Reviews

Nunsense

Book, Music and Lyrics by Dan Goggin. Wyong Drama Group. The Art House Wyong. July 20-28, 2018

It's a bit of an in-joke on the Central Coast that most of their highly regarded theatre companies encounter an occasional identity crisis. Gosford Musical Society was around for forty years before Laycock Street Community Theatre was opened – but the local patrons instantly started referring to GMS shows as “Laycock Street Shows”. Conversely, when The Peninsula Theatre opened in Woy Woy a decade or so later – everyone eschewed that name entirely in favour of the name of area's resident theatre company: “Woy Woy Little Theatre”.

Bondi Feast

Fringe Festival. Bondi Pavilion. Until July 28, 2018.

Now in its sixth year, this festival of independent theatre is in full swing with lots of tasty treats on offer. Waverley Council has brought together many of the freshest acts from fringe festivals around Australia and this year even includes some Bondi locals.

The well past its use by date drab entrance to the Bondi Pavilion has been given a large splash of colour, amplified by the acts on offer. I sampled three on one night.

Dancing on the Volcano

A biting satirical journey through Berlin cabaret of the 20s and 30s. By Robyn Archer, with Michael Morley – Piano and George Butrumlis – Accordion. Fairfax Studio – Arts Centre Melbourne. July 9-11, 2018

This show is a true delight, moving its audience from laughter to tears.  Robyn Archer’s extraordinary capacity to engage with some of the darkest aspects of human nature, and then rise above them, whilst ushering her audience on a deeply entertaining expedition to source rare gems of perception, is nothing short of an exceptional gift. 

Crazy Brave

By Michael Gurr. La Mama – Courthouse Theatre. 4 – 15 July 2018

Opening night of Crazy Brave felt like an homage to the very perceptive, insightful and unique individual that was Michael Gurr.   Many people were deeply saddened and disturbed by his demise at fifty-five and I am guessing, like me, are moved to better understand him.  So this production is timely.

Prehistoric

By Marcel Dorney. Elbow Room. Meat Market Studios, North Melbourne. July 20 – 27, 2018

Prehistoric is a landmark show; a fierce punk-driven piece of theatre, set in Brisbane and looking back in time during Premier Joh Bjelke Petersen’s reign of brutal law enforcement, across the state of Queensland.

An Elbow Room production, written and directed by Marcel Dorney, Prehistoric is back for another season before heading off to Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. It was a Green Room Award winner for writing and new production in 2015, after its debut in Brisbane the previous year.

Carmen

By Bizet. West Australian Opera. Directed by Lindy Hume. His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth. 21-28 July, 2018

This production of Carmen was created 26 years ago in Perth by director Lindy Hume and designer and Dan Potra. Having played many times throughout Australia and New Zealand during the intervening years, this show, sometimes described as “the feminist Carmen”, remains young, vibrant and exciting.

The Lion in Winter

By James Goldman. Ipswich Little Theatre. Director: David Austin. Incinerator Theatre, Ipswich. 12-28 July 2018

We all love characters to hate and there’s no shortage of them in James Goldman’s 1966 dysfunctional-family historical drama The Lion in Winter. Set in France at Christmas 1183, it sets up a battle for the English throne between the ruling monarch Henry ll, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his three sons, Richard, Geoffrey, and John. When the play was written in 1966 it was criticized for its anachronistic dialogue, but in the era of Games of the Thrones it almost seems contemporary.

Polygraph

An OpticNerve production presented with the support of Theatre Works. Director: Tanya Gerstle. Actors: Grant Cartwright, Emily Thomas & Lachlan Woods. Writers: Robert Lepage & Marie Brassard. Producer: Loraine Little. Theatre Works, Acland Street, St Kilda VIC. 18-29 July 2018

Three characters connected by chance to a murder – in a play in which the murder itself is a McGuffin, a device to question the subjective nature of truth and all the forces that distort our sense of it.

Melancholia

By Lars von Trier, adapted for the stage by Declan Green. Direction – Matthew Lutton. Malthouse Theatre, The Merlyn. 13 July to 12 August 2018

Here is a production that starts with terrific aesthetic beauty and with a lovely energy from its performers.  Superbly realized and splendidly cast  - Melancholia is a feast for the senses.

Julius Caesar

By William Shakespeare. Bell Shakespeare. Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio. 18 – 28 July 2018 – and touring.

The virtue of this pared back, ‘poor theatre’ production of Julius Caesar is its simplicity – and therefore its clarity.  The cast is young – or seems young – and they wear what look like op-shop clothes – that is, an everyday hotchpotch of contemporary no style. 

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