Reviews

High Society

Book by Arthur Kopit, music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Additional lyrics by Susan Birkenhead. Hayes Theatre Co / Power Arts. September 4 to October 3, 2015

How many reviews have effervesced about shows bubbling and fizzing like champagne? Well this High Society positively guzzles down the bubbly, fuelling the frenetically paced farce of this cheeky musical romp, sparklingly conceived by director Helen Dallimore, assisted by co-conspirators in fun, musical director Daryl Wallis (and his snappy, versatile four-piece band), choreographer Cameron Mitchell and a ‘swell-partying’ ensemble cast.

A Tender Thing

By Ben Power. Growling Grin Productions. Star Theatres Adelaide. September 8 – 12, 2015

When you condense such a well-known play, it is only natural to draw comparisons with the original text. What makes the tale of Romeo and Juliet so intoxicating is the lengths to which the lovers go to be together, the war between their families and the tragedy of their young deaths. Ben Power’s adaptation concentrates on the love story, injecting it with a contemporary story of an older couple. Also drawing dialogue from Shakespeare’s sonnets, it is fair to say that this is a radical adaptation.

Reserved Seating Only

By David Ross Paterson, adapted from a play by Peter B. Sonenstein. Director: Peter Houghton. Boxing Day Productions. The Q The Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. September 4 and 5, 2015, and touring.

Fast-paced wit from end to end, this play is sharp, funny and slick. Adapted from an unpublished Peter B Sonenstein script set at the baseball, David Ross Paterson moves the action to an Essendon v Fitzroy match, the first game of the season. The language and characters have been so beautifully translated to an Australian setting, it’s impossible to pick that the original script was American.

Mary Stuart (Maria Stuarda)

By Gaetano Donizetti. Melbourne Opera. Director: Suzanne Chaundy. Musical Director: Richard Divall. The Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne, September 2, 5, 8 & 12, 2015 and Monash University’s Alexander Theatre, September 19.

At the moment Melbourne has an embarrassment of operatic riches. Thirty years ago we had the Australian Opera, Victorian State Opera and an occasional amateur performance. Now we still have Opera Australia, Victorian Opera, which emerged from the ashes of the VSO, and several semi-professional companies providing lots of work and doing exciting productions.

Melbourne Opera, based at the Athenaeum Theatre, broke away from CitiOpera and, as a point of difference, perform exclusively in English. Many roles were shared in early productions with varying degrees of success.

Moonlight and Magnolias

By Ron Hutchinson. Ballina Players. Director: Fran Legge. Players Theatre, Ballina. September 4th – 19th, 2015

Moonlight and Magnolias refers to the romanticisation of the southern states prior to the American Civil War.

Forbidden Broadway

Conceived by Gerard Alessandrini. Javeenbah Theatre, Nerang, Gold Coast. Directed by Amy-Louise Anderson. September 4th – 19th, 2015

For the uninitiated, Forbidden Broadway is a parody of the Broadway Musical Theatre and the creation of author, composer, arranger and performer Gerard Alessandrini. The first season opened at Palsson’s Supper Club, New York in 1982 and has seen regular “up dates” over a number of years (I, myself, have 9 of the CD’s).

Amy-Louise Anderson has captured the spirit of Alessandrini’s hilarious interpretation of the musical in a fast moving, fun-packed show.

The Great Gatsby

By F. Scott Fitzgerald, adapted by Rob Croser. Independent Theatre. Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre. Sept 3 – 12, 2015.

The Roaring Twenties was an era of excess, with extremes of both wealth and poverty. Prohibition was in full force and the divide between the classes was evident. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote of the American dream and a man who came from nothing to make his imaginings real.

The Cripple of Inishmaan

By Martin McDonagh. Directed by Kerrin White. Adelaide Repertory Theatre. The Arts Theatre. 3-12 September 2015

In a world where some will doubtless be put off or offended by the mere presence of the 'c-word' in the title of this play, Martin McDonagh's writing aims to confront our sensibilities at the same time as tickling our funny bones. That he succeeds as well in this as he does is a testament to his singular talent. Politeness and political correctness are off the table in a McDonagh script; this writer sees the world as so full of cruelty and injustice that we simply must laugh to stay sane.

A Sunburnt History – Savages

Written and performed by Nick Waxman. The Lord and Master Barbershop Nepean Highway, Seaford. Aug 29 – Sep 5, 2015, then touring.

The Frankston Anywhere Festival has been so poorly promoted that it’s a wonder anyone knows its on, but DON’T miss this show if you can possibly help it, tonight (Sep 4) and tomorrow (Sep 5), or you may find yourself chasing it all around the country. Mind you, it would be worth it.

This is what Fringe theatre should offer us but frequently doesn’t and it speaks volumes that Nick Waxman’s “History lessons” fill venues at the MICF as well as large regional theatres.

Masterclass

By Terence McNally. Left Bauer Productions. fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne. September 1 – 13, 2015.

If you haven’t yet seen this Australian production of Masterclass, you are missing the Charisma of Callas channelled through the Magic of Mercedes.

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