Reviews

A Clockwork Orange

By Anthony Burgess. Directed by Alexandra Spencer-Jones. Action To The Word. The Malthouse, Melbourne, from April 9, 2013; Seymour Centre, Sydney from April 23; Subiaco Arts Centre (WA) from May 7; The Playhouse, Canberra from May 22 and Cremorne Theatre, QPAC (ALd) from May 28.

I’ve been struggling to find the words to review something, which is so visually simple, and yet so utterly compelling. When Anthony Burgess wrote his novella A Clockwork Orange over 50 years ago he had no idea the impact and cult following his tiny text would have.

PR!CK The Musical.

Written by Tracy Harvey. Directed by Pip Mushin. The Flying Saucer Club (Vic). April 5 – 14, 2013. As part of MICF.

The title is provocative and very funny. The show is also very funny, but nowhere near as provocative despite having a storyline that involves a hero with a broken penis, a heroine who is plain (not really) but blossoms,  and a bum doctor who secretly lusts for  a twittery busted…..sorry, bitter and twisted…nursing manager who turns out to have given away their baby…who in turn, turns out to be……No, I’m not going to spoil it for you.

Cinderella

Music: Sergei Prokofiev. Choreography: Ben Stevenson. Conductor: Andrew Mogrelia. Queensland Ballet. Playhouse, QPAC, 5-20 April, 2013

Queensland Ballet started off its year with Cinderella and judged by the audience response it was a popular choice. The season had been sold-out before it began.

The first ballet under the leadership of its new artistic director, Li Cunxin, this production of Cinderella was created in 1970 by Ben Stevenson for National Ballet in Washington DC, who has been present in Australia during the restaging by Texas Ballet Theatre’s Tim O’Keefe.

Driving Miss Daisy

By Alfred Uhry. Directed by David Esbjornson. Comedy Theatre, Melbourne. From April 6th, 2013.

I am not going to review this astonishing night of theatre. Critics across the world have been topping each other with superlatives, and even inventing new words for this production. Any extra evaluation is superfluous.

Stage Whispers has previously reviewed this remarkable production during both its previous seasons in Brisbane and Sydney.

Instead, I would like to offer a heartfelt “Thankyou” to everyone involved.

Luminous Flux

Tasdance. Choreographers: Tanja Liedtke (Enter Twilight) and Byron Perry (Light Entertainment). Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. April 5 & 6, 2013.

Wikipedia defines luminous flux as the “perceived power of light adjusted to reflect the various sensitivity of the human eye to detect different wave lengths of light” – a fitting title for this production from the feisty Tasdance ensemble. It is contemporary, abstract, physically exacting , visually compelling – and very exciting.

Frankenstein

Adapted by Nick Dear from the novel by Mary Shelley. Ensemble Theatre Production. Sydney Opera House March 27 – April 13, 2013 and Ensemble Theatre, April 17 – May 4, then touring nationally.

Regular Stage Whispers reviewer David Spicer took to the Red Carpet with his daughter Rebecca, currently studying the novel Frankenstein for her HSC, for opening night of Frankenstein at the Sydney Opera House. She shares her perspective, having dissected Mary Shelley’s original in HSC English classes.

Trivia

By Stephen Vagg. Brisbane Arts Theatre. 23 March – 20 April 2013

It’s always exciting when a new play arrives and even more so when it is set locally about familiar characters.

Leap of Faith: Circus in Motion

National Institute of Circus Arts. Artistic Director – Matthew Jessner. 4 - 13 Apr 2013

Leap of Faith: Circus in Motion showcases the talents of 24 final year Bachelor ofCircus Arts students from NICA, the only training institute of its kind in Australia, providing professional training through a 3 year Bachelor of Circus Arts.

Performing in their state-of-the-art, purpose built facility these extraordinary young people leapt, spun and bounced their way through 70 minutes of contemporary circus. The physical strength, flexibility and dexterity displayed were amazing in this well rehearsed show, which flowed beautifully from act to act.

Girl in Tan Boots

By Tahli Corin. SBW Stables Theatre. Collide and Griffin Independent. April 1 – 20, 2013

Hannah hasn’t turned up at her parents’ house as usual for a meal on Sunday. She isn’t taking calls. She hasn’t been seen since Friday evening. Her mother (Odile Leclezio) reports her missing and Detective Carapetis (Linden Wilkinson) begins investigating. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2013

Our Reviewers are out and about at the Comedy Festival.
Just the Two of Each of Us

The Pajama Men. Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio. April 4 – 21.

To keep up with the latest news and reviews at Stage Whispers, click here to like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.