In recent years Chichester Festival Theatres has gained a reputation for high quality musicals. New Artistic Director, Daniel Evans, has chosen well with this extraordinary surrealistic and sung through musical and shows his determination to maintain that reputation.

Change takes on many meanings in this study of the relationship of a black maid, Caroline, with her Jewish employers and, in particular, their son Noah. There is the loose change that the boy leaves in his trousers, changes in Caroline’s life and the social and political ones of the 60’s around her.

Her working life revolves round the basement laundry room where she talks to the domestic appliances and the radio. These surrealistically morph into life and interact with her.

Jeanine Tesori’s score blends Gospel, blues, classical music and Motown along with Klezmer for the Hannukah party – a rich and powerful mix. Sharon D Clarke delivers a knockout performance as Caroline. Unsmiling, her face is etched with loneliness, sadness and her body frozen with weariness.

Only at the end of act two does emotion pour out as she begs God to “murder my dreams” and not allow my sorrow to make evil of me”.