Reviews

Because the Night

By Matthew Luton, Kamarra Bell-Wykes & Ra Chapman. Malthouse Theatre. From 23 March 2021 and ongoing

Because the Night takes the story of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, removes all Shakespeare’s language, tweaks the story here and there, reduces the cast to six, changes a gender, relocates it to a 1980s timber town called ‘Elsinore’ where the timber workers and the very forest itself resist the old regime, and, boldest step of all, locates the production in an enclosed thirty-three room set through which the audience wanders at will, witnessing (but sometimes missing) the key confrontations of the drama.

The Gruffalo's Child

CDP Theatre Producers present Tall Stories' musical adaptation of The Gruffalo's Child. Adapted from the award winning picture-book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, published by Macmillan Children's Books. Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne. April 10 - 17, 2021.

Original Director: Olivia Jacobs. Creative Producer: Toby Mitchell. Associate Director Australia/New Zealand: Liesel Badorrek. Designer: Isla Shaw. Lighting Designer: James Whiteside. Puppet Designer: Yvonne Stone. Choreographer: Luanna Priestman. Music and Lyrics: Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw. Additional Lyrics: Olivia Jacobs and Robin Price. Music Production: Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw for Jollygoodtunes.

The Little Mermaid

Victorian State Ballet. The Concourse, Chatswood. April 10-12, 2021

The ballet of The Little Mermaid was adapted by Martin Sierra from the original story by Hans Christian Anderson. Sierra chose music from a range of composers including Johann Sebastian Strauss, Franz Lehar, Dimitri Shostakovich, Gioachino Rossini, Brian Crain, Aram Khachaturian and Camille Saint-Saëns to re-tell this tale as a full-length classical ballet.

Charlotte’s Web

By Joseph Robinette, adapted and based on the novel by E. B. White. Hobart Repertory Theatre Society. Directed by Anne Blythe-Cooper. Playhouse Theatre, April 9-24, 2021

After a forced cancellation last year due to the COVID lockdown, Charlotte’s Web was the “we’re back” introduction to the 2021 theatre year for Hobart Repertory Theatre Society.

Charlotte’s Web, the play, is based on the favourite children’s book of the same name by E.B. White, about a runt pig rescued by a little girl, then saved from the butcher’s block by a loving and literate spider. Joseph Robinette’s stage adaption was faithful to the book’s themes.

La Clemenza di Tito.

By Mozart. National Opera Directed by Peter Coleman-Wright AO. Llewellyn Hall, Canberra. 10–17 April 2021.

 

Home, I’m Darling

By Laura Wade. Sydney Theatre Company. Drama Theatre Sydney Opera House. April 6 – May 15, 2021

Oh, how they love building a spiffing set at the Sydney Theatre Company. So, imagine the disappointment when the company’s stunning replica of a 1950’s flat in London was forced by the pandemic into storage last year, just weeks before the scheduled opening.

Monty Python’s Spamalot

Book and Lyrics by Eric Idle. Music by John Perez and Eric Idle. Primadonna Productions. Directed by Carole Dhu. Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, WA. Apr 9-11, 2021

Primadonna Productions’ Spamalot played to a healthy and very enthusiastic crowd in the large theatre at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre - although it was a shame that on the first day of 100% capacity in WA, they could not fill this beautiful venue - as this warm, well performed, feel-good production deserved capacity crowds.

Still very funny, a decade after Carole Dhu first directed this show, the latest production features some new elements, including Eric Idle now appearing live (ish) via video, and the use of some great projections by Siàn Dhu. 

Ave

Australian Vocal Ensemble. Conservatorium Theatre, Brisbane. 10 April 2021

Katie Noonan had a dream, well several dreams actually, and this one came true - a quartet of singers performing a capella a collection of songs, old and new. Launched at the Conservatorium Theatre last night, a large and supportive audience saw Noonan’s dream blossom.

Enigma – A Musical Tour De Force

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, BWV546/Poulenc: Concerto in G minor for Organ, Timpani and Strings/Elgar: Enigma Variations. Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Johannes Fritzsch. Soloist: Joseph Nolan, Organ. Concert Hall, QPAC. 9-10 April 2021

Enigma – a musical tour de force was an outstanding concert by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, led by Johannes Fritzsch, which showcased the talent of acclaimed organ soloist Joseph Nolan. Playing the magnificent Klais Grand Organ, the brilliant Nolan participated in all three pieces on offer but it was his work in Poulenc’s Concerto in G minor for Organ, Timpani and Strings that dazzled.

Mamma Mia!

Music and Lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Book by Catherine Johnson. Northern Light Theatre Company (SA). Shedley Theatre. April 9- May 1, 2021

In Post COVID Adelaide, where life and theatre are beginning to emerge from their cocoon, Mamma Mia!, by Northern Light Theatre Company, is just the tonic! This reviewer has seen the professional versions of this show, in London, Sydney and Adelaide, and went on opening night to the Shedley, expecting a ‘nice night out’, but also cynically, not much more. How wrong I was!

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