I Heart Frankston the Musical was written by Frankston musical theatre export Gerard Lane who said he wanted to write a play about his "beloved home suburb".

The cabaret is led by Lane with Frankston-bred actor Adrian Portell and Ballarat actress Laura Burzacott.

In the play, an extremist mayor, who bans all forms of musical theatre, is voted on to Frankston Council. The suburb, once a happy-go-lucky place known for its musical theatre gangs who serenaded teenage mums in the mall, becomes a world where the sun doesn't shine.

But when two young musical men stage a protest show, it sparks outrage in the local Centrelink queue. Can they bring music back to Frankston?

Writer and actor Gerard Lane, 27, said he wanted to combine his love of Frankston and musical theatre.

"I often think that Frankston is the suburb that sings. There are so many strong themes that go through Frankston; people doing it tough, people doing it easy.

"There are a lot of characters in Frankston. I thought that would be great to bring to stage."

Lane, who lived in Frankston until he was 17, described the suburb as "the Dandenong by the bay".

"We've got two extremes – the extreme wealth in Frankston South and then housing commissions in Frankston North and all around. It's just a clash of the two."

I Heart Frankston is Lane's first stint at writing. The play started as a 10-minute solo show and after winning the 2009 Short+Sweet Cabaret Festival was picked for the comedy festival and become a one-hour three-person cabaret.

Lane left Frankston to study acting at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. While he isn't sure where his audience members come from, he knows two Frankston residents who have seen the play – his parents.

"They were a bit worried that Frankston people would be insulted by it, but I'm pretty sure they won't be. Putting yourself down is an Australian tradition. I reckon people from Frankston have a pretty good sense of humour."

Songs in the show include Somewhere In The Pines, The Southside Story Ballet and Frankston Woman – a localised version of American Woman.

Director Bryce Ives said the musical was like Footloose but with more bogans.

I Heart Frankston is on from April 8-18, at the Butterfly Club, 204 Bank Street, South Melbourne; cost is $20-$25. Details: thebutterfly club.com