Reviews

“Queen of the New Burlesque” Dita Von Teese graced the Festival Theatre stage to rapturous applause in her show Strip Strip Hooray! It soon became apparent why this forty-something temptress has become an icon in this genre in recent years.

New York comedian and host extraordinaire Murray Hill was a vibrant and hilarious emcee for the evening. Facilitating as much sexual innuendo and audience participation as possible, he kept everyone engaged between acts. He was pure show business.

The promise of an evening spent with interpretations of the work of two of the greatest and most distinctive of modern songwriters was more than enough of an attraction to a reviewer who was unfamiliar with the interpreter herself. Fortunately, Barb Jungr does not disappoint. Her stated aim is to present ‘P’ songs: philosophical and political – but she does so with an impish persona that is delightful.

This reviewer considers himself a long-time Tripod enthusiast, but has also been a long-time non-gamer since about the age of 12 when the family Amiga 500 computer console both broke down and was rendered obsolete (whichever came first). The Tripod fan elected to see this new show, in the hope that it could deliver engaging entertainment and hilarious humour for someone who does not currently lead a gaming life.

Having partially recast the show and returned to Sydney to a bigger stage and audience, I’m thrilled to see that Heathers: The Musicalis still as slick and entertaining as ever.  Production specifics aside, it’s hard for a show like this to flop with thanks to the gritty, intelligent writing of Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphey, favourites in the contemporary musical theatre sphere, and the same guys who brought us the smash hit Legally Blonde The Musical.