The Hatpin


The Hatpin is a musical by James Millar and Peter Rutherford. It was inspired by the true story of Amber Murray who in 1892 gave up her son to the Makin family in Sydney, Australia. Written and developed in 2006–2007, The Hatpin opened at the York Theatre, Seymour Centre in Sydney on 27 February 2008 and ran for 13 shows. The musical has received subsequent productions in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Hatpin is included in the hardback, The Australian Musical: From the beginning , on pages 251 and 252., and includes details of the 2008 premiere in Sydney and US premiere at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, the 2010 showcase and 2011 Victorian premiere in Melbourne, the 2012 London premiere, the 2014 Western Australian premiere in Perth, and the 2018 Queensland premiere in Brisbane.

Synopsis

The Hatpin is based on a series of infanticides committed in Sydney in 1892, and is the true story of a single mother, Amber Murray, who advertised her baby in a newspaper trading column in the hope of saving his life. The baby farmers John and Sarah Makin had taken her child, Horace, in return for regular support payments, but had in fact murdered him. The evil couple are eventually arrested and tried for the murder of several infants, leading to one of the most moving criminal trials in Australian history. Using the moral support she gains from her friendship with the free-spirited Harriet Piper, Amber fights the injustices of circumstance and tragedy to find hope, strength, and justice for her son Horace.

Productions

The original Australian production of The Hatpin opened at the York Theatre, Seymour Centre in Sydney on 27 February 2008, produced by Neil Gooding Productions and White Box Theatre. There were 13 performances in total and it starred Melle Stewart, Peter Cousens, Michelle Doake, Gemma-Ashley Kaplan, Caroline O'Connor and Barry Crocker.
The Hatpin made its US premiere on 15 September 2008 with 6 performances at the American Theatre of Actors in the Chernuchin Theatre as a participant of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Caroline O'Connor and Gemma-Ashley Kaplan followed The Hatpin overseas to reprise their roles as Harriet Piper and Clara Makin. Gemma-Ashley Kaplan later played the role of Amber Murray in the 2011 Melbourne premiere.
Magnormos showcased The Hatpin at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne as part of OzMade Musicals 2010, and in 2011 presented the Melbourne premiere at Theatre Works, St. Kilda, with an 8 performance season from 16 to 28 May. It was directed by Shaun Kingma with musical direction by Sophie Thomas.
The musical received a London fringe production from 30 October to 24 November 2012 at the Blue Elephant Theatre, in a Heather Doole, Blue Elephant & Greenwich Theatre co-production in association with Lazarus Theatre. Additional cast members Ziggie Sky Ward, Grace Lewis, Elly Lowney, and Linda Taimre appeared as Abigail Holt, Sarah McFarland, Elizabeth Hope, and Mary Edwards, respectively.
The West Australian premiere of The Hatpin took place at South Perth's Old Mill Theatre with 10 performances from 11 July to 20 July 2014. Tim Prosser, Nicholas Cruse, Mitchell Crouch, David Cosgrove, and Luke Heath all appeared in minor roles.
The Tasmanian premiere of The Hatpin was presented by Bijou Creative in 2016 at the Peacock Theatre, Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart from 17 to 26 March. This production was co-directed by Charlea Edwards and Karen Kluss.
In 2018, The Hatpin had its Queensland premiere with Oz Theatricals at the Spring Hill Reservoirs near The Old Windmill, Brisbane, with a 5 performance season from 20 to 23 September. It was directed by David Harrison with musical direction by Julie Whiting, costume design by Erin Tribble, and choreography by Lauren Lee Innis-Youren.

Roles and principal casts

Musical numbers

;Act 1
  • "Hymn" – Cast
  • "Twisted Little Town" – Cast
  • "Puddles" – Amber Murray
  • "Holding You" – Amber Murray
  • "Work" – Amber Murray and Cast
  • "Bad Fruit" – Harriet Piper and Amber Murray
  • "Knock Knock Knock" – Cast
  • "Enough" – Amber Murray
  • "Knock Knock Knock " – Cast
  • "Gathering Sirens" – Minnie Davies, Marianne Leonard, Rebecca Rigby, and The Makins
  • "Steal Away" – Charlie and Agatha Makin
  • "Underscore / Twisted Little Town " – Minnie Davies, Marianne Leonard and Rebecca Rigby
  • "The Hand of Courage" – Harriet Piper and Amber Murray
  • "Digging Up" – James Hanoney and Cast
;Act 2
  • "Holding You " – Amber Murray
  • "So Much More Than Me" – Amber Murray
  • "Why Did I Give Him Away?" – Amber Murray, Minnie Davies, Marianne Leonard and Rebecca Rigby
  • "Headline " – Cast
  • "Sail" – Harriet Piper and Clara Makin
  • "Something Like Being a Mother" – Harriet Piper
  • "Natural Causes" – Thomas Williamson, Charlie and Agatha Makin and Press Agents
  • "Headline " – Press Agents
  • "The Hatpin" – Clara Makin
  • "The Verdict" – Cast and Justice Stephen
  • "Finale: Tiny Glow / Sail " – Cast

    Recording

An original cast album was released in 2008 by Neil Gooding Productions.

Track listing

Awards and nominations