Have you ever dated a lackluster man? Wanna hear someone sing about it?

The Last Word by Imogen Whittaker is a one-woman “cabaret” show about the men she dated in her 20s, specifically how they all ended. I feel like “cabaret” is somewhat misleading/downplaying the show; there is so much musical theatre-ness in this show’s identity that I would not hesitate to call it a musical full stop. I’m specifically reminded of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick… Boom! - it occupies the same space and subgenre, though it tells a vastly different story.

The Last Word is essentially a rom-com. The comedy is witty – a good mix between sly jabs at unfavourable guys and a healthy dose of self-deprecation, but I feel like Whittaker’s strongest moments are when she indulges in her romantic side. There’s so much soul and hurt in her romantic escapades, which makes the comedy feel more like a mask to hide an emotional center – a mask that fades by the end of the show with great satisfaction.

The show itself is wonderfully well-written – it moves at a pace that grabs the audience’s attention in a vice grip (I never saw one head move away from the stage). Whittaker’s performance was incredible in all aspects. Maybe it was courteous to make this a one-woman show because she has a presence and a voice that would outshine anyone else. Again, her singing style is very reminiscent of musical theatre, though I enjoy the decision to keep her Australian accent prominent. The piano playing is steady, consistent, and not too showy, allowing the words to shine on top. There’s nothing quite as impressive as singing, playing the piano, and entertaining the audience all at once alone on a stage. Mind-boggling every time.

My only criticisms are that I wish there was a little more thought into the visual presentation, and that she was maybe too honest in her storytelling: she reminded the audience a couple times that the events of the show may be exaggerated – just let me live in your fiction!

Imogen Whittaker is a name to follow; if The Last Word is her first solo show (?!?), then I wait in bated anticipation for the next one. A musical labour of love, The Last Word is definitely worth following around.