Reviews

Circus 1903

Works Entertainment Group. Canberra Theatre 1–11 December 2016 and touring to Sydney and Melbourne.

Modern circus productions, increasingly resting on an overarching narrative, have been an interesting innovation in indoor theatre, where the seats and atmosphere are usually more comfortable than a tent can provide.  But there’s something to be said for the feel of old-circus, with its simple performances by a circus art’s most spectacular exponents; its unpredictability; the obvious hazards in performance height and the presence of carnivorous animals.  (The danger of falling, though muted by falling mats, is real; in the show’s first two days, two a

The Last Five Years

Written and Composed by Jason Robert Brown. Vic Theatre Company. Directed by Chris Parker fortyfivedownstairs. Nov 25 - Dec 11, 2016.

Sitting in the front row watching Verity Hunt-Ballard (Cathy) and Josh Piterman (Jamie) go hammer and tongs was an electrifying experience.

I felt like, not a member of an audience, but, a voyeur inside their bedroom watching their relationship finish, start then middle.  

The episodes of their relationship drag across each other like tides going in opposite directions on the beach. One is a successful Jewish writer surrounded by temptation, the other a struggling actress.

Matilda – The Musical

Music & Lyrics: Tim Minchin. Book: Dennis Kelly. Director: Matthew Warchus. Musical Director: Peter Rutherford. Choreographer: Peter Darling. RSC & Louise Withers, Michael Coppel & Michael Watt Production. Lyric Theatre, QPAC. From 25 Nov 2016.

Brisbane’s drought has finally broken; after two years of constant revivals we at last have a major new musical to celebrate, and it’s well-worth celebrating.

F.

By Morgan Rose, with the collaboration of director Katrina Cornwell and the performers. Riot Stage. Poppy Seed Theatre Festival. Trades Hall, New Ballroom. 30 November – 11 December 2016.

A show purportedly about teenagers and sex – or how they learn about sex from random sources – that (according to the program notes) ‘springboards from Frank Wedekind’s 1891 classic Spring Awakening’. 

Scrooge the Panto

Darlington Theatre Players. Directed by Amanda Minutello and Sally Ketteringham. Marloo Theatre, Darlington, WA. 18 Nov - 10 Dec 2016

You couldn’t accuse Darlington Theatre Players of being Scrooge-like with their presentation of Scrooge the Panto, with a generous cast of 33, hundreds of lavish costumes and 24 songs, this is a show of abundance - and even includes lollies for the kids.

Koraly: “I say the wrong things all the time”.

Created, written and performed by Koraly Dimitriadis. La Mama Courthouse. Directed by Olga Aristodemou. Sound design by Christian Bianco and Koraly Dimitriadis. Lighting design by Helen Papadomanolakis. Nov 30th to Dec 11th 2016.

La Mama presents Koraly: “I say the wrong things all the time”, a theatre debut for Koraly Dimitriadis, and she is surely bursting with enthusiasm.  Predominantly it’s her story, the daughter of migrants, growing up in a family culture that has strict expectations of how a good Cyprian girls’ life should pan out. But it also speaks of many issues; broken dreams, non-conformity, disengaging from family, sexism and sex.

Cannibal the Musical

By Trey Parker. Briggs & Heaysman Theatre Company. Star Theatres. December 1st – 4th, 2016

As the title would suggest, Cannibal the Musical is full of gory adventures set to the soundtrack of overly happy songs. The contrast makes for a bizarre, yet strangely entertaining piece of theatre. Written by Trey Parker, before finding fame with South Park and Book of Mormon, it follows mountain misfit Alfred Packer as he leads a group into Colorado territory to find gold.

Tribes 2016

Design Centre Enmore, Sydney TAFE. Enmore Theatre. October 12, 2016

Tribes 2016 at the Enmore Theatre, showcased talent from the students from The Design Centre, Enmore. The night was fun, electric and full of energy.

The showcase highlighted the talents of students from the various courses offered by

Entertainment, Design and Illustration (EDI). The students produced a professional, vibrant live production, featuring costumes and work from the Diploma of Illustration creating fairy tale stories using puppetry.

The Gathering

By Will Halligan and Belinda Jenkin.. VIc Theatre Company. fortyfivedownstairs. November 26 - December 11, 2016.

Not being from Melbourne, the first pleasure was discovering this clever venue down all those stairs in the basement of a CBD building.

fortyfivedownstairs is the perfect setting for a (second outing) try out production of this musical, set at a house warming party at a home that is haunted.

The posts holding up the roof looked almost made to measure, even if you had to look around them at times.

Cymbeline

By William Shakespeare. Secret House in association with The Depot Theatre, Marrickville. Oct 1 – 15, 2016.

Secret House’s production of Cymbeline at The Depot Theatre was a vibrant, robust, exciting rendition of Shakespeare’s rarely performed play. Great direction by Sean O’Riorden and brilliant ensemble acting by the cast.

Shakespeare took the title and setting from the British King Cymbeline (Cunobelinus), who reigned until just after the birth of Christ. Shakespeare used some of the characters and ideas from early British history.

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