Reviews

Angels in America Part 1: Millennium Approaches and Part 2: Perestroika

By Tony Kushner. Directed by Gary Abrahams. Produced by Cameron Lukey and presented by Cameron Lukey and Dirty Pretty Theatre in association with fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 1 – 24 September 2017.

Angels in America is a tale on an epic scale and Kushner’s incredibly rich and profound text has a well-earned iconic position in the LGBTI political landscape. The challenges involved in staging this lengthy play, set in the US, are as monumental as the piece itself. The text explicitly and unapologetically addresses confronting issues such as the AIDS epidemic, the corrupt nature of politics, racism and homophobia. This production breathes life into the text and animates it with majesty.

Glorious!

By Peter Quilter. Christine Harris and HIT Productions. Riverside Theatre Parramatta. September 5 – 9, 2017, and touring.

Director Denny Lawrence and HIT’s production of Glorious hits all the high notes that Florence Foster Jenkins misses! It is slick – and as colourful as Foster Jenkins herself.

Who Wants to Be?

Mikey Weinkove. The Street Theatre, Canberra. 2 September 2017

On tour from the U.K., Mikey Weinkove is the originator of “Talkaoke”, a method of stimulating face-to-face conversation in the public spaces and thereby enriching democratic participation, which is the aim of Weinkove and his non-profit group The People Speak.

 

American Beauty Shop

By Dana Lynn Formby. Presented by Some Company and Oleg Pupovac in association with bakehouse. Directed by Anna McGrath. KX Theatre, Kings Cross Hotel, Kings Cross - 25 August – 16 September, 2017

Powerful characterisation is the strength of Some Company’s production of the Australian premiere of American Beauty Shop.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

usic and Lyrics by William Finn and Book by Rachel Sheinkin. Conceived by Rebecca Feldman. BAMS Theatre. Directed by Michael Skelton. Musical Direction by Christine Leah. Assistant Director and Choreography - Kaitlyn Carlton. Sep 1 – 23, 2017

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Beeis based on and original improvisational play called C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E that was performed by ‘The Farm’, a New York based group.  It is basically a staged spelling bee for early secondary schools students who are desperately competitive and fraught with angst and ambition.  Outside America it was first staged in Australia by Melbourne Theatre Company in 2006.

Educating Rita

By Willy Russell. Hobart Repertory Theatre Society. Playhouse Theatre, Hobart. Director: Danni Ashton. 1 - 16 Sept. 2017

Educating Rita is a play which seems to come around every few years. It is a well-loved play known for the challenge which it presents to actors, a two-hander which requires enormous stamina and focus. In addition to talent, actors Anastasia Ward and Scott Burns display these qualities in abundance in the current Repertory Theatre production. Their performances are credible and engaging and one cannot help but be in awe of the virtuosity the roles demand.

Figaro

By Charles Morey, based on the play by Beamarchais. Genesian Theatre Company. Sep 2 – Oct 13, 2017

Charles Morey’s adaptation of Beamarchais’ 1778 play has some funny lines, and some of those that satirise politics still ring true today, but the story itself is relatively bland without the music and arias that Mozart used when he adapted the play for the opera stage. Sure, Figaro and Suzanne’s plots to outwit the predatory Count make for some comical situations, but this production requires a lot more experience to find the pace and energy required by commedia dell’arte pranks that would make the production.

[title of show]

Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen. Book by Hunter Bell. Understudy Productions. Hayward Street Studios, Brisbane. 31 August – 10 September 2017.

The best thing about a musical that parodies musicals, is that it parodies musicals. And that’s what this off-Broadway musical, masquerading as a Broadway musical does brilliantly.

Dennis

Written and directed by Clint Bolster. Presented by Homunculus Theatre Company. Short and Sweet Festival Gala Final, The Powerhouse Theatre Brisbane Powerhouse. 2 – 3 September, 2017

Sometimes when reviewing one comes across a piece that suffers from prolix, but that definitely can’t be said of the heart-warming tale of Dennis. It was first performed as part of the Short + Sweet Festival – an event created to give a platform to new and emerging works – and recently re-emerged on the Powerhouse stage as part of the Gala Final in which acts were judged and considered for awards.

Miley, Moon Unit and Me

Written & performed by Tegan Jones; accompanist Hana Zreikar. A Boutique Theatre Production. Butterfly Club, Melbourne CBD. 31 August – 3 September 2017

With a quick reference to Father’s Day, Tegan Jones presents a show about the musical connections (and more) between dads and daughters – that’s why ‘Miley’ gets into the title: Miley Cyrus is the daughter of Billy Ray.  And Moon Unit is the daughter – yes, really - of Frank Zappa.  Tegan Jones’ Dad is not a musician, but he has given his daughter a love of music that goes way beyond recognising a tune, singing along or tapping your foot.  He’s the kind of enthusiast that buys recordings of every production of Les Miserables

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