Reviews

The Alphabet of Awesome Science

Adelaide Fringe 2019. Science Gang and Six Foot Under Productions. The May Wirth at Gluttony. 2-17 March, 2019

This is one of the best children’s shows I have seen; not only is it fun, well-produced, exciting and educational, it doesn’t talk down to children and keeps everyone from 5 to 105 engaged, learning and laughing.

I have had the pleasure of seeing David Lampard in action before, when he has presented to school groups. His enthusiasm and knowledge, plus a hefty dose of drama and entertainment skills, is a highly successful combination.

Squad Goals

Written by Alex Bayliss. Directed by Emma Black and Alexander Bayliss. Presented by Share House Theatre Company. Lumen Room Metro Arts, 28 February - 09 March, 2019

How far would you go to win? That’s the prevailing question asked by Squad Goals, a new black comedy written by Brisbane creative, Alex Bayliss. On the darkness scale of dark humour, this play’s the equivalent of Vantablack. It’s an excellent example of a gripping thriller crossed with a comedic horror. It is rather novel to see this genre on stage, as one usually associates with cinema. Refreshing too is the opportunity to see an all-female cast in powerful roles.

The Weir

By Conor McPherson. TheatreiNQ. TheatreiNQ Theatre, 50 Allen Street, South Townsville. 27 February – 9 March, 2019.

Anyone who is fortunate enough to be amongst the smart people who have booked in advance is in for a theatrical treat.

The Tiger Lillies Present Edgar Allan Poe’s Haunted Palace

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2019. Elder Hall at RCC Fringe. February 26 – March 10, 2019

According to Martyn Jacques, Edgar Allan Poe is the most published poet in the world. The Tiger Lillies present Edgar Allan Poe’s Haunted Palace explores Poe’s world, his works, his private life and tragic demise.

There are so many incredible areas of this performance, particularly visually. Against a plain set of drapes, doors and elevated platforms, animations are projected. We are taken from streets that fold in on each other, to flowers blooming, a dragon slithering around and a giant beating heart, among many other projections.

Ding Dong

By Marc Camoletti. Cairns Little Theatre. Directed by Frank Joel. Feb 22 - Mar 2, 2019

Cairns Little Theatre's production of the comedy Ding Dong was beset by a real life situation when one of the lead actors was suddenly taken ill days before opening night and had to pull out of the production. Fortunately, experienced actor Peter Merrill bravely took to the stage, script in hand, to fill the void. Peter gave as good a performance as is possible with the short space three days that he was given to play the difficult lead role of George.

Two Hearts

By Laura Lethlean. The Anchor theatre company. The Butterfly Club, Melbourne. Feb 25 – Mar 2, 2019

Two Hearts is the new play by The Anchor theatre company, currently part of the inaugural One Act Play Festival at the Butterfly Club.

Werther

By Jules Massenet. Libretto by various, based on ‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’ by Goethe. Opera Australia. Sydney Opera House. March 2 – 11, 2019.

This opera offers many delightful moments but is not suited to occasional visitors to the Joan Sutherland Theatre eager to drink in familiar tunes, as there are none.

The score by Massenet is sumptuous, and under the baton of Carlo Montanaro the orchestra provides a magnificent platform for the spectacular international leads, Michael Fabiano as Werther and Elena Maximova as Charlotte.

Over three hours and four acts the drama moves slowly. Werther falls in love with Charlotte. She is engaged to someone else. She gets married. Werther tries to win her back.

Icarus

Created and performed by Christopher Samuel Carroll. The Street Theatre in association with Bare Witness Theatre. World Premiere. Street Two, The Street Theatre, Canberra. 27 February – 3 March 2019

Christopher Samuel Carroll’s latest piece Icarus is a marvellously human, surreal, wordless fable. Not strictly speaking mime, dance or physical comedy, it is a form of highly stylised constant movement to create a strong and clear narrative but with enough ambiguity and mystery to keep the audience thinking.

For Unto Y’All: The Very First Christmas in the Wild West

Adelaide Fringe 2019. Soul Factor Gospel Choir. Goodwood Institute Theatre. 28 February, 1-3 March, 2019

Robert Sterling’s For Unto Y’All: The Very First Christmas in the Wild West is a delightful gospel musical based on the Biblical Nativity story about the birth of Jesus Christ. In this version, however, whilst the characters’ and town names remain the same (Joseph, Mary, Bethlehem, Nazareth) we are in Wyoming in the mid-West of USA in 1880.

Build a Rocket

Adelaide Fringe Festival. Holden Street Theatres in association with Stephen Joseph Theatre and Tara Finney Productions. Holden Street Theatre – The Studio. February 12th – March 17th, 2019

Fasten your seat belts fringe dwellers, as you are about to witness the brutally honest and revealing tale of Jasmine, a 16-year-old girl from Scarborough, 300 kilometres from London.

On the exterior Jasmine is a tough talking lass doing just enough to get by. Living with an alcoholic Mother and her arrogant partner, she yearns for a better life.

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