Reviews

Creditors

By August Strindberg - a New Version by Duncan Graham. State Theatre Company SA. Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre. July 20 - August 5, 2018

Duncan Graham had studied 19th century playwright August Strindberg’s works but had no knowledge of his play Creditors until he saw a production of it in London ten years ago.  He was so impacted by the psychological thriller he immediately began adapting the work towards producing it in Australia. The result is the tense, thrillingly surreal and frequently very funny State Theatre Company of South Australia production now being staged at Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre.

Around the World in 80 Days

Adapted from Jules Verne’s book by Toby Hulse. Hit Productions and Ellis Productions. Directed by Terence O’Connell. HOTA Gold Coast, July 20, 2018 and touring Qld.

It’s 145 years since Jules Verne wrote about Phileas Fogg and his adventures and he couldn’t possibly have imagined that it would be become 2 major movies, a TV mini-series (he probably couldn’t have imagined movies or television!) as well as several stage productions.

The plot hinges on Fogg making a bet at his club that he can travel around the world in eighty days – but is he in fact a fugitive trying to get away from the indefatigable Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Fix?

A Little Princess

Books and Lyrics by Brian Cawley. Music by Andrew Lippa. Beenleigh Theatre Group Inc. Directed by Lyn Pelgrave. Crete Street Theatre, 6th -14th July 2018

The first thing that struck us about A Little Princess was the amount of work that had gone into the production. This was especially true for the show’s director. Lyn Pelgrave must’ve been very talented at multi-tasking.

There were so many young people – some clearly primary school aged – in the cast of 27. Many had multiple characters to play. Anyone who has had any experience in such productions would know the hectic backstage costume changes that would have been occurring behind the scenes.

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.

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