Reviews

Dracula, The Last Voyage of the Demeter

Sporadic Productions. Adelaide Fringe. Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres, Hilton, Adelaide. March 1 – 4, 2023

“I take no credit for the darkness that lives in the hearts of men!” - Dracula’s admonition to Captain Atkins in Sporadic Productions, Dracula, the Last Voyage of the Demeter.

The Demeter was a Russian sailing vessel responsible for bringing the vampire Count Dracula from his homeland in Wallachia to the seaside town of Whitby in England. The boat maintained a skeleton crew which consisted of just the captain, two officers and five crewmen.

Macbeth

By William Shakespeare. Bell Shakespeare. Sydney Opera House, 1 March - 2 April, Canberra Theatre Centre, 14 – 22 April and Arts Centre Melbourne, 27 April – 14 May 2023.

Bell Shakespeare’s new Macbeth borrows a familiar BSC footprint.  Towering green curtains outline what looks like a hotel foyer, circa World War I, with high back chairs, standard lamps and a tartan carpet.  We know this format from other productions, the ten actors rarely leaving the stage, but in slow motion sitting or walking around a lot. 

The Whitney Houston Story

Adelaide Fringe Festival / Night Owl Shows. World Premiere. The Regal Theatre. Wed 1 Mar: 7:30pm

This concert was presented by Night Owl Shows, who create and present a range of tribute shows to music greats including Abba, Amy Winehouse, Carole King, Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond and the subject of this concert, the late great Whitney Houston. They have had sell out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, Perth Fringe, Brighton Fringe, Adelaide Fringe and Bear Valley Festival in in California.

Watson: The Final Problem

By Tim Marriott & Bert Coules, based on the stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adelaide Fringe. Ayers House. 17 February – 18 March, 2023

The opulence of the Ballroom at Ayers House is the perfect place to spend an hour with Watson, the self-appointed biographer of Sherlock Holmes. Following the death of both Holmes and his wife Mary, Dr John Watson (Tim Marriott) is reminiscing about his life with the great detective, and the many adventures he was taken on through his association at Baker Street.

See You

By Hung Dance (Taiwan) presented by Lewis Major Projects for Adelaide Fringe Festival. Main Theatre at Adelaide College of the Arts, Adelaide. 22 Feb — 5 Mar, 2023

This is one of the finest, most beautifully crafted contemporary dance works I have seen in some time, and realised by very fine performers.  I know this is quite the statement, but I stand by it.  Dance choreography does not need to possess a fixed narrative or even restrict itself to a single storyline.  Moments of connection (both dancer to dancer, and dancer/s to audience) plus creative physical and theatrical imagery can inspire thoughtful or emotional responses in an audience that leave a lasting impression of greatness.  Of course, supremely high quality technique

Moist

Scratch Arts Express Move Me. Adelaide Fringe. Ukiyo at Gluttony - Rymill Park, Adelaide. Feb 28 -March 5, 2023

Sometimes you just want to go the theatre for a good laugh. That’s exactly what Scratch Arts Express Move Me have done with their latest offering, Moist!!!

Developed by Timothy Christopher Ryan and The Mighty Caesar, performed by The Mighty Caesar, Josh Duncan, Timothy Christopher Ryan and Peter Welters, the premise is set when the bearded narrator of the show explains that he is thirsty and can’t find any water. He asks the audience to keep their eyes out for his three friends, one a bear and the remaining two, twinks who may be able to help him out.

The Marvellous Elephant Man: The Musical

Adelaide Fringe. Guy Masterson, Floating World Entertainment & Joanne Hartstone. Wonderland Spiegeltent at Wonderland Festival Hub - Hindmarsh Square , Adelaide Feb 26 – March 7, 2023

The Marvellous Elephant Man: The Musical is about as perfect as a production can be! From the pens of Jayan and Sarah Nandogoapn, with Oscar-winning sound designer Wayne Pashley, Olivier award-winning West End director Guy Masterson, and Melbourne based award-winning film director Chris Mitchell, The Marvellous Elephant Man: The Musical follows the story of Joseph Merrick, better known as the Elephant Man.

The Tempest

By William Shakespeare. Melbourne Shakespeare Company. Director: Chelsea Matheson. Musical Director: Benjamin Colley. Central Park, Malvern. 25 February – 12 March 2023

Melbourne Shakespeare Company presents Shakespeare’s classic tale of betrayal and forgiveness with a punk sensibility (Cortney Jarvis) and 1980s music. Their version is light-hearted, disciplined and funny, with plenty of opportunities for the audience to join in.

The Gods, The Gods, The Gods

Adelaide Fringe. The Kingfisher at Gluttony. 17 February – 18 March 2023, and then touring Australia to 16 April 2023

It’s late on Saturday night, and the Adelaide Fringe hub Gluttony is pulsating with the energy of thousands of people, mostly emerging from their final show to go home – or, like a few of us, walking towards their next. The tent flap is pulled aside and we’re welcomed into hazy light, where there are no seats – only space to dance. For great storytelling and theatre, this isn’t the environment we were expecting: it’s set up for a gig full of sweaty, moving people.

Plaza Suite

By Neil Simon. Melville Theatre. Directed by Clare Talbot, Michelle Sharp and Siobhan O’Gara. Roy Edinger Theatre, Melville, WA. Feb 17-Mar 4, 2023

Melville Theatre’s Plaza Suite features three different stories, all set in the same room of New York’s Plaza Hotel, on three different days in 1968. 

Overseen by creative director Susan Lynch, the three acts all have different directors, but feature the same practical but beautiful set design (again by Susan Lynch), and effective sound and lighting design by Clare Talbot. Gorgeous, era appropriate costumes were designed by Michelle Sharp. Despite three directors, this is a production with overall unity and a sense of being a single show.

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