REVIEW:
Amber at the Old Fitz

Date of Performance: April 2 2025
Reviewed by: Bridget Whitford

Similar To: To All the Boys I've Met Before meets Fleabag (but not as edgy or clever) 

Reason to stay: If you're a diehard rom com fam 

Watch if you feel like: Switching off 

Best Line of Dialogue: The ode to Charlotte York at the start 

Lighting: Striking – The pictures of it sold it as having more substance than the final product unfortunately delivered.

Set/Costume: Also very well designed (albeit clumsy in some moments – The window frame in the back had a malfunction this night) 

Acting: Lead performer (and writer) Nikita Waldron boasts an impressive resume of film and stage credits. It’s therefore a bit of a surprise that her performance feels quite one dimensional and borders on musical theatre acting. Her writing touches on grave topics such as grief, suicidal ideation and the pains of growing up. However, there is little nuance in her portrayal of the protagonist to match up to these themes. 

The supporting cast do their best with the material they have to work with. Esha Jessy, though sometimes vocally underpowered even in the intimate Old Fitz space, does provide the audience with something to wake them up as Amber's best friend (the fact that her name cannot be recalled most likely due to the underwritten nature of her character & how she pops up at odd intervals in the dramaturgy of the piece.) 

Writing: I'm not entirely sure what made this story the successful recipient of the Rebel Wilson Comedy Commission by ATYP. I also am still yet to understand how Amber was selected from all the works in progress showed at last year's New Works Festival at the Old Fitz to have a full mainstage production. Its structure feels laboured, the time jumps pop out of nowhere and I am not entirely convinced the lead character changes all that much after undergoing all her 'troubles.' 

Directing: Mehha Malhi faces the same challenge as her cast who are given little material to work with. Although not as dynamic as her staging of All Boys, she does her best to keep the audience engaged through Amber's journey. This may be a writing thing but the decision to make all the boys play Luca seems strange – It comes off comedic more than any type of symbolism and confuses the audience as to who each of the boys are playing. 

Overall: If you want something light and are in the mood to switch off, watch it for sure. If you're looking for something innovative or eye-opening, you're unlikely to find it here.  

My review in emojis: 🙄🙃🌹 

Diamond Rating (out of 5): 💎💎💎 

Runs until: 11 April 

Tickets can be bought at: https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/amber  

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