Reviews

The Stars at Noon

Written and directed by Emily Engeman. Bondi Theatre Company. Musical director: Anthony Cutrupi. Bondi Pavilion Theatre. Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach, Sydney. 12 and 24 October 2019

The one-woman show The Stars at Noon has its world premiere during Bondi Theatre Company’s season of comedy, musical cabaret and children’s theatre.  The show, with the wonderful title, is written and directed by Emily Engeman. Emily is also the star. You have to admire the passion and commitment of someone who does all three together, particularly as it is difficult to direct yourself.

Birdland

By Simon Stephens. WAAPA Graduating Acting students. Directed by Andrew Lewis. The Edith Spiegeltent, WAAPA, Edith Cowan University, Mt Lawley, WA. Oct 11-17, 2019

Birdland is the final full scale production by this year’s graduating Acting students. Presented in the round, in the Edith Spiegeltent, where the audience are very close to the action, this is a very powerful piece, acted with intensity and impressively designed and created by Production and Design students.

Die Fledermaus

By Johann Strauss II. English translation by Lindy Hume with original dialogue by Rachel McDonald. WAAPA Classical Voice students. Directed by Rachel McDonald. Geoff Gibbs Theatre, WAAPA, Edith Cowan University, Mt Lawley, WA. October 14-19, 2019

WAAPA’s Die Fledermaus is a funny, modern take on Strauss’ opera. Performed by WAAPA Classical Voice students, accompanied by the WAAPA Symphony Orchestra and designed, built, and crewed by WAAPA Production and Design students, this was a well performed, easy to watch production which delighted its opening night audience.

Performed by two alternating casts, with a ‘permanent’ ensemble and continuous casting of some of the smaller roles, opening night saw “Vodka Cast” performing. Other audiences may see “Champagne Cast”.

Measure For Measure

By William Shakespeare. Directed by Dr Miles Gregory. Pop-up Globe, Crown Perth, WA. October 12- Nov 24, 2019

Measure for Measure had its first official performance of Pop-up Globe’s Perth season at a 10.30am Saturday matinee. Directed by Dr Miles Gregory, this or the weekday matinee are considered the “off peak” performances of this season, which also includes Hamlet, Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. All of the shows are performed in a temporary “pop-up” recreation of Shakespeare’s second Globe Theatre, located in the grounds of Crown Perth.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By William Shakespeare. Directed by Dr Miles Gregory. Pop-up Globe, Crown Perth, WA. October 11- November 24, 2019

Pop-up Globe continues its six week Perth season. Dr Miles Gregory, who is the creator of this amazing concept, directs three of the four plays - Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream - which play in a temporary working copy of Shakespeare’s second Globe Theatre, housed in the grounds of Crown Perth. Perth audiences join 550,000 people who have seen Pop-up Globe performances in the past two years.

West Side Story

By Arthur Laurents (book), Leonard Bernstein (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). A BB Group production presented by Opera Australia and GWB Entertainment. Canberra Theatre 12 – 27 October, 2019. Festival Theatre Adelaide 28 November – 8 December

What an absolute joy it is to see this classic come together so well! The dance, the music, the colours, lights, set, costumes, direction—this production shows meticulous attention to detail and it is glorious. Stylistically, this production has as its inspiration the 1961 movie, reproducing many of the colours, tones and dance style, while refining and intensifying for the stage. Beautiful primary reds and blues, deep purples and rich oranges make stunning backdrops for the dancers.

Seventeen

Matthew Whittet. University of Adelaide Theatre Guild. Little Theatre. Oct 12-26, 2019.

Matthew Whittet’s coming of age play reminds all of us of the end of our secondary education, when, on the brink of launching ourselves into adulthood, we may have celebrated that watershed moment with false bravado, perhaps too much alcohol and not a little fear and trepidation. Although we’d never voice it to our peers at the time, we deeply mourn the friendships that are about to scatter to the winds and perhaps secretly long to remain as we were, comfortably free of the looming responsibilities and future trials of grownup life. 

Cats

By Andrew Lloyd Webber, from the poems of T.S. Eliot. Platinum Entertainment. Directed by Katrina Patient and Trevor Patient. Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, WA. Oct 10-13, 2019

The popular Australian theatrical podcast ‘Musicals Taught Me Everything I Know’, asks its guests “If you could obliterate one musical from history, what would it be?” Among this musical theatre crowd, the most frequently chosen musical to be removed from the planet is Cats. Despite its dubious reputation, Platinum Entertainment’s Cats Mandurah season has had very healthy audiences, showing that among the general public, this remains a very beloved show.

Secret Bridesmaids’ Business

By Elizabeth Coleman. Roleystone Theatre. Directed by Michelle Ezzy. Roleystone Hall, Roleystone, WA. Oct 11-19, 2019

As Roleystone Theatre continue their residence at Roleystone Hall, while their beloved theatre is being rebuilt, they are experimenting with different configurations. Secret Bridesmaids’ Business is being presented with cabaret seating. This is perhaps especially appropriate for this production, as the seating style feels right for a wedding themed production. The show is being staged at the same time as the screening of the very different, but similarly named, TV series, so could prove an interesting comparison exercise for those interested in the tv show.

Bondi Legal

By Tony Laumberg. Bondi Theatre Company. Director: Richard Cotter. Bondi Pavilion Theatre. October 11 - 26, 2019.

An excellent production of a funny and clever play. Some people thought this was a local parody of the William Shatner TV show Boston Legal. There’s no Denny Crane here. The titles are similar but that’s where the similarity ends.

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