Reviews

Using a minimalist set, clever lighting by Michael Arnott, and impeccable staging, this dramatic courtroom thriller has been brought to life in a gripping production directed by Paul Winchester and Blair Cutting. A Few Good Men tells the story of a Marine’s death at Guantanamo Bay and the subsequent trial, unfolding at a cracking pace while wrapping the audience in a blanket of nostalgia and memory. This version is a delight, proving that theatre can make old stories feel fresh and urgent.

IT IS wild, wacky and still wonderful even after all these years.  And for anyone who was around - like I was – in 1975 when the film came out and became something of an outrageous and outlandish cult, it was a trip down memory lane.

It has taken an awfully long time for this show to be made available on the non-professional circuit, and Townsville’s NQOMT snapped up the opportunity as soon as it was. This production was certainly well worth the wait.

What Songs May Do is an artistic triumph for two male dancers over sixty minutes to the music of the legendary Nina Simone.

Meticulously choreographed by Mathieu Geffré and sensitively lit by Rachel Shipp, it is an exploration of the meeting, courting, development, and eventual breakup of a relationship between two dancers, Oliver Chapman and Paolo Pisarra.

Is this a play by a poet or is it a staged poem by a playwright? Melbourne-based writer Emilie Collyer presents evidence from both sides in this intriguing piece brought to life with great force by a lively 5-woman company under Kirsty Semaan’s watchful direction. By the end, I’d say it’s a two-way bet between poem and play.

As they gather for a practice session (or possibly a match) on an indoor netball court, the five dispirit members of our team exchange greetings and chatter. The Goal Attack (Willa King) is in charge, pushing the others into formation.