Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical

A teenage dreamboat who went on to big band, folk and back again, namely singer/songwriter/performer Bobby Darin, was huge in his day. Darin's life has already been dramatised (and musicalised, kind of) by Kevin Spacey in Beyond The Sea in 2004, but Dream Lover is a significant departure from that.

David Campbell's version of Darin is cheeky, optimistic and just beautifully voiced - with a range that absolutely does the real Darin justice. Also wonderful is Caroline O'Connor, doubling up by playing both Darin's (grand)mother as well as the mother of his wife, actress Sandra Dee (Hannah Fredericksen). Until great female pop stars are celebrated in the same way (when, producers, when?), this will have to do - and any opportunity to see as much of O'Connor, as often as possible, is always a good thing.

Over the two acts this jukebox musical showcases Darin's songs and story, including personal controversies and looming health problems, as well as career highlights and speed bumps (Darin's decision to sell his publishing rights was a terrible idea then, and got audible gasps of 'you didn't!', now). While personal scandals are always good story fodder, the strength is the songs, where we learn about Darin's determination to write for himself (eventually losing out on a bad publishing deal), as well as writing for (as well as briefly dating) Connie Francis.

The title song Dream Lover is a clear standout, played a couple of times including as a gorgeous duet. But hits from the time like Mack The Knife, Beyond The Sea and Darin's pop swan song Splish Splash are also lots of fun, as are the insights into the musician's life (particularly his stand in solidarity for civil rights). The real Darin would have been 80 this year, and no doubt he's singing along, approvingly, somewhere.

Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical is at Sydney's Lyric Theatre until 27 Nov.