Reviews

Razorhurst

Book & Lyrics by Kate Mulley. Music by Andy Peterson. Directed by Betina De Wit. Hayes Theatre Co. From June 14, 2019

On paper this sounded like a good fit for the Hayes Theatre – a two woman musical about the notorious 20th century female criminals Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh, who ran rival gangs in the streets of East Sydney, near where the performance is taking place.

Between them they committed a long shopping list of crimes including slashing a man in a barber shop, selling sly grog, running brothels and selling cocaine.

Ruthie Henshall – Live and Intimate

Musical Director: Paul Schofield. Enda Markey Production. Cremorne Theatre, QPAC. 18-19 June 2019.

Aussie audiences love comedy and there was no shortage of it in West End and Broadway star Ruthie Henshall’s Live and Intimate.

Kaye Tuckerman: Broadway Bound (But Not Gagged)

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2019. The Blue Room – Adelaide Festival Centre 13-14 June, 2019

Kaye Tuckerman’s Broadway Bound (But Not Gagged) was one of the best shows I have seen, not only at this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival but one of the very best so far for this entire year. I have written a rather lengthy review for this show, partly because, for many, the extremely talented and gracious Kaye Tuckerman is not as well known as others. Furthermore, her one-woman show has more to say and is more insightful about the reality of being a contemporary professional working actress in New York than anything I have recently seen.

The Misanthrope

By Molière, adapted by Martin Crimp. WAAPA. Directed by Humphrey Bower,. The Roundhouse Theatre, WAAPA, Edith Cowan University, Mt Lawley. June 14 - 20, 2019.

The Misanthrope features half of WAAPA’s Third Year Acting class in a beautifully polished modern version of Molière’s classic. Set in modern day Sydney, it is consciously and conspicuously theatrical, with clever references to its 1666 origins. Perhaps a little overlooked this week, playing at the same time as the flagship performance that is Strictly Ballroom, it is a fabulous production that deserves bigger audiences and warm accolades.

Bobby Fox – The Irish Boy

Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Dunstan Playhouse, 14-15th June 2019

In June 2018 Bobby Fox was playing Charles Guiteau, who assassinated US president James Garfield, in Assassins at the Sydney Opera House. On the opening night he, almost inexplicably, but quite literally, broke a leg and found himself out of the show, laid up with an ankle injury. The enforced rest caused a period of introspection for Fox, who has been in consistent demand in the Australian Musical Theatre scene since his emigration to Australia in 2003. This hiatus from work resulted in a longing for his home town of Longford, Ireland and the culture he grew up with.

SoCalled Sings Yiddish

With Zephyr Quartet. Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Adelaide Festival Centre Quartet Bar. June 16th, 2019

Josh ‘SoCalled’ Dolgin is a Canadian hip hop artist who began his love affair with Yiddish music as a music archaeologist, digging through music collections for sounds that he could apply to his work, and this performance is a celebration of that journey. At last count, there were more than 16 different forms of Yiddish music, some very familiar as they have been embraced by modern composers including Leonard Bernstein,Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim, and George and Ira Gershwin.

The Pirates of Penzance

By W. S. Gilbert and Sir A. Sullivan. Players Theatre, Ballina. Director: Jaime Sheehan. 14th June – 7th July, 2019

Once again, Ballina has presented an Essgee adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan at its best.

This production was full of the fun and hi-jinks one has come to associate with this type of show and the audience loved it.

With the leading lady battling a throat infection, the cast all rallied and the audience enjoyed the gallant performance.

Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical

By Baz Lurhmann and Craig Pearce, adapted by Terry Johnson. WAAPA. Directed by Crispin Taylor. Regal Theatre, Subiaco WA. June 15-22, 2019

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts’ annual Regal Theatre season is perhaps WAAPA’s biggest publicity opportunity of the year, showcasing the talents of not only the musical theatre students, but music students, and a plethora of students from all aspects of Production and Design. Always popular, Strictly Ballroom appears to be the most quickly booked yet, and given the polish and pizazz of this production, the capacity crowds will not be disappointed.

Travesties

By Tom Stoppard. Directed by Jennifer Sarah Dean. Bloomsday in Melbourne. Fortyfivedownstairs. 12, 15, 16, 18 – 23 June 2019

To quote the text, this may be nonsense, but it’s ‘clever nonsense’.  Of course, Travesties is not nonsense at all.  In an absurdist, witty, erudite and polemical fashion Tom Stoppard generates fast, funny and articulate debate among his characters about war, art and revolution – and, in passing, how we wish we could rewrite our own past.  A serious play with a light, light touch.

Da

By Hugh Leonard. Irish Theatre Players. Directed by Denice Byrne. Leederville Sporting Club, WA. Jun 13-22, 2019

Perth’s Irish Theatre Players have relocated after many years, finding a new home in the next suburb. The premiere season in their new home kicked off with a quality production of Hugh Leonard’s family drama, Da, playing to full houses.

The new performance space, created from scratch, is a pop-up space in the function room of the Leederville Sporting Club, with raked seating and a small end stage. While foyer space is limited, this is a comfortable and pleasant new venue, and the Irish hospitality remains as warm and friendly as ever.

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