Reviews

When the Rain Stops Falling

By Andrew Bovell. Iron Lung Theatre. Theatre Works, St Kilda. 12-31 July 2021

Andrew Bovell’s 2008 play weaves together past, present and future, embodying his twin themes of the familial sins of the fathers and the ecological sins of all of us upon this our Earth.  If the latter sounds portentous, it is a subtle, allusive presence in the family saga.  Each is almost an allegory for the other.  The story, beginning in 2039, and travelling backward to 1959 and points in between, across three generations, echoing the Old Testament, in which the Lord our God is a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth

Jesus Christ Superstar

Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Lyrics by Tim Rice. Director and choreography Maureen Bowra. Lynch and Paterson production. Twelfth Night Theatre. Brisbane July 9 – 18, 2021

This 1970 rock opera only appeared on the Broadway stage because of the success of a concept album that had been released earlier. Basically, the musical is sung through and is loosely – very loosely – based on the final week of the life of Jesus as told in the Gospels. The concentration is on political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus. The interpretation of that history as shown in this musical upset so many people and it is easy to see why.

The Addams Family

By Marshall Bickman, Rick Elice and Andrew Lippa. Diamond Valley Singers. Warrandyte High School Theatre, Vic. July 10 – 17, 2021

The DVS production of The Addams Family is a tribute to the dedication of community musical theatre companies, with the show opening some more than a year after beginning rehearsals.

The production also lost a principal cast member, the talented tour de force Antony Steadman, who passed away earlier this year. Antony had been cast to play Uncle Fester. Fittingly, the performance run is dedicated to Antony's memory.

School of Rock

Based on the Paramount movie by Mike White. Book by Julian Fellowes. Lyrics by Glenn Slater. Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Director Madeleine Johns. Redcliffe Musical Theatre, Queensland. July 9 – 18, 2021.

What a school this is! Based on the 2003 film, this musical follows Dewey Finn, an out of work rock singer and guitarist who pretends to be a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. Naturally he has no proper training but he discovers amazing musical talent in his students. He breaks a few more rules to form a band of fifth-graders in an attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands. What an entertaining musical journey the audience follows.

Anna Karenina

The Australian Ballet. The Festival Theatre, Adelaide. 9 – 15 Jul 2021

Anna Karenina is a shining jewel in David Hallberg’s first season as Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, presented in partnership with the Chicago-based Joffrey Ballet. This reviewer/former dancer is very excited about the future for our national ballet company with such a distinguished visionary at the helm. 

Extinction

By Hannie Rayson. Cairns Little Theatre. Directed by Cath Willacy. 2-10 July, 2021.

Tiger quolls are in danger of extinction and somebody has to save them. That’s the premise, but there is so much more to this very Australian play.

Set in Cape Otway in Victoria, Extinction explores issues such as should you take money from a coal mining company to fund the protection of a species that they are helping to make extinct? Should you indeed? But money talks and the temptation is too great for fund-starved academia to refuse.

SYSTEM_ERROR

By Chamber Made – co-creators & performers Tamara Saulwick & Alisdair Macindoe. Chamber Made, Arts House, North Melbourne. 7 – 11 July 2021

How to describe or characterise this stunning work?  Performance art?  Installation with human figures?  It holds the audience in rapt attention.  Two ‘performers’ – Tamara Saulwick and Alisdair Macindoe – in black, zippered jumpsuits, sit at either side of the deep playing space – the floor of which is a kind of huge circuit board.  Each ‘plays’ – or manipulates – a white light console and their uncoordinated movements, touches and strokes, create both sounds and geometric shapes on the huge cyclorama behind the

Magic Mike Live

Melbourne - Until 19 September 2021. Brisbane 23 November 2021 to 2 January 2022. Perth (dates TBC)

Be prepared for plenty of groin thrusting dance moves, jaw-dropping aerial routines and a whole lot of surprises at Magic Mike Live!

The Lighthouse

Arts Centre Melbourne presents an interactive light and sound wonderland by Patch Theatre. Artistic Director: Geoff Cobham. State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne. 6 - 17 July, 2021.

This critically acclaimed production won the 2020 Ruby Award for Best Work or Event at the Adelaide Festival. The Lighthouse takes the audience on a journey through a series of rooms exploring the innovative use of light, sound, perspective and reflection. With its labyrinth of interconnected rooms on various levels culminating with performances on its main stage, the State Theatre, Melbourne is a great venue choice.

Still

By Jen Silverman. Heartstring Theatre and Stillbirth Foundation. At fortyfivedownstairs, Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 30 June – 11 July 2021

Do not expect naturalism.  In another remarkable flight of imagination, playwright Jen Silverman (Wink, The Moors) puts on stage not just a grieving mother but also her two days dead stillborn, the guilty mid-wife, and a bitter, misanthropic teenage dominatrix.  There is no natural cause and effect here – except for the characters’ emotions.  The story is ‘absurd’, but Ms Silverman’s purpose is to explore what is under or behind the natural, that is so often presented as ‘naturalism’ – and make us question it.&

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