Reviews

Lungs

By Duncan Macmillan. Melbourne Theatre Company (Vic). Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne. Director: Clare Watson. Set Designer: Andrew Bailey. Lighting Designer: Richard Vabre. 5 February - 19 March, 2016

In The Guardian in September 2014, playwright Duncan Macmillan is quoted thus: ‘There’s nothing I can do in my life to compensate for the fact that the world would be better without me in it’. Perhaps never before in the history of this planet has the anxiety level regarding our negative environmental impact been so acute.

Luisa Miller

By Verdi. Opera Australia. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. February 11 – 29, 2016

History plays strange tricks deeming this 1849 Verdi opera one of his lesser known ones. 

In its first ever production, Opera Australia, in collaboration with Opera de Lausanne, shows Verdi’s musical narrative and characterisations to be rich and stirring, and the five  central singers equally outstanding.

Labels

By Joe Sellman-Leava. Adelaide Fringe / Holden Street Theatres. 9 February -13 March, 2016

Joe Sellman-Leava is important and so is his message. His highly acclaimed one man show is a must for any human-being who is lacking in empathy for our current crisis regarding refugees. He stands before you and tells you his personal story with sincerity and biting honesty that leaves you breathless and at times ashamed to have elected such a bigoted government. Sellman-Leava fits into an hour his life story thus far, by explaining his mixed heritage, the racism he and his family have endured and in doing so teaches us a lesson in humility.

The Pride

By Alexi Kaye Campbell/ Directed by Shane Bosher. Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. February 5 – March 6, 2016

As the lights come up on a house in 1958 London, we see Philip and Oliver in the doorway. They are meeting for the first time – Oliver works with Philip’s wife Sylvia – and there’s a sense of excitement. But it’s tense: the feelings they’re experiencing are forbidden and Philip, at least, must hide them. It’s all clear as they stand awkwardly in the doorway: a powerful first moment in this wonderful production of an award winning play.

Lifeline

By Nat Texler. Directed by Erik Strauts. Adelaide Fringe. The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Thebarton. Feburary 10-14, 2016

Driven to despair by the end of a long term relationship, Guy (James Whitrow) is about to commit suicide when he is interrupted by a phone call from a telemarketer (Wesley Van Gelderen). Over the course of their conversation it emerges that the voice on the other end of the line knows many intimate details of Guy’s personal life, and has concocted a sinister plan to manipulate this desperate and broken man, pushing him to the limits of his moral capability.

West Side Story

Music: Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim. Book: Arthur Laurents. Packemin Productions. Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. February 5 – 20, 2016.

Packemin's production of the Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents classic West Side Story was a strong traditional portrayal of the Romeo and Juliet themed musical.

Inferno - a double bill

Crestfall by Mark O’Rowe, directed by Jayde Kirchert, and Purgatorio by Ariel Dorfman, directed by Celeste Cody. Citizen Theatre. L1/377 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne – between Elizabeth and Queen Streets (enter via Racing Club Lane). 4 to 14 February, 2016.

Masterful theatre; both works in Inferno, Crestfall and Purgatorio, are beautifully and skillfully produced by Citizen Theatre.  These very strong offerings are the culmination of carefully considered work by skilled, hardworking theatre practitioners.  The upshot is very polished theatre of ‘high quality’ on a ‘shoe string’.

For the audience the atmosphere created is welcoming and comfortable.

However the material is rich and confronting:

Doctor In The House

Directed by Dr. Ahmed Kazmi. FringeWorld. The Moon, Northbridge, WA. Feb 5-9, 2015

Doctor in the House, which has just finished its FringeWorld season in Perth, started a little late, which given that this show is about life as a General Practitioner, is perhaps unsurprising.

Billed as a comedy, it might better be described as a cabaret, but as we are told, they don't sell as well as Comedy, and our performer Dr. Ahmed Kazmi is determined to raise as much money as possible for the Cancer Council.

ALPHA

By Sebastian Robinson and Tamara Natt. The Old Fitz Theatre (NSW). February 9-20, 2016.

Following a sellout season at Melbourne’s La Mama Theatre as a part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, Red Line Productions have brought ALPHA to The Old Fitz. ALPHA is a new Australian work created and performed by Sebastian Robinson and Tamara Natt, with Robinson in the seat as director.

Inside We Hide

Directed by Scott Corbett. The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, Fringe World, WA. Feb 9 - 13, 2015

Those familiar with The Blue Room Theatre will know that audience members (usually) need to walk completely across the stage to reach the seating area. As you enter for Inside We Hide, you need to be careful not only not to trip over potatoes on the floor, but to avoid treading on actors as well.

Ann-Marie Biagioni has created an intriguing thriller, where three people are being held prisoner in an unknown place, while someone of importance to them is being tortured on the outside. To add to the confusion, their captor appears to be a little girl.

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