Local legend Tim Minchin’s adaptation of the much-loved 1993 time-loop film finally comes to Australia, eight years after its world premiere.

Minchin, who wrote the music and lyrics, has reunited with his Matilda The Musical director Matthew Warchus, and was also joined by the film’s writer, Danny Rubin, to create Groundhog Day the Musical. It premiered in 2016 at London’s Old Vic theatre (where Warchus is Artistic Director) before heading to Broadway.

Andy Karl in the Australian production of Groundhog Day the Musical. Photo © Jeff Busby

Like the film, Groundhog Day the Musical is set in the tiny Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney, where crowds have long gathered on a freezing February morning to see a supposedly weather-predicting groundhog. Famous TV weatherman Phil Connors is there to report.

Arrogant and sleazy, he somehow finds himself repeating this day over and over. From confused, to hedonistic to suicidal, Phil eventually makes the most of every day, especially by connecting with the townsfolk and his fledgling producer, Rita.

Making Phil even more unlikeable than Bill Murray’s original film version pays off with a strong sense of redemption. Minchin’s songs are more clever than catchy, with...