There’s no denying it: Here You Come Again, now playing at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre, has a script as thin as a Southern biscuit and about as predictable as a key change in a country ballad.
But when the music is this good, the sequins this sparkly, and the lead performances magnetic, it’s hard to care too much. This is a jukebox musical that knows exactly what it is – and more importantly, what its audience wants.
Co-created by Bruce Vilanch, director Gabriel Barre, and the irrepressible Tricia Paoluccio (who also stars as Dolly Parton), Here You Come Again is, at its core, a love letter to the queen of country.
It wraps itself around Parton’s iconic songbook with heartfelt reverence and a healthy dose of sparkle, and while the storytelling may be slight, the production values and performances do a fine job distracting from the show’s narrative shortcomings.
The narrative centres on gay man Kevin Russell (played with charm by Dash Kruck), a wannabee comedian and Dolly Parton superfan in lock-down and love-lost during the pandemic, who conjures his imaginary Dolly to guide him back to emotional equilibrium.
It’s a promising premise – but one stretched to its absolute limits. The script, originally adapted for UK audiences by Jonathan Harvey and reworked here for an Australian audience by Fiona Harris and Mike McLeish, leans heavily on cliché, with character arcs and emotional beats you can spot a mile away.
But in a show so clearly driven by its soundtrack, the dialogue mostly serves as a connective tissue between songs – and for many audience members, that’s more than enough. With more than a dozen of Parton’s most beloved songs including 9 to 5, Jolene, Islands in the Stream, Here You Come Again, Two Doors Down and I Will Always Love You, the production delivers hit after hit with some surprising additions.
Paoluccio’s performance is the show’s golden centrepiece. Far more than an impersonation, she channels Dolly with such warmth, wit and vocal authenticity that she elevates every scene she’s in. Whether delivering a zinger, a dose of backwoods wisdom, or the soaring chorus of Here You Come Again, Paoluccio is utterly captivating.
The supporting cast is strong: Kellie Rode, Bailey Dunnage, and Laura Joy Bunting do double duty as ensemble characters and backup singers, adding both vocal punch and cheeky charm. James Maxfield’s choreography keeps things lively, and there’s even a touch of theatrical magic thanks to the clever illusions by Richard Pinner.
Musically, the show is a delight. Andrew Worboys leads a tight, country-flecked band (featuring Tina Harris on bass, Luke Herbert on drums, and Ash Murdica on guitar) that handles Dolly’s classics with reverence and pep. Marcello Lo Ricco’s sound design keeps vocals crisp and dynamic, while Jason Bovaird’s lighting shimmers with glitzy brilliance.
With powerhouse vocals, irresistible charm, and a finale that turns the theatre into a dazzling hoedown, Here You Come Again is the kind of show that will send you home with a smile on your face – and maybe just believing that a little Dolly wisdom can fix almost anything … almost!
Here You Come Again
Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Performance: Wednesday 16 July 2025
Season continues to 20 July 2025
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au
Following the Melbourne season, Here You Come Again will play the Regal Theatre, Perth (22 – 31 August), Theatre Royal Sydney (12 – 28 September), Comedy Theatre, Melbourne (23 October – 2 November), Newcastle Civic Theatre (20 – 23 November), Canberra Theatre Centre (27 – 30 November), and Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide (6 – 14 December). For more information, visit: www.hereyoucomeagain.com.au for details.
Images: Tricia Paoluccio as Dolly – photo by Cameron Grant | Dash Kruck and Tricia Paoluccio – photo by Cameron Grant | Tricia Paoluccio, Dash Kruck and Cast of Here You Come Again – photo by Cameron Grant