Reviews

Steel Magnolias

By Robert Harling. Directed by Adam Salathiel. Laughing Horse Productions. City of Gosnells, Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Thornlie WA. Mar 12 - 20, 2021

In a year where it seems that we are getting many male centred productions, it is lovely to see a female led favourite pop up again. Laughing Horse Productions’ Steel Magnolias is a wonderful celebration of the strength of women and the importance and power of female friendships.

Cosi

By Louis Nowra. Stirling Players. Stirling Theatre (SA), March 12-27, 2021

Cosi is an Australian classic, taught as part of the Australian high school English curriculum for many years. Written by Louis Nowra, it premiered in 1992 at Belvoir St Theatre. Set in a mental institution in 1971 during the volatile period of the Vietnam War, it has the potential to be dated and perhaps enter into the realm of stereotype in portraying patients with mental illness. Megan Dansie’s direction has put this under a blacklight, both physically during scene changes, and metaphorically.

The Wind In The Willows

By Kenneth Grahame, adapted by David Gooderson. Presented by RAVA Productions. Armitage Theatre, Toowoomba. March 10 and 11, 2021

Following a successful regional tour of Charlotte’s Web, RAVA Productions has once again reimagined classic children’s fiction with a delightful production of The Wind in the Willows.

With a troupe of four seasoned performers and bright but minimal sets and costumes, this show was enjoyable in its simplicity and will translate well into a regional tour, as intended.

Whole Lotta Zepp

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2021. Arkaba Hotel. Mar 12, 2021.

Covering an established and successful group such as Led Zeppelin is a mammoth feat, but Adelaide based tribute band Whole Lotta Zepp showed none of these concerns as they took to the stage to face a sold-out audience.

Mamma Mia!

By Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Catherine Johnson. Directed by Brad Tudor. Koorliny Arts Centre, Kwinana, WA, Mar 12 - 27, 2021

Mamma Mia! is Koorliny Arts Centre’s first home produced show in over twelve months, and this fun, vibrant show was definitely worth the wait.

Sounding great, under the leadership of Musical Director Kate McIntosh, leading an unseen six-piece band, this show also looks amazing. Director Brad Tudor gives us a simple but evocative set design and a stunning costume palette, where colour is used to excellent effect. Lighting design, by Jon Lambert, is colourful and bold, with a dance club feel.

Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes

By Hannah Moscovitch. Melbourne Theatre Company. Southbank, The Sumner. 6 March – 1 April 2021

Sexual Conduct of the Middle Classes depicts an ‘affair’ – and its fallout - between Jon (Dan Spielman), a successful novelist and charismatic university lecturer, and Annie (Izabella Yena), his star-struck 19-year-old student.  ‘Affair’ may not have quite the right connotations; the play is very much about the power imbalance between them – and by implication, in the wider world. 

The Comedy of Errors

By William Shakespeare. Graduate Dramatic Society. Directed by David Cotgreave. The New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia, Nedlands. Mar 10-20, 2021

The poster for Graduate Dramatic Society’s Comedy of Errors contains the warning that “This play contains Shenanigans” and boasts “Now with added Fish!!”, which is a huge clue to the tone of this rollicking comedy presented at this outdoor replica Shakespearean Theatre.

Triple X

By Glace Chase. Queensland Theatre. Directed by Paige Rattray. Bille Brown Theatre, Brisbane. 6 March to 1 April 2021

Glace Chase is unforgettable in Triple X, an outstanding performance in her self-penned play. This was an emotional opening night – a world premiere 12 months in the making, since the disruption of 2020’s lockdown. But the cast and crew’s patience has paid off, and you could feel that all the performers were eager to get back on the stage and entertain.

Bigger & Blacker

Written and Performed by Steven Oliver. Directed by Isaac Drandic. A La Boite and W Lance Reynolds Production. Roundhouse Theatre, 8 – 27 March, 2021

Steven Oliver is a born showman. The hometown crowd at La Boite theatre couldn’t have been more excited on opening night to welcome him back at the Roundhouse Theatre. Everyone was itching to see him sing some songs, tell some stories and shake his bum.

Outdated

Written and Directed by Mark Kilmurry. Ensemble Theatre. March 5 - April 17, 2021

The premise of Outdated is delicious. Two 40 something adults, damaged by being dumped by their long-time partners, get back in the saddle of dating by signing up to an introduction app.

The cosy Ensemble stage is groovily decked out by designer Simon Greer with an AV screen, that was lit up with texts and emojis providing a running commentary, on a set with a colour scheme that evoked an episode of the TV series Perfect Match.

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