Sam Newman has slammed a new ‘raucous’ musical comedy about the Brownless marriage split

The producers of a musical based on the marriage breakdown of Billy and Nicky Brownless, have been slammed by Sam Newman as “parasites” and “dumb clowns”.

The risque musical about the Brownless marriage split is being billed as a “Shakespearean tragedy”. Picture: Frank Lynch

The emotionally fraught and headline making marriage break-up, friendship bust-up and romantic hook-up between footy identities Billy Brownless, Garry Lyon and Nicky Brownless is being portrayed as a “Shakespearean tragedy” in a risque musical theatre show.

The saga of the breakdown of Billy and Nicky Brownless’s marriage and her subsequent relationship with Billy’s former best mate and Footy Show co-star Garry Lyon, is the basis for the edgy theatre offering More Than A Game: The Unauthorised Footy Show Musical, which will open at Chapel Off Chapel in South Yarra on August 25.

Described as “raucous and cheeky” the show, which is branded as a comedy, features actors playing characters called Billy Brownless, Nicky Brownless, Garry Lyon and Sam Newman and uses Billy’s shattering interview with Newman on The Footy Show in March 2016 where he tells of the drastic upheaval in his personal and professional life as the basis of the production.

The show was written by Jacob Buckley and Michael Whyntie with music and lyrics by Walter Buckley. Walter also plays the character of Billy.

More than a Game: The Unauthorised Footy Show Musical will be playing in South Yarra in late-August. Photo: Frank Lynch

The play premiered at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2021. It is not associated with The Footy Show or Channel 9. Neither Billy, Lyon nor Newman are involved in the show or have been contacted by the production.

Jacob Buckley said he was inspired to write the show after watching Billy’s Footy Show interview.

“It was completely different to all the other episodes because the news about the relationship between Nicky and Garry had hit the papers and I thought it was really dramatic,” he said.

“They were talking to him in a really serious manner whereas every other week they would just joke with him. They were asking him these deep and personal questions and he just didn’t have the words at that time to express himself so we thought what about if he could sing his emotions and what would that look like.”

Asked if they were concerned the show could be offensive to those whose story is being played out for laughs, Jacob said “We don’t want to punch down. We are trying to be respectful and we hope Billy and Gary and Nicky will like it,” adding “there is no nudity, but some of the language is pretty explicit.”

Said Walter: “Originally we were going to do an opera and then we brought it back to a musical.”

The musical is centered around the drama of the Billy, Nicky, Garry marriage split and recoupling in 2016. Picture: Frank Lynch

Clearly uncomfortable, Billy declined to comment on Friday about the production.

Newman was not so reserved, almost exploding when he was made aware of the show.

“I have no interest in what dumb, ill-bred clowns do, trying to be parasites and be Andy Warhols looking for their 15 minutes of fame,” he said.

“I have no interest in it (the play) and I have no idea why anyone else would. They are drips trying to have a glimmer of notoriety.”

He was astonished when told he would be welcome to attend the show.

“They are either on the Bolivian booger sugar or they have syphilis,” he said in declining the offer.

Billy Brownless and ex-wife Nicky, with Garry Lyon, her current partner.

Billy and Nicky Brownless split in 2015 with Nicky going on to a relationship with Garry Lyon whose marriage had also ended.

Garry and Nicky are still together.

Garry and Billy have mended the gulf that was between them and in recent years have been seen in photographs celebrating Christmas and family milestones.

https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/more-than-a-game/