Reviews

A Body at Work

Written & performed by Frankie van Kan. Direction & dramaturgy Maude Davey. Midsumma Festival. La Mama HQ, Faraday Street, Carlton. 27 January – 4 February 2024

This body at work belongs to Frankie van Kan: among other things, a dancer (table, lap, pole), stripper, sex-worker, and masseuse.  All work that needs and uses her body.  To demystify that body, Frankie begins her show by stripping off a tracksuit, down to nothing but a bra and G-string.  Then, to get any prurience, titillation, ‘mystery’ and even eroticism out of the way, the G-string comes off too and Frankie openly displays her pudenda (‘labia’ as she puts it – or sometimes ‘puss’) in a variety of faux provocative poses f

She Doesn’t Even Go Here

By Hell in Heels.Directed by 6inchminx. Planet Royale Theatre, Northbridge, WA. Jan 25-28, 2024

As the Mean Girls regeneration plays in cinemas, neo-burlesque group Hell in Heels takes enthusiastic audiences back to Northshore High School, as all your favourite characters are brought to life in a burlesque smorgasbord.

The Inheritance (Parts I & II)

By Matthew López. Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne. 17 January – 11 February 2024

The Inheritance is many things.  It chronicles the fraught relationships – sexual and otherwise, tender, cruel, obsessive, bewildering, giving and selfish, destructive and self-destructive – of a group of characters across a vast span of time.  It is vast because it drags the key characters’ pasts into the present, and the past and their pasts are vitally important elements of the story.  It is also funny with sharp and snappy one-liners and bitchy gay humour.  It is, if you wished to be reductive, an engrossing, sprawling soap opera about gay

Crush

Written and directed by Benjamin Quirk. Kaos Room, The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, WA. Jan 24-27, 2024

Benjamin Quirk’s solo show Crush is playing for a very short season in The Blue Room’s intimate Kaos Room - the perfect venue for this quirky (sorry), cosy and very funny little show.

Audience members find themselves in Crush Group Therapy, and in this space, Benjamin, a very likeable, personable, and charming performer takes us through the highs and lows of having a crush. Self-deprecating, honest and at times bitter-sweet, this is a 40-minute journey that has its audience rapt - with many in tears from laughing.

Strictly Ballroom - The Musical

Book by Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce. Original songs: Eddie Perfect and other collaborators. Footlight Productions Vic. Producers: Margaret & Peter Wills. Director: Alister Smith. Vocal & Musical Director: Phil Kearney. Choreographer: Ashley Boyd. The Story House, Geelong Arts Centre. January 19 - February 3, 2024.

As the first instalment of Baz Luhrmann's 'Red Curtain Trilogy' (alongside Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!) the 1992 movie Strictly Ballroom (earning over $80 million worldwide) has become one of Australia's most successful and loved film musicals. All of Luhrmann's projects (including Australia, Gatsby, Elvis & La Boheme for Opera Australia) are synonymous for their unique storytelling style and extravagant visuals.

Skid & SAABA

GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, Sydney Festival. Roslyn Packer Theatre. January 23 – 28, 2024

Dancers have flocked to Sweden from more than 20 countries to work with its contemporary dance company in Gothenburg. For the Sydney Festival they’re bringing two super-stylish, hypnotic and slightly chilling works, which are now signatures for Goteborgsoperans.

40+ Fabulous

Written and directed by Emma Krause. Fringe World. Ivy and Jack, Hay St, Perth WA. 19 Jan - 17 Feb, 2024

40+ Fabulous is a solo comedy show presented by Emma Krause. Possibly best known as Sue Finley from the AusLotto ad series (which also star her dog Molly), the schoolteacher and Mum was also a finalist on Australia’s Got Talent. Playing at a variety of venues throughout Perth during FringeWorld, the Monday night performance that I saw was completely sold out.

Filter Fun Park

By Amy Fortnum with music by Ashlee Clapp. Bright Side Productions / Fringe World. Directed by Any Fortnum. Amphitheatre, Yagan Square Perth, WA. Jan 21-27, 2024

Filter Fun Park is a fun, educational musical for kids that teaches the importance of healthy eating and making good, balanced food choices. Performed by Bright Side Productions from a commission by Filter Your Future, this allegorical tale is performed out of doors, allowing families to bring a picnic and relax.

Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence

By Courtney McManus, Bec Price and Ana Ferreira Manhoso. Crash Theatre. FringeWorld. Directed by Bec Price. Fantasia at Perth Town Hall, WA. Jan 19-28, 2024

Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence may well be the best piece of theatre about girls in sport since Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves. Based on the Scottish play, the machinations, quest for power and underhand dealings now take place within a Year Eleven netball team. Clever writing and some outstanding musical theatre performances make this an excellent FringeWorld choice.

Yé-yé Yeah!

Written and Directed by Sylvia Cornes. FringeWorld. The Ellington Jazz Club, Northbridge, WA Jan 20-24, 2024

Yé-yé Yeah!  is a cabaret tribute to the Yé-Yé movement that peaked in France during the 1960s. Written and lead by Sylvia Cornes, it is a “kind of” sequel to her previous show Francois and Friends, but this production features even more performers and a broader look at the musical style.

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