make you laugh (because it is just so true) and then probably make you cry. Keep an eye out for more by the talented Sarah Wynen and Simon McWilliam, as well as anything that pops ups up at The Motley Bauhaus!
