Reviews

Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story

Film premieres on SBS and SBS on Demand on June 24, 2024

Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story is a documentary based on Oleg Vidov’s life as a Russian actor who escaped at age 42 to America. The documentary documents his rise to fame, his catastrophic marriage into the inner circles of the Brezhnev family, and his heroic escape by illegally escaping Russia.

After escaping, he met Joan Borsten, an Italian journalist, and they became friends—soon after, a couple. They became husband and wife several years later while living in America.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By William Shakespeare. Bell Shakespeare. Directed by Peter Evans. Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA. April 16-20, 2024

Bell Shakespeare dropped into Perth for a short season as part of the National Tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A clever, exceptionally sleek and dark production, it is well worth catching as the tour progresses.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Book: David Greig. Music: Marc Shaiman. Lyrics: Scott Wittman, Marc Shaiman. Camden Musical Society. Co-Directors: Sophie Cornett and Isobel Holland. Musical Director: Ian Buchanan. Choreographers: Bianca Annetts and Sydney Madsen. Camden Civic Centre, NSW. April 19 – 28, 2024

A delightful production awaits you at Camden Civic Centre with Camden Musical Society's latest production which is, pun fully intended: sweet.

While the social media world is still reeling and mining memes from the recent Wonka disaster in Glasgow (google "Wonka Tour Epic Fail"), along comes this production to wipe away that nightmare and restore our faith in the arts. And chocolate. 

Berlin

By Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by Natasha Boyd. Heidelberg Theatre Company, 36 Turnham Ave, Rosanna, Melbourne.19 April - 4 May 2024.

In this text Joanna Murray-Smith weaves serious historical questions with conventional and unconventional notions of love and romance. It appears a tall feat, but this is achieved via an acute observation of the changing nature of intimacy and the way that emotional or psychological baggage can impact this. In doing so Murray-Smith raises some large moral questions that in the current geo-political climate render the play very poignant. 

Brodi Snook – Villain

Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The Greek – Level 1. April 16 – 21, 2024

The thirty something Brodi Snook is a full bag of sardonic wit and cheeky humour; she shifts and shapes a clever narrative around her anxieties while her villainous sub- conscious pulsates between visits to her therapist. Beginning her funny hour with talk of a “shaved pussy”, requesting audiences to show hands for or against, all who were a little reticent to reveal their preference laughed at her brazen feminist humour, while she admonished men and submissive women.

No Pay? No Way!

By Dario Fo and Franca Rame. Adapted by Marieke Hardy. Sydney Theatre Company. Directed by Sarah Giles. Sydney Opera House, Drama Theatre. April 6 – May 11, 2024

We’ve had the Eureka Stockade and that Fascist kerfuffle at the opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge but Australians aren’t really into revolutions.  But what would you do if rents, rates, energy bills and supermarket prices just never stopped leaping upwards?

‘Allo ‘Allo

By Jeremy Lloyd. Esperance Theatre Guild. Directed by Mak Bailye. The Bijou Theatre, Esperance. April 12-27, 2024

I recently had the opportunity to travel a little outside my usual reviewing circuit, to see Esperance Theatre Guild’s warm, well-presented production of ‘Allo ‘Allo, well known from the classic TV series.

The theatre venue is an experience itself. Beautifully appointed inside, with up-to-date facilities, The Bijou Theatre, is the oldest purpose-built theatre still operating in Western Australia and the third oldest nationally. It is picturesque and attractive and filled with friendly and attentive front of house staff and an eager audience.

Broadway Bingo

Presented and created by Outside the Jukebox. Underground Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse. 19-21 April, 2024

After having viewed Outside the Jukebox's previous production Merry Mixology, a set of comedy sketches and songs intertwined in a cabaret setting, I highly anticipated seeing their next production, this time a completely different concept: a selection of Broadway songs interspersed with a bingo game show, including minimal audience participation. Audience members are able to view bingo cards on their phones or with a flyer and mark off any specific traits they see in a performance shouting out Bingo! when they have a full house.

Mary Stuart

By Kate Mulvany, after Friedrich Schiller. Director Heather McGreal. Henry Lawson Theatre. 19 – 27 April, 2024

Friedrich Schiller’s play Mary Stuart was first performed in 1800. Set in 1586, it tells of a plot to assassinate Elizabeth I of England instigated by her cousin Mary Stuart, deposed Queen of Scotland, who claimed the right to the English throne.

Both were strong women who had the following of loyal supporters, but Elizabeth, as the crowned Queen, had the upper hand, and kept Mary in prison in England for 19 years. The plot, carried out by Mary’s Catholic followers, was unsuccessful and led, eventually to Mary’s execution.

A Case for the Existence of God

By Samuel D. Hunter. Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre. 13 April – 12 May 2024

Two men sit across an office desk.  They could not be more different.  We think.  One is Keith (Kevin Hofbauer), a mortgage broker given to financial jargon and acronyms; he’s apparently confident, very definite, wears preppy clothes, has a neat beard.  The other man is Ryan (Darcy Kent): reticent, apologetic, scruffy hair, faded tartan shirt, scuffed Redwing boots.  Ryan wants a loan to buy some land – twelve acres his family owned long ago – for himself and his fifteen-month-old daughter Krista.  We want Ryan to get that land, but w

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