Reviews

To Kill a Mockingbird.

Adapted by Christopher Sergel from the novel by Harper Lee.  Canberra Repertory, directed by Anne Somes.  Theatre 3, Acton, Canberra, 28 March – 13 April 2019.

A young, hardworking, negro family man has been accused of raping a 19-year-old white woman, and the trial judge has specially asked Atticus Finch, a highly principled, experienced, and capable lawyer, to defend the accused.  Through the trial and the weeks leading up to it, Atticus's young daughter, (nicknamed) Scout, comes to examine her own ideas and their implications with a degree of honesty and self-awareness that we hope will be infectious.

 

Dangerous Liaisons

Ballet by Liam Scarlett. Music: Adapted from the works of Camille Saint-Saens. Music Arrangement: Martin Yates. Queensland Ballet. Music Performed by Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Nigel Gaynor. Playhouse, QPAC. 22 March – 6 April 2019

Queensland Ballet started their 2019 season with Liam Scarlett’s marvellously erotic Dangerous Liaisons. Opening with a funeral and the widow being sexually comforted by her lover on the coffin, and featuring an explicit orgy of sexual games, this world premiere is probably the hottest and raunchiest show we’ll see in Brisbane this year.

I’m With Stupid

By Chas Dean. Melbourne Comedy Festival. Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets, Collingwood. March 27 – April 10, 2019

After years in the comedy scene as tech support, backup singer and general factotum, journeyman comedian Chas Dean has stepped up to the microphone for his first MICF show I’m With Stupid (A one man show).

Dean has a diffident, affable style, and is clearly comfortable on the tiny downstairs stage at Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets.  

The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race

By Melanie Tait. Ensemble Theatre, Sydney. Director: Priscilla Jackman. 22 March – 27 April 2019

This is the time of the year when the Ensemble Theatre, anticipating an audience downturn during seasonal changes, stages two small-cast plays on the one setting. The first of these – brightly named The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race by Melanie Tait — has now opened and I bet that management is already cursing the shortness of the run. For this 90-minute, 5-female play is a real winner, witness its loud and prolonged welcome.

The Girl Green as Elderflower

Adapted for the stage by Richard Davies from the novel by Randolph Stow. Lyrics and Music by Richard Davies. La Mama Courthouse, Carlton. 20 – 31 March 2019

The Girl Green as Elderflower by Randolph Snow may well be a delightful premise to create a piece of theatre from.  However in this play’s current form, as adapted from the novel by Richard Davies and directed by Sara Grenfell, it does not translate into a fully affective, thematic piece of theatre.   

Managing Carmen

By David Williamson. Harbour Theatre. Directed by Ann Speicher. Camelot Theatre, Mosman Park, WA March 22-31, 2019

Harbour Theatre, in the heart of Dockers Country, presents David Williamson’s comical but confrontational play about the Australian Football League, its heroes and management, centred around a dual Brownlow Medal winner, who happens to enjoy wearing dresses.

A Slice of Saturday Night

By The Heather Bros. Spotlight Basement Theatre, Gold Coast. Director / Musical Director: Steven Days. March 22nd to April 7th.

A Slice of Saturday Night could be called ‘The Babyboomers Right of Passage’. The story unravels just what one has to endure to survive Saturday Night at the Club A-Go-Go.

The cast includes Stephen Morris – Eric “Rubber Legs” Devene, Mitchell Walsh – Gary, Mike Capri – Rick, Nathan French – Eddie, Brooke Edwards – Bridget, Bonnie Woods – Sharon, Holly Leeson – Sue and Talitha Glazbrook – Penny.

The Kill Deer

Music and Lyrics by The Cinnamon Line (Taylor Broadley, Lincoln Tapping, Wei Chong, Liam Rock and Zac Bennett). Orchestrations by Paul Olsen. Murdoch Theatre Company. Directed by Taylor Broadley. The Nexus Theatre, Murdoch University, WA. March 21-30, 2019

In a month that has seen several new Australian musicals performed in Perth, The Kill Deer is the real home-grown contribution, the World Premiere of a locally written show that is attracting great audiences for Murdoch Theatre Company.

Teenaged Elliot has been missing for five years. When he unexpectedly re-appears after ringing for help from a phone box, there is cause for celebration. But things begin to not add up. Is Elliot really Elliot?

No Flirting

Written, devised and presented by Alex Ward. The Valiant Lounge, Brisbane City Hall, 19 – 24 March Month, 2019

Stand-up comedian Alex Ward returns to her hometown of Brisbane, touring an hour-long festival show No Flirting. The performance opens very naturally. Alex appears comfortable and in control. She puts the crowd at ease and deals with latecomers without belittling them as many comics feel the need to do. She’s a very warm and welcoming performer. Her style is not aggressive or confrontational.

Atomic

Book and lyrics by Danny Ginges, Music and lyrics by Philip Foxman. Blak Yak. Directed by Lorna Mackie. Memorial Hall, Spearwood, WA. March 14-24, 2019.

Blak Yak’s Atomic was an Australian written musical about the development of the Atomic Bomb. This WA premiere was a well presented, passionate production of this interesting new work.

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