Review: Ordinary Days at Upstairs at the Gatehouse

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Four Stars)

Even before the show officially begins at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, you’re gently pulled into the world of Ordinary Days. Aiden Cutler, already in character as the endearing Warren, greets audience members with colourful flyers offering motivational quotes such as “Be yourself, everybody else is already taken,” and “The key to success unlocks many doors,” in a whimsical touch that sets the tone for this musical.

With a score by Adam Gwon that feels reminiscent of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, Ordinary Days tells the interwoven stories of four New Yorkers. There’s Warren (Aiden Cutler), who often finds himself being overlooked as he hands out motivational art to passersby; Deb (Dora Gee), a grad student who moved to the big city to escape her rural hometown but is grappling with imposter syndrome as she struggles to complete her thesis; Jason (James Edge), who is trying to build a life with his partner as they move in together and take the next steps in their relationship; and Claire (Melisa Camba), who’s haunted by a past she can’t quite shake which holds her back from Jason. 

While the show is entirely sung-through, a stylistic choice that can inhibit character development and storytelling, the cast bring real clarity and emotional nuance to their roles. Aiden Cutler and Dora Gee have great comedic chemistry and land every awkward, hilarious moment with sincerity and warmth. Their scenes together are a joy, especially when they incorporate audience interactions and break the fourth wall. James Edge brings a gentle charm and emotional weight to Jason, especially in his duets with Melisa Camba’s Claire who delivers a heart-wrenching solo near the show’s close that left the audience visibly moved.

Director Karl Steele makes great use of the intimate theatre space and minimalist set, transforming a set of grey blocks into everything from New York taxis to apartment furniture with clever staging. The colourful umbrellas suspended above the stage are a lovely visual metaphor, little pops of beauty hanging above the grey hustle of city life, much like the show itself.

What makes Ordinary Days so special is its ability to find beauty in the mundane. It's a love letter to everyday life and the moments that go unnoticed, except by those who are really looking. As Warren puts it, “For beautiful to happen, the beautiful has got to be seen.”

As I stood to leave at the end of the show, the flyer I’d been handed at the very start of the show fell to the ground. It read, “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” I’m certainly glad I took a chance on catching Ordinary Days during its short run.

Ordinary Days runs at Upstairs at the Gatehouse until 27th April 2025.

Tickets are available here: https://www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com/

Photos by Perro Loco Productions