Reviews

West Side Story

Book: Arthur Laurents, Music: Leonard Bernstein, Lyrics Stephen Sondheim. Gold Coast Little Theatre, Southport. Director/Choreographer: Kim Reynolds. Jan 16th – Feb 13th, 2016

Kim Reynolds production of West Side Story is an excellent start to GCLT’s 2016 season.

Several performances have already sold out prior to Opening Night!

As the “star-crossed” lovers of this modern telling of Romeo and Juliet, Jack Harbour as Tony (he recently starred as Romeo at the same venue) and Susanna Treacy as Maria give sensitive portrayals and are strongly supported by Todd  Jesson - Bernardo,  Cat Deller   - Anita and Jackson Brash as Riff.

Bring It On The Musical

Book: Jeff Whitty, Music: Tom Kitt & Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lyrics: Amanda Green & Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Arts Centre, Gold Coast. January 7 – 16, 2016

The setting for Bring It On is the highly competitive sport of Cheer Leading and the lengths that some people go to win at all costs.

From curtain-up, the energy on stage was electrifying and contagious.

The production team of Director Rod Herbert, Musical Director Anne-Maree McDonald and Choreographer Tracey Rasmussen has delivered a fast paced, highly entertaining production with the daughter / mother combination of Gezelle Barham and Coralie Bradshaw creating the thrilling Cheer Leading sequences.

Heathers

Book, Music & Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy. Director: Trevor Ashley. Musical Director: Bev Kennedy. Choreographer: Cameron Mitchell. QPAC & Showwork Production. Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane, 9-17 January; Arts Centre Melbourne, May 11- 22, and touring during 2016.

Our reviews of the Brisbane and Melbourne seasons.

Peter Pinne reviewed the Brisbane season.

Roald Dahl's George’s Marvellous Medicine

Adapted for the stage by Shake & Stir Theatre Company, Cremorne Theatre, QPAC. 6 – 23 January 2016.

They've done it again! Shake & Stir Theatre Company have delivered the goods with another very successful production - their brand new stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's George’s Marvellous Medicine.

After spending a sizeable chunk of 2015 touring Australia with their version of Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts, the Shake & Stir team are back for another bite of the deliciously devilish Dahl cherry, and another crazy tale from the wacky mind of the world’s number one storyteller.

Shakespeare’s Best Bits

Written and Directed by Glenn Elston. Shakespeare Under The Stars. Botanical Gardens, Melbourne. January 8 - March 12, 2016.

Caution – There are Snakes in the Botanical Gardens! A group of 6 Python creatures (of the Monty kind) are capable of injecting lethal laughter and if they don’t murder you with mirth there is even a giant Asp that will be let loose on you after it demolishes Cleopatra.

Deadly 60 Live

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide. 11th and 12th Jan, 2016

Deadly 60 is one of the most popular children’s television shows in the world, and the face of the show naturalist UK born Steve Backshall has brought his passion to the stage with a 70 minute presentation of his many adventures across the globe.

Within seconds you are drawn in by his enthusiasm for what he describes as the greatest job in the world. His extensive knowledge about his subject matter is astounding and even though the presentation is aimed at a younger audience, it is fair to say that I too learned something in this productive hour.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By William Shakespeare. OZACT 2015 -2016 Summer and Autumn Tour (Vic).

The concept of outdoor productions of Shakespeare has been pioneered in Victoria by OZACT. Established in 1995, this touring repertory theatre company includes seasoned performers and Shakespearean experts as well as fresh new talent to deliver highly accessible and entertaining performances. OZACT has the well-earned reputation of being Australia's leading environmental Shakespeare company and is able to transform some of Victoria’s most stunning outdoor locations into natural stages.

Meow Meow's Little Mermaid

The Sydney Festival. Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent. 17 – 23 January 2016, Malthouse Theatre, Merlyn Theatre, 28 Jan - 14 Feb 2016 and Perth International Arts Festival, Octagon Theatre UWA, 24 - 28 Feb 2016.

Meow Meow is back at the Sydney Festival with another Spiegeltent sell-out cabaret, this one based on Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid, but only in name. The mermaid theme does however give her fins to flex, and to soar on trapeze and dive to the depths of imagined worlds, and sometimes dark sentiment. She begins, you see, by mourning her love life.

Back To The 80's

By Neil Gooding. Packemin Youth Productions. Concourse Theatre, Chatswood. January 8 – 23, 2016

Packemin Youth presented an energetic spectacle for their opening 2016 season with the Jukebox musical Back To The 80's. Produced by Neil Gooding (playwright of the show) the opening night performance went off with a bang apart from a few minor technical glitches, and showcased a multitude of some of the best youthful talent from all over Sydney.

Ghost: The Musical

Music & Lyrics by Dave Stewart & Glen Ballard. Book & Additional Lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin. Based upon the screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin. Directed by Matthew Warchus Festival Centre, Adelaide, January 9-31, 2016, then touring to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

When I told friends and acquaintances that my next assignment for Stage Whispers was covering the Australian Premiere of Ghost: The Musical, the typical reactions I received were guffaws of disbelief from those who regard the movie as a schmaltzy relic of a bygone era and indignant cries of “BUT HOW???” from the film’s diehard fans. This reaction is kind of understandable.

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