Reviews

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show

Created by Jonathan Rockefeller. Based on Eric Carle's books. CDP Kids. Associate Director: Liesel Badorrek. Assistant Director: Stephen Anderson. Music & Sound: Nate Edmondson. Scenic Design: David Goldstein. Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne. May 7, 8 and June 26 and National Tour.

What a charmingly delicious show (pardon the pun!) for the mostly preschool age children and their minders.  The characters of Eric Carle's best-selling children's books leap off the page by means of three puppeteers and a host of over 75 puppets. Alongside the Very Hungry headliner, the show features three other stories – “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?”, “Ten Little Rubber Ducks and “The Very Busy Spider”.

Playthings

Written and directed by Scott McArdle. Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA. May 1-8, 2021

Originally produced and presented by Second Chance Theatre at the Blue Room, Black Swan State Theatre Company’s rendition of Playthings, featuring the same director and cast as the excellent original, allows this show to stretch and grow as well as exposing this expertly written, beautifully crafted show to a much wider audience.

The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven

By Jo Clifford. Theatre Works, St Kilda. April 28 – May 8, 2021

A mesmerising new production of The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen ff Heaven is here for the Midsumma Festival. Originally performed and written by Jo Clifford, a transgender performer based in Edinburgh in 2009, it was condemned by the Archbishop of Glasgow calling it “an affront to the Christian faith”. Lyn Gardner from the Guardian called it “moving and infinitely graceful”.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical

By Stephen Elliot and Allan Scott. Presented by CLOC Musical Theatre. National Theatre, 20 Carlisle St, St Kilda. April 30 - May 22, 2021

CLOC Musical Theatre takes a very traditional approach to this iconic and fun-filled musical. The characterisations, music and costuming remain completely faithful to the original text. CLOC goes out of its way to ensure that the sense of grandeur and extravagance that characterises Priscilla is also faithfully reproduced. These extraordinary efforts result in an effervescent and vibrant performance.

Once on This Island

Book & lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty. Presented by Altitude Theatre. La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, 28 April to 8 May, 2021

Fresh from their sold-out season of The Producers at the Brisbane Powerhouse, Altitude Theatre follows up on their mission to give Queensland audiences superb locally made, music theatre experiences. This time they are at the creative hub at La Boite Theatre, showcasing a jewel-like array of Queensland-based talent, many of whom have performed internationally, and certainly would be at home on stages in the West End and Broadway.

Pictures at an Exhibition

Written by Mussorgsky. Arrangement by Ravel. Conducted by Benjamin Northey. Presented by Queensland Symphony Orchestra. QPAC Concert Hall. 30 April – 1 May, 2021

One of the most powerful things about music is its ability to strike hard at your emotional core. It is a language without words, that inexplicably elicits feelings and sparks visualisations and memories. Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Pictures at an Exhibition could move even the hardest of hearts and most stoic of countenances.

An Unspeakable Triumph of Supreme Brilliance

By Don Zolidas. Darlington Theatre Players. Directed by Chris McRae. Marloo Theatre, Greenmount, WA. May 1-15, 2020

Director Chris McRae directed the Australian premiere of An Unspeakable Triumph of Supreme Brilliance for Holy Cross College Ellenbrook in 2016. He returns to the director’s chair to bring this show to life for Darlington Theatre Players, the 37th production of this show, world-wide.

Fun Home

Music by Jeanine Tesori. Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron. Based on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel. Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company. Directed by Dean Bryant. Associate Director: Clemence Williams. Music Director: Carmel Dean. Roslyn Packer Theatre. Apr 27 – May 29, 2021

It’s not often that the Australian premiere of a production is bigger than Broadway, but in the case of Fun Home that is exactly the case.

The chamber musical, which won the Tony for Best Musical in 2015, was originally produced in Broadway’s second smallest theatre – a 700-seater where there is a small open stage surrounded by the audience.

Having been fortunate enough to see the original in New York, I can report that Australian audiences will enjoy a much grander production of this musical.

Electric Loneliness

Presented by Night Creatures. fortyfivedownstairs theatre, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 29 April – 1 May 2021.

Performers Alexandra Aldrich and Joachim Coghlan, along with accompanist Owen James, create a unique and stunning show. The meticulous approach to character and ambience is striking and always delightful. Despite the quirky and dark content of the show the performance maintains a lightness and humour that exhibits an incredible command of tone and register.

Good with Maps

By Noelle Janaczewska. Director: Kate Gaul. Riverside Theatre Parramatta. 30April-1May, 2021

Kate Gaul has an amazing ability to see the possibilities of a space – and a script. Give her some exquisite words from an exceptional writer (Noelle Janaczewska), an actor (Jane Phegan) who understands them and connects with their cadences and phrasing, a composer (Nate Edmondson) who is receptive to their rhythms and emotion – and together they can transform the space … and transport you.

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