Maggie McKenna hits a high note in new Muriel’s Wedding musical

PJ Hogan says it felt like “a small miracle had happened” when Maggie McKenna auditioned for the role of Muriel Heslop in the new musical based on his much-loved film Muriel’s Wedding.

Muriel’s Wedding stars Madeleine Jones and Maggie McKenna. Picture: Nic Walker

PJ HOGAN has said that it felt like “a small miracle had happened” when Maggie McKenna auditioned for the role of Muriel Heslop in the new musical based on his much-loved film Muriel’s Wedding.

Casting Muriel in the 1994 movie was hard enough. Now she had to sing as well. After an exhaustive search, McKenna — daughter of Gina Riley of Kath & Kim fame — landed the plum role of Australia’s favourite dag, immortalised on screen by Toni Collette.

Finding the right actor to play Muriel’s best friend Rhonda proved almost as difficult. Eventually, Madeleine Jones, who had taken part in a workshop of the musical, got the nod.

At Jones’s final audition, the creative team got her to do some scene work with McKenna.

“We had a couple of hours together before they said that I had the role so it was that last massive hurdle to see whether or not there was any chemistry there – and there wasn’t, so it’s been torture,” deadpans Jones. They both burst out laughing.

The pair hit it off straight away. Picture: Nic Walker

“That first time we read together there was an instant sisterhood or something between us that works so well for the characters. We kind of clicked. I went, ‘ah! This is it!’” says McKenna.

Muriel’s Wedding marks McKenna’s professional stage debut —quite a way to start a career. Jones has starred in the musical Once, and toured in Ladies In Black, directed by Simon Phillips, who also directs Muriel’s Wedding.

They both love how Muriel’s Wedding is about “a strong female friendship. It is kind of the love story, essentially, of the show,” says Jones.

“They are soul mates in a way. They are destined to go through (difficult times) and conquer the world together,” says McKenna.

At one point, they have a duet. “To me it’s such a girl anthem. The first time I heard it I cried,” says McKenna.

“It comes at that moment when they are becoming friends and it solidifies the relationship. It’s really Rhonda going, ‘stop being so down on yourself, stop trying to be someone else because you are perfect how you are,’” explains Jones.

In the film, Muriel doesn’t actually say a lot; instead Collette’s face expressed what she was thinking. In the musical, the songs reveal Muriel’s inner thoughts.

Rachel Griffiths and Toni Collette Muriel's Wedding.

“The music in the show is incredible,” says Jones, praising both the original songs by Kate Miller-Heidke and her husband Keir Nuttall, and the way they have incorporated the ABBA hits into the score.

There are about 25 songs and McKenna sings in all but two of them.

“I almost never leave the stage, it’s big,” she says.

As with any new musical, there have been numerous changes as the show has evolved during rehearsals.

“No one on the creative team is willing to settle (for anything but the best). Near enough isn’t good enough so everyone is being incredibly exacting and that means stuff has been changing every day,” says McKenna.

“There’s a kind of thrill in the fear of it. You don’t have time to think about how crazy it is that things are changing so often. You just think, ‘let’s go for it.’ ”

Muriel’s Wedding The Musical, Roslyn Packer Theatre, tomorrow until January 27. Book: 9250 1777