Reviews

The Rugged Cross

By Noel O’Neill. Directed by Noel O’Neil. The Townshend Theatre, Irish Club of WA, Subiaco, WA. April 11-20, 2024

Writer/director Noel O’Neill is best known for his slice-of-life domestic comedies, but his latest play, The Rugged Cross, is a highly dramatic work that may well be his best yet.

Set in a seaside Irish pub during Holy Week, the locals talk of a mysterious man who is stirring up trouble and which their organisation must stop. With strong parallels to the Easter story, this modern-day parable is moving, heartfelt and superbly acted.

Disenchanted

By Dennis T. Giacino. Art in Motion Theatre. Directed by Lys Tickmer. City of Gosnells, Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Thornlie, WA. April 12-20, 2024

Art in Motion Theatre presented this “New Musical Comedy” which has a cabaret feel, to healthy, appreciative audience. Featuring an all-female, diverse cast, this show parodies the Disney Princess tropes as the princesses reveal what they really think.

The President

By Thomas Bernhard. Translated by Gitta Honegger. Sydney Theatre Company and Gate Theatre Production. Roslyn Packer Theatre. Apr 13 – May 18, 2024

Onto the stage walked Mrs Frolick (Julie Forsyth), the servant of the President and the First Lady, meticulously preparing the military uniform of the glorious leader, who  laughs and coughs ominously offstage in a bathtub.

In a stark and shiny room, the first couple were preparing to attend the funeral of the Colonel, who was freshly assassinated by an anarchist, who narrowly missed knocking off the leader of this unnamed country.

Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story

Film premieres on SBS and SBS on Demand on June 24, 2024

Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story is a documentary based on Oleg Vidov’s life as a Russian actor who escaped at age 42 to America. The documentary documents his rise to fame, his catastrophic marriage into the inner circles of the Brezhnev family, and his heroic escape by illegally escaping Russia.

After escaping, he met Joan Borsten, an Italian journalist, and they became friends—soon after, a couple. They became husband and wife several years later while living in America.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By William Shakespeare. Bell Shakespeare. Directed by Peter Evans. Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA. April 16-20, 2024

Bell Shakespeare dropped into Perth for a short season as part of the National Tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A clever, exceptionally sleek and dark production, it is well worth catching as the tour progresses.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Book: David Greig. Music: Marc Shaiman. Lyrics: Scott Wittman, Marc Shaiman. Camden Musical Society. Co-Directors: Sophie Cornett and Isobel Holland. Musical Director: Ian Buchanan. Choreographers: Bianca Annetts and Sydney Madsen. Camden Civic Centre, NSW. April 19 – 28, 2024

A delightful production awaits you at Camden Civic Centre with Camden Musical Society's latest production which is, pun fully intended: sweet.

While the social media world is still reeling and mining memes from the recent Wonka disaster in Glasgow (google "Wonka Tour Epic Fail"), along comes this production to wipe away that nightmare and restore our faith in the arts. And chocolate. 

Berlin

By Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by Natasha Boyd. Heidelberg Theatre Company, 36 Turnham Ave, Rosanna, Melbourne.19 April - 4 May 2024.

In this text Joanna Murray-Smith weaves serious historical questions with conventional and unconventional notions of love and romance. It appears a tall feat, but this is achieved via an acute observation of the changing nature of intimacy and the way that emotional or psychological baggage can impact this. In doing so Murray-Smith raises some large moral questions that in the current geo-political climate render the play very poignant. 

Brodi Snook – Villain

Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The Greek – Level 1. April 16 – 21, 2024

The thirty something Brodi Snook is a full bag of sardonic wit and cheeky humour; she shifts and shapes a clever narrative around her anxieties while her villainous sub- conscious pulsates between visits to her therapist. Beginning her funny hour with talk of a “shaved pussy”, requesting audiences to show hands for or against, all who were a little reticent to reveal their preference laughed at her brazen feminist humour, while she admonished men and submissive women.

No Pay? No Way!

By Dario Fo and Franca Rame. Adapted by Marieke Hardy. Sydney Theatre Company. Directed by Sarah Giles. Sydney Opera House, Drama Theatre. April 6 – May 11, 2024

We’ve had the Eureka Stockade and that Fascist kerfuffle at the opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge but Australians aren’t really into revolutions.  But what would you do if rents, rates, energy bills and supermarket prices just never stopped leaping upwards?

‘Allo ‘Allo

By Jeremy Lloyd. Esperance Theatre Guild. Directed by Mak Bailye. The Bijou Theatre, Esperance. April 12-27, 2024

I recently had the opportunity to travel a little outside my usual reviewing circuit, to see Esperance Theatre Guild’s warm, well-presented production of ‘Allo ‘Allo, well known from the classic TV series.

The theatre venue is an experience itself. Beautifully appointed inside, with up-to-date facilities, The Bijou Theatre, is the oldest purpose-built theatre still operating in Western Australia and the third oldest nationally. It is picturesque and attractive and filled with friendly and attentive front of house staff and an eager audience.

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