Reviews

The Sound of Music

By Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Willoughby Theatre Company. Director: Adam Haynes. The Concourse, Chatswood. 12 – 27 May, 2023

What a triumph for Willoughby Theatre Company! The Von Trapp family has made its jubilant, musical way to Chatswood and the Concourse is alive with The Sound of Music. Heralded by a magnificent choir of fourteen nuns, they take the audience back in time to 1938 as the Third Reich invades Austria, and those who resist are swept away – unless, like the von Trapps, they have the courage to escape.

I’m Sorry, The Bridge Is Out. You’ll Have to Spend the Night

By Sheldon Allman and Bob Pickett. Murray Music and Drama Club. Directed by Carole Dhu. Pinjarra Civic Centre, WA. May 5-20, 2023

If the lengthy title of this musical conjures memories of B Grade horror films and rather tropey little plays, you already have the gist of this colourful little satire. Full of all your favourite stock characters from clean cut young couple, through to mad doctor, hunchbacked assistant, a vampire, werewolf, and mummy, this is a show that doesn’t take itself very seriously and is intended just to be pure fun for cast and audience alike.

Assassins

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by John Weidman. Lane Cove Theatre Company. The Performance Space @ St Aidan’s, Longuevile, NSW. May 12 – 28, 2023

Assassins is easily one of the most controversial musicals ever written and the Lane Cove Theatre Company have not shied away from the challenge of presenting it.  With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by John Weidman this show received very mixed reviews in the 1990s before eventually winning five Tony Awards when it was produced on Broadway in 2004.  Some find this musical disturbing and unsettling for good reason.  The benefit for Australian audiences at least is the comfort of knowing that our countrymen aren’t as obsessed with weapons as our

Don Quixote, A Musical Quest

Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO). Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brisbane. 13 May 2023

Portentously engraved on QSO Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici’s baton is a quote from the great Spanish saga Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. And the Maestro’s baton worked its magic in this ‘musical quest’ program, leading the audience on a joyous journey through creative highlights spanning the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, thanks to the works of Mozart and Strauss, with a little inspiration from Don Quixote, himself. But before we meet that famous jouster of windmills, there was a musical treat courtesy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Five Women Wearing The Same Dress

By Alan Ball. Directed Jason Nash. New Farm Nash Theatre. May 12 to June 3, 2023

This play is like a time capsule of the 1990’s, a time of vastly changing attitudes to so many things such as relationships. It shows us how the women of the period adapt to the changes both in attitudes and the language that is so much more open.  These five women were all bridesmaids to a bride they don’t particularly like and spend the wedding day hiding out in the bedroom of the bride’s sister. This is when the audience learns so much about each of the women – and it was not all good even if very entertaining.

Puffs

By Matt Cox. Echo Youth, directed by Jordan Best. The Q, Queanbeyan. 11–20 May 2023.

 

Loaded

By Christos Tsiolkas, adapted for the stage by Christos Tsiolkas and Don Giovannoni. Malthouse Theatre. May 5 – Jun 3, 2023.

The theatre show, Loaded, based on the iconic book of the 90s by Christos Tsiolkas of the same name, which was then turned into the epic film Head On, directed by Anna Kokkinos and starring Alex Dimitriades, is currently playing at The Malthouse. Directed by acclaimed director Stephen Nicolazzo (Looking for Alibrandi), and adapted for the stage by Christos Tsiolkas and Don Giovannoni, this solo show is played by Danny Ball.

Quiz

By James Graham. Directed by Vanessa Jenson. Melville Theatre, Stock Rd, Palmyra WA. May 12-27, 2023

Quiz is scheduled to be the last ever Melville Theatre Company production at their traditional home, also known as the Roy Edinger Theatre, and it is fitting that they depart with a show directed by perhaps their most lauded director, Vanessa Jensen and with the strong product that is Quiz. 

Legally Blonde

Music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. Book by Heather Hach. Murray Bridge Players and Singers. Murray Bridge Town Hall, Murray Bridge. May 12 – 27, 2023

The Murray Bridge Town Hall has been transformed into a plethora of pink love for their latest production, Legally Blonde. It is a very welcoming venue and I instantly felt at home and ready to share Elle Wood’s adventures.

My Brilliant Career

By Miles Franklin, adapted by Christine Davey. Directed by Jane Sherwood. Garrick Theatre, Meadow St Guildford, WA. May 4-20, 2023

My Brilliant Career, director Jane Sherwood’s first show at Garrick, is an unusual and stylised presentation of the classic Australian novel, with narration by a Greek style chorus, led by a character representing the author Stella (Miles Franklin).

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