Reviews

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By Francesca Pazniokas. Owl and Cat Theatre, 34 Swan Street Richmond VIC. 7 – 17 June 2016.

The stage is piled high with tottering piles of junk – the kind of junk that would still be there when a jumble sale is over.  A dead plant, fluorescent flower jewellery, ghastly ‘art’, lurid soft toys piled on a battered cabinet, a headless but pregnant mannequin, bags of who-knows-what.  You know the place smells off.  A peremptory knocking at the apartment door.

Heathers: The Musical

By Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy. Showwork Productions. Playhouse Theatre, Sydney Opera House. June 8 – 26, 2016.

Having partially recast the show and returned to Sydney to a bigger stage and audience, I’m thrilled to see that Heathers: The Musicalis still as slick and entertaining as ever.  Production specifics aside, it’s hard for a show like this to flop with thanks to the gritty, intelligent writing of Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphey, favourites in the contemporary musical theatre sphere, and the same guys who brought us the smash hit Legally Blonde The Musical.

To the Naked Eye

Written by Cerise de Gelder. Directed by Brenda Palmer. Set and Props by Harry Patternoster. Stage Management and Lighting Design by Meika Clark. La Mama Theatre, June 8-19, 2016

The bitter feeling of loneliness drives the actions of each of the characters in the play, To the Naked Eye. How far would you go to avoid loneliness?

Many people are battling loneliness. A quarter of Australian households are people living on their own. And some research suggests social media increases isolation.

In Tothe Naked Eye, Claire (Stephanie Lillis) saves her neighbour from a car accident. Stephanie (Carolyn Masson) appreciates Claire’s help and does everything she can to turn her into a friend.

Megan Hilty In Concert

Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide. June 11, 2016

2016’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival got off to a bold start with this singularly inspiring performance from Broadway star Megan Hilty – best known for her starring role in the TV soap opera, Smash and for her four-year stint playing Glinda in the enduring hit musical, Wicked. It is unfortunate that she was only able to grace Adelaide with one performance before jetting off to New York, where she will be attending this year’s Tony Awards, as a nominee for her performance in the revival of Michael Frayn’s classic backstage farce, Noises Off.&nbs

Twins

Rhonda Burchmore and Trevor Ashley. Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Dunstan Playhouse. June 10-12, 2016

What do you get when you combine a statuesque red-head with a portly drag queen? One of the most hilarious combinations to ever hit the cabaret stage. Their paradoxically named show ‘Twins’ is full of sass and sexual innuendo that will leave you rolling in the aisles.

Nailed It!

By Andrew Strano. Adelaide Cabaret Festival. ARTSPACE, Adelaide Festival Centre. 10 & 11 June, 2016.

If the words 'modest', 'intelligent', and 'likeable' describe your ideal theoretical cabaret evening, then Andrew Strano may be the one who hits (nails?) the spot for you. On the other hand, you'll also need to be prepared to deal with some startling content that pushes against conventional boundaries.

All My Sons

By Arthur Miller. Sydney Theatre Company. Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay. June 4 – July 9, 2016.

The Sydney Theatre Company may have, without plausible explanation, just lost its new artistic director Jonathan Church back to Britain, but meanwhile onstage its resident director Kip Williams in in powerful control of his material.

All My Sons is Arthur Miller’s griping family thriller set on one day in 1947, as the criminal wartime secret of business man Joe Keller is about to explode.   

Gala Variety Performance

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2016. June 10, 2016. Adelaide Festival Theatre.

Following a cold and cloudy winter’s day in Adelaide the stars were out at last, both in the sky and on the Festival Theatre stage, as old chums and new ‘came to the Cabaret’ to celebrate the start of 2016’s June 10-25 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Jesus Christ Superstar

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics: Tim Rice. Queensland Musical Theatre. Director: Deian Ping. Musical Director: Andrew Wadley. Choreographer: Jess Page. Schonell Theatre. June 8 – 12, 2016

Despite being forty-four years old, Webber and Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar still thrills musically. The score is irresistibly catchy and the lyrics are witty and literate. Although labelled a rock-opera it’s really a rock-oratorio and as such demands strong voices. It also needs to be staged simply to be effective.

The Big Dry

By Mark Kilmurry, adapted from the novel by Tony Davis. Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) / Ensemble Theatre. Directed by Fraser Corfield. Ensemble Theatre. June 4 - July 2, 2016.

It’s hard to under-estimate the challenge; the world premiere of a new play in a professional theatre, where carriage of the drama rested almost solely on teenagers and a child. Throw into the mix the need to re-create the atmosphere of a futuristic world dominated by dust storms, fighting over scarce resources and a Police state with only one set to play with on a small stage.

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