Reviews

The New Black

By Marcus Corowa and Stephen Lloyd Helper. Based on an idea by Leeroy Bilney. The Follies Company and Arts Centre Melbourne Carnegie 18 (VIC). Director: Stephen Lloyd Helper. Musical Director: Hugh Blanes. Associate Producer: Erin Voth.

While waiting in the foyer to see The New Black, the first in a series of three new musicals up for workshopping in Arts Centre Melbourne’s Carnegie 18 New Music Theatre project, I did not know what to expect. However, with the programme listing a cast of seasoned performers, including Shane Connor, Lisa Maza, Chelsea Gibb and Kirk Page, and with Deborah Cheetham in attendance, the prospect was promising.

Dickens’ Women

By Miriam Magolyes and Sonia Fraser. Glen Street Theatre (NSW). February 3 – 12, 2012, then touring Australia and New Zealand.

Miriam Magolyes does not disappoint in this new tour of the production she, and co-writer and director Sonia Fraser, first developed for the Edinbugh Festival in 1989. She is as effervescent and professional as ever. Her twinkling eyes, expressive face and perfectly controlled movement and gesture hypnotise her already expectant audience and keep them entertained, and informed, for the entire performance. A ‘one hander’ is not easy. And this, which requires so many changes of character, could become confusing, but in her very experienced hands, it is never that.

The Jinglists

Written by and starring Warwick Allsopp & Tamlyn Henderson. Garnet Productions in association with Tamarama Rock Surfers. Bondi Pavilion Theatre (NSW). Jan 31 – Feb 18, 2012.

The star of much of this show was dangling between the legs of Warwick Allsopp and made unexpected appearances out of his fly.

Fear not – it wasn’t what first comes to mind.  But when it was revealed by his brother, played by Tamlyn Henderson, it prompted the biggest laugh of the night.

The Jinglists is a hoot which skates close to the edge of bad taste but steps back just in time.

The characters, Leigh and Loman, are described by the Director Jo Turner as grotesque musical clowns.

Cry Me A River with Rhonda Burchmore

Writers: Rhonda Burchmore & Gary Young. Director: Gary Young Musical Director: Ray Alldridge. Bold Jack. Brisbane Powerhouse. February 1 to March 1, 2012

After premiering at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival last year, Rhonda Burchmore’s concert-bio show of Julie London arrived in Brisbane at the Powerhouse.

Ordinary Days

By Adam Gwon. Squabbalogic / Darlinghurst Theatre Company. January 19 – February 19, 2012.

Four strong musical theatre voices are accompanied by a grand piano, without a sign of electronic intervention between the performance and the audience, just good projection and diction.

Do you share my idea of musical theatre bliss?

Unplugged musical theatre. It’s such a refreshing sensory experience.

 

Britney Spears: The Cabaret

Written and Directed by Dean Bryant. Starring Christie Whelan. Musical Arrangements by Mathew Frank. Chapel off Chapel (Vic), Midsumma Festival, January 18 – 29, 2012; Brisbane Powerhouse (Qld), February 8 - 12; Seymour Centre, Sydney, February 15 - 25 and Riverside Theatre Parramatta, February 26 (NSW).

Even those who aren’t fans of Britney’s music will be won over by Christie Whelan’s tragi-comic turn as the scandalous pop diva in Britney Spears: The Cabaret. Written and directed by Dean Bryant, the show weaves details of Britney’s life – her early relationship with Justin Timberlake, marriage to Kevin Federline, her stints in rehab and meltdowns – through her catalogue of pop hits.

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

By Ray Lawler. Director: Neil Armfield. MTC presents the Belvoir production. Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse. Jan 12 – Feb 18, 2012. Queensland Theatre Company season follows at the Playhouse, QPAC, from Feb 22 to Mar 11, 2012.

Ray Lawler’s classic play about two Queensland cane cutters and their 16-year seasonal romance with two Melbourne barmaids is given a stunning, and faithful, treatment in this Belvoir production directed by Neil Armfield.

An achingly familiar 1950s set, lit by hot summer sunlight filtering through a kitchen window, immediately creates a warmth and intimacy that increases as each character is introduced.

The Boys

By Gordon Graham. Griffin Theatre Company / Sydney Festival. SBW Stables Theatre, Kings Cross (NSW). January 6 – March 3, 2012.

There was much anticipation in Sydney’s theatre-going community as the opening night of Griffin Theatre’s The Boys drew near and it didn’t disappoint.

Twenty years on from its debut on the same stage and Gordon Graham’s script is still fresh, relevant and terrifying. Originally based on the Anita Cobby murder, sadly it is not hard to imagine similar acts making current news headlines. This production is vivid, unrelenting and inescapable in its nature, but at the same time is compelling and completely consuming.

Cosi

By Louis Nowra. Gold Coast Little Theatre, Southport (Qld). Director: Stuart Lumsden. Jan 28 to Feb 18, 2012

This popular Aussie comedy has attracted a cult following since the release of the movie in the mid ‘90s.

Stuart Lumsden’s directing debut is a bright start to the Gold Coast Community Theatre Season.

The strong characterisations portrayed had the audience wondering if the actors were type cast.

Much Ado About Nothing

By William Shakespeare. Essential Theatre. Coriole Vineyards (SA). January 29, 2012

On a balmy evening in the McLaren Vale, a sweaty but appreciative audience set up shop on a grassy amphitheatre in the grounds of Coriole Winery to enjoy the nomadic Essential Theatre's 2012 Shakespeare production.

Treating us to Much Ado About Nothing, this is the company’s celebratory tenth year of entertaining Australia’s (and now New Zealand's) vino-sipping theatre tragics, and their ninth year performing at the hospitable Coriole.