Reviews

The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia?

By Edward Albee. State Theatre of South Australia. Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre. 10 – 28 February 2023

The State Theatre of South Australia’s production of Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia, directed by Mitchell Butel, and featuring a stellar cast and crew, is light, bright, funny, and highly entertaining. Observing Aristotle’s dramatic ‘Unities’ of continual time, place, and action, the drama takes place over one day in the living room of wealthy upper-middle class American couple, Martin and Stevie, somewhere in America; probably on the east coast but not definite re location (nor accents).

Prima Facie

By Suzie Miller. Melbourne Theatre Company. Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne. Directed by Lee Lewis. 8 February — 25 March 2023.

This stunning production brings together a variety of finely tuned theatrical elements to achieve maximum impact. The writing in this text is complex and sophisticated but it is combined with a clarity of emotions that make the intricacies of this drama extremely accessible. The vibrancy of the detail is fascinating and easily draws the audience into a world that is normally abstruse and exclusive. 

Grease

By Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Old Nick Company – Summer School. David Thomson (Director). Andrew Castles (Musical Director). Caitlyn Carnaby (Choreographer). Christopher Oakley (Set Designer). Andrew Johns (Sound design). Mount Nelson College (Tasmania). 10 – 18 February 2023

“Automatic, systematic and hydromatic”, Grease, the derelict musical vehicle from 1971, is potentially problematic. Inherent to the story are a range of unhelpful stereotypes. Toxic masculinity and misogyny drive a plot in which the main protagonists become something other than who they are to gain the favour of the other.

The Mirror

Gravity and Other Myths. Director Darcy Grant. Drama Theatre Sydney Opera House. 11 Feb – 9 March, 2023

Gravity and Other Myths (GOM) is the Adelaide based acrobatic contemporary circus troupe that is stunning the world with its creative performances. In the words of director, performer, photographer and Helpmann Award winner Darcy Grant, the company entertains “through the language of contemporary circus”. Surely a massive understatement, because Gravity of Myths does much more. Founded in 2007, it has taken its shows around the world, winning fourteen international awards, including three inaugural International Circus Awards in 2021.

Burgerz

By Travis Alabanza. Presented by Bullet Heart Club. Theatre Works, St Leonards Avenue, St Kilda. 8 – 11 February 2023

It all began when a man in London threw a hamburger at playwright Travis Alabanza, accompanied by a transphobic insult.  In a public place.  But transexual phenomenon Kikki Temple makes us believe the play is her story, that it all happened, in Melbourne, to Kikki…

Hairspray

Book by Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan. Music by Marc Shaiman. Lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman. Based upon the New Line Cinema film written & directed by John Waters. Crossroads Live. Sydney Lyric Theatre. Opening Night: February 9, 2023

You can’t stop the smiles as this bright energetic cast take centre stage with all the groovy fun and flair of the swingin’ ‘60s. Hang onto your wigs - this show rocks!  If they made a Hallmark Card for this one, Edna, it would say wowza! fab, far-out groovy show.

Jumpers For Goalposts

By Tom Wells. New Theatre, Newtown (NSW). Feb 7 – Mar 4, 2023.

Tom Wells’ charming English play about a hopeless gay soccer team trying to get off the ground in Hull is a winner for the New Theatre.  Even for this small-time league, with just five amateur players, a team called Barely Athletic looks doomed against the Lesbian Rovers, and even the Drags – and they play in stilettos.

The Six Guys an Immigrant Trans Person of Colour will date in Melbourne

By Dax Carnay. La Mama HQ. February 6 – 12, 2023

The annual Midsumma Festival never ceases to amaze audiences with a smorgasbord of colourful shows. And this new show written and performed by Dax Carnay and direction by Beng Oh is no exception; a zesty animated fractured romantic comedy about life as an immigrant trans person of colour.

Cherry

Written & performed by Sarah Carroll. Midsumma Festival. The Butterfly Club – Downstairs. 8 – 11 February 2023

It’s billed as ‘a little bit of cabaret, a little bit of comedy, and a whole lot of Katy Perry.’  That’s more or less true, especially the last, but Cherry is really a narrative – as touching as it is funny – about a fangirl’s obsession with Katy Perry – the story of a fangirl who grows up and must let go and find herself. 

Code of Conduct

By Rory Godbold. Midsumma Festival. Gasworks Arts Park. 7-11 February 2023

Everybody has a secret.  What better way to generate tension? In Rory Godbold’s skilfully structured play, set in a ‘gospel based’ Christian school, that tension is heightened when the secrets are not all that secret.  It’s just that harmony must be maintained, and the status quo unruffled via pretence and, well, hypocrisy.  It’s easier – especially with the new Religious Discrimination provisions in regard to schools…

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