Reviews

Little Red Riding Hood: A Pantomime

By K. O. Samuel. Directed by Anita Bound. KADS Town Square Theatre, Kalamunda. 15-30 November, 2019

KADS’ Little Red Riding Hood is a very British pantomime, playing to very healthy houses. As is to be expected from a traditional panto, it plays on many levels, with appeal to diverse age groups.

Timeless: Alondra’s Season Finale

Alondra de la Parra conducting the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO), Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), 15 & 16 November, 2019

Alondra de la Parra’s three years at the helm of the QSO came to a close in Brisbane with a celebratory and emotional concert presentation with two performances at QPAC – a shorter matinee concert on the Friday and a full programme on Saturday night. And judging by the diversity of the audiences at both events, the QSO’s aim of introducing more people to music has been a smashing success.

Cinderella

By Rodgers and Hammerstein. Presented by Lynch & Paterson. Princess Theatre, Brisbane. 15-17 November 2019

With a cast of 24 and more than 15 crew, Cinderella is a major undertaking for relatively new musical production company, Lynch & Paterson – a creative partnership founded in 2015 by the multi-talented Lucas D Lynch and Samantha Paterson to present musical theatre, opera, orchestral works and other stage productions. With several successful productions under their belt, the strength of this Cinderella is the standard of the ensemble work.

Six Degrees At A Hot Melbourne Market

Directed and designed by Mazz Ryan and D. B. Valentine. Studio Theatre Gasworks Arts Park, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park. 13 – 23 November, 2020

Perfectly housed in the studio space at Gasworks in Albert Park, Melbourne Writers’ Theatre’s current offering is perhaps a little more edgy than usual, with a dystopian flavour. 

It pays homage to our wonderful Queen Victoria Market.

Alexandra Flood and Alex Raineri

Presented by Opera Queensland. Opera Queensland Studio. 15 – 16 November, 2019

Opera Queensland’s Artistic Director Patrick Nolan has introduced a new series that’s become a fast favourite with Brisbane’s music aficionados. Set in an intimate studio space, the new opera series allows you to get up close to the performers, with a smaller audience. This allows you to experiencethe power of operatic performance on a level usually only enjoyed by the behind-the-scenes creatives on operatic works.

Oil

By Ella Hickson. Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre. 27A Cromwell Road, Prahran. 12 November – 15 December 2019

Ella Hickson’s Oil is a sprawling saga stretching from 1889 and on into our future.  In scene one, an American oil man (Darcy Brown) quips to a dirt-poor, candle-lit farming family, as he introduces them to the wonders of kerosene, ‘The Stone Age didn’t end because they ran out of stones.’ 

Grease

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Wyong Musical Theatre Company. The Grove Theatre, Wyong. November 15 – December 1, 2019.

Grease has been a staple of community theatre and high school performing arts programs for many decades. In fact 2019 marks 40 years since the show premiered. Unlike other shows in the ’community theatre staples’ bracket, Grease doesn’t offer any sort of positive message. One can only assume its constant remounting across the world comes thanks to the insanely popular 1978 movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newtown John.

School of Rock

New Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics: Glenn Slater. Book: Julian Fellowes. Capitol Theatre, Sydney. From 15 November 2019.

In many ways School of Rock is The Sound of Music for a new generation and with a gender swap: a naïve young adult tutors a group of repressed unhappy kids. Through music, the kids are empowered and find joy. At the same time, the equally repressed unhappy authority figure is also reconnected to music and falls in love with the tutor. Together, they all defy an oppressive regime, but this time it’s not Nazis but their rigid school and “the Man”.

Little Women

By Louisa May Alcott, adapted by Peter Clapham. ARENAArts. Directed by Christine Ellis. Roxy Lane Theatre, Maylands, WA. Nov 15-30, 2019

ARENAArts’ production of Little Women is a warm, feel-good production that is faithful to the original novel, and is presented with love and care.

Cinderella - A Pantomime

Murray Music and Drama. Directed by Cathy Puzey. Pinjarra Civic Centre, WA. Nov 15-29, 2019

It is always a pleasure to visit Murray Music and Drama, with their lovely Front of House staff and country hospitality. The cabaret style seating helps to make this feel very much a community event. This production of Cinderella speaks to this, with Buttons making call outs to people in the audience, including life members and residents from the local lifestyle village in attendance.

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