Reviews

A Curious Thing

Adelaide Fringe. Ayers House. 22 February – 11 March 2023

Mary Anning was born in Lyme Regis, England at the end of the 18th century, where science was not an option for a woman, even one as talented and passionate about studying the past through the fossils that she discovered at the foot of the cliffs where she lived.

For an hour in Ayers House in Adelaide, Michelle Nightingale and Michael Mills take us on a journey through her life: surviving as the ‘Lightning Girl’ and following the passions of her father and brother to discover significant remains of animals from the Jurassic period.

Air Play

By Seth Boom, Christina Gelsone, and Daniel Wurtzel. Acrobuffos. Canberra Theatre Centre, 24–26 February 2023, and touring.

Air Play is the result of a years-long collaboration between Daniel Wurtzel — who, with many different creations continuing around the globe, is a gifted air sculptor — and Acrobuffos, comprising the husband-and-wife circus duo Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone.  A virtually wordless entrancement, it’s an ever-changing creation; as Gelsone describes it, it can be affected by an opening door, by the heated air rising from the audience, and even, mid performance, by a rain shower beginning outside the performance venue.

Takeaway

By Liz Newell. Curtin University’s Theatre Arts and the Hayman Theatre Company. Directed by Emily McLean. The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, WA. Feb 21-25, 2023

Curtin University’s Theatre Arts and the Hayman Theatre Company presents their 2023 Stage One Production, which is ’traditionally” staged at the Blue Room, the World Premiere of Takeaway. This black comedy, set in the back room of a pizza restaurant, is “about how the more things change, the more they stay the same”.

Delphi Goes Bassooning – A Tiny Musical

Janet Swain. Adelaide Fringe Festival. Holden Street Theatres. Feb 23 – Mar 12, 2023

Self-professed gawky 14-year old Janet Swain was gifted a bassoon by her mother after she was the winning bidder at a railway auction. Although Swain longed to play the cello, she soon mastered the woodwind instrument and double reed, much to the delight of her mother, also a musician.

XANADU

Book by Douglas Carter Beane, Music and Lyrics by Jeff Lynne & John Farrar; Directed by Meg Day, Musical Director Nerissa Cavaliere, Choreographer Jessica Kuit. Presented by Ikigai Entertainment at Sutherland Arts Theatre. Feb 22 – Mar 5, 2023

In musical theatre timing is everything and whether it is by good luck or good management, Xanadu is perfectly timed with Mardi Gras, Sydney World Pride and even the State Funeral for our beloved Olivia Newton John taking place on the opening weekend of this 80s camp fest fantasy musical based on the cult movie starring Olivia and dance legend Gene Kelly.

Xanadu is the first production of this indi theatre company which strives to provide high quality performance opportunities in a supportive and inclusive environment for professionally trained and technical artists.

A Mouthful of C Words

By Matthew Cook, Hera Fox, Stephanie Jack, Carrie McLean and Andy Vagg.. Salamanca Arts Centre (Lucien Simon). The Peacock Theatre. Director / Dramaturg – Chris Mead. Set - Nicole Robson. Composers – Natlaya Bing and Joshua Santospirito. 23-25 February, 2023

A Mouthful of C Words emulates the structure of Arthur Schnitzler’s 1897 play, La Ronde (Reigen), in which the intimate encounters of various couples create a mobius strip of connection. One character from each of the ten scenes, continues into a subsequent scene until the cycle is complete. In each scene, a sexual act is simulated or referenced. This sexual sinnet takes place in the limited gene pool which is known as Hobart, Tasmania.

Nancy Wake: The White Mouse

Adelaide Fringe. Presented by Palmerston Projects. Main Theatre: Goodwood Theatres. February 17th to 26th, 2023

Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, AC, GM was born in 1912 in New Zealand. Some two years later, her family moved to Sydney where she grew up, and for this reason, we have long claimed Nancy as an Australian. Also known as Madame Fiocca and Nancy Fiocca, Hélène by the British Special Operations Executive, Andrée by the French Resistance and White Mouse by the Gestapo in France, she was a nurse who retrained and worked in the 1930s for Hearst newspapers as a journalist.

The Wind in the Willows

Adapted by James Belich. Darlington Theatre Players. Directed by Sophie David (assisted by Natalia Myslinska). Marloo Theatre, Greenmount, WA. Feb 10 - Mar 4, 2023

Darlington Theatre Players’ rendition of The Wind in the Willows is a little darling of a show and feels like a picture book brought to life. 

DOMINANCE and Submission

Devious Adelaide. Adelaide Fringe. The Peacock at Gluttony, Adelaide. Feb 24 – March 18, 2023

Standing in line to watch DOMINANCE and Submission, I could help but notice the diversity of the audience. Younger, older, they were all there, including a pup and his Master. I knew it was going to be an experience to remember.

The mood is definitely buzzing as I sit down and take in my surroundings; candles circling the stage area, a red leather coach, a bondage cross and long lengths of chains hanging tantalizingly in the centre.

Rapture

By Joanna Murray-Smith. Pymble Players, NSW. February 22 – Mar 19, 2023

Three middle-aged couples appear to be reasonably happy with their lives.  That is until one of the couples reveals that they have had an epiphany of sorts and are moving on, leaving their old friendships behind. Thus begins the real drama in the Pymble Players' latest production, Rapture.

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