From Smiles to Standing Ovation: Music of the Night in The Barossa
Warm humour, powerhouse vocals and theatrical drama make for a night of contrast, nostalgia and big musical moments.
Production: Music of the Night
Venue: Brenton Langbein Theatre, Barossa Arts Centre, Tanunda
Date: Saturday 12 September 2026
Reviewed by: Brett Partington, Limelight SA
Photography: Kate Needs, Limelight SA
I went into Music of the Night expecting big voices, familiar songs and plenty of spectacle. What surprised me was just how funny, relaxed and easy the night felt. The show built quietly, drew us in and kept revealing something new.
The stage itself was deliberately simple. Candelabras, blue and white lighting and a soft smoky haze created a moody atmosphere. Projected backdrops helped show which musical each song came from, with some of the imagery giving a 3D effect. Nothing felt cluttered. The focus remained exactly where it belonged: on the performers.
When did the audience become part of the show?
Pretty much the moment Joey Fimmano decided we were.
Joey crossed that imaginary border between stage and audience early, moving along the front row shaking people’s hands before sitting on one lucky woman’s lap and adding a cheeky comment that immediately loosened up the room. Part showman, part vaudeville performer and part ringmaster, Joey is also an award-winning vocalist and instrumentalist. He has an infectious smile and the sort of easy charm that makes you feel as though you have known him for years. Think of the Italian uncle everyone wants sitting at their table.
The first half became a showcase of some of musical theatre’s best-known songs, but the strength came from the variety. The three singers were very different in voice, personality and stage presence, and that contrast gave the show colour.
The audience gasped with recognition when Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat began, seeming to take many straight back to their younger years. Joey then shared stories from his early television days, including his success on Pot of Gold with Bernard King and Young Talent Time, where he won his way through heats and finals. Those stories stirred a shared sense of memory where you could almost hear the room thinking, “I remember those shows.” A brief tribute to Johnny Young added a touching moment.
Across the first half, the show moved comfortably between banter, memories and increasingly powerful vocals. There were jokes with the band, some playful songs on the piano accordion and Joey happily teasing that he might, in fact, be the real star of proceedings.
It was fun.
Dexter Villahermosa brought some of the night’s strongest drama. His stage presence was confident and charismatic. When he spoke, he used deliberate pauses and a slow, measured delivery that held your attention.
The room leaned in with him.
His Miss Saigon section was one of the most emotional parts of the night for me.
What changed after interval?
The first half had been about variety and fun. The second half belonged to the drama. Opening with songs from The Phantom of the Opera immediately shifted the mood. Rather than constantly breaking the intensity with lighter material, the production allowed us to stay immersed in it. That was the right decision. Sometimes variety helps. At other times, the big songs need room to breathe.
Music of the Night was one of the evening’s standouts. Dexter displayed both range and control, holding some remarkably long notes before receiving one of the biggest and most sustained rounds of applause of the evening.
Michaela Hodgson brought plenty of light and shade to her performance across the night, moving from softer passages into powerful bursts when the music demanded it. She also seemed to arrive in a stunning new dress every few songs, adding another layer of glamour to the production.
The well-credentialled three-piece orchestra, led by musical director Michael Bellemore, combined bass guitar, drums and keyboards with programmed music to produce a full, expansive sound.
How did they send us home?
The cast finished with Mamma Mia, calling back to an earlier ABBA joke and sending the audience out on a lighter note. It gave the night a playful final lift.
After the show, I asked Joey what he hoped people would feel when they walked away from the production.
His answer was simple:
“Happiness and connection.”
Looking around the theatre throughout the night, his answer made perfect sense. People smiled. They laughed. They leaned in.
The applause said the rest.
By the final note, we were on our feet.
Limelight SA would like to say a special thank you to Cas & Nori 87.6FM, Dancing with an Italian and Joey Fimmano, cast and crew from Music of the Night for selecting us to review their show.
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