Reviews

Angélique Kidjo

Adelaide Festival. The Festival Theatre, Adelaide. Tuesday 12 March 2024

Five-time Grammy Award winner and named in The Guardian’s top 100 most inspiring women in 2011, Angélique Kidjo returned to Adelaide for both WOMADelaide (replacing UK artist Nitin Sawhney after a medical emergency) and a one night only performance at the Festival Theatre. The acclaimed Beninese-French singer, songwriter, and renowned activist is celebrating her 40th year on the world stage and showcasing her most recent album Mother Nature

Spies Are Forever

Book by Corey Lubowich, Joey Richter, and Brian Rosenthal. By Special Arrangement with Tin Can Bros – www.tincanbros.com. North Shore Theatre Company. Music and Lyrics by Clark Baxtresser and Pierce Siebers. Directed by Matthew Dorahy. Zenith Theatre, Chatswood. 8-16 March 2024

A wise man once said ‘youth is wasted on the young’ however, if he had seen the opening night performance of Spies are Forever, I’m sure he would agree with me – the young are best to handle youthful enthusiasm, youthful confidence and have a great time doing it!

Before an enthusiastic and very supportive audience this cast of bright young things threw themselves into every aspect of the production and held it together despite technical difficulties, miscues, costume malfunctions and prop failures.

Qui a tué mon père

Adelaide Festival. Dunstan Playhouse. March 8-10, 2024

As the audience files into the Dunstan Playhouse, we find writer and philosopher Édouard Louis seated at a desk, typing on a laptop. The cyclorama behind him produced by Sébastien Dupouey and Marie Sanchez, transforms into a never-ending road, subtly lit, indicating that we are on a journey - initially, a clouded and foggy one, which eventually clears as the turmoil of this talented performer come to a crescendo.

Exit Laughing

By Paul Elliott. Directed by Dale James. Old Mill Theatre, South Perth, WA. Feb 23 - Mar 9, 2024

I was lucky enough catch the final performance of Old Mill Theatre’s Exit Laughing. This bitter-sweet comedy centres around three long-term friends who’s weekly bridge game has been a habit for years. The evening after the fourth players’ funeral, they meet yet again for a final game.

Chess

By Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice. Encore Theatre Company. Denise Sam (Director). Denise Sam and Michael Stocks (Musical Directors). Darryl Rogers (Set Designer). Jason Bovaird (Lighting Design). Dwayne Parish (IT and AV). Anthony Phillips (Costume Design). Trista Little (Choreography). The Princess Theatre Launceston. 8-23 March 2024

Chess, the musical, was first performed in 1986, three years before the fall of the Berlin wall. It is nearly 40 years old and yet the eclectic music and story of political machinations retains relevance. Two superpowers contest world domination in a game. Antagonists are the unstable Freddie Trump (-er) and slightly more sympathetic Russian, Sergievsky. Sergievsky’s paean to Russia’s eternal heart connects individuals to nations in the lyric “Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart”.

The 39 Steps

Adapted by Patrick Barlow from an original concept by Simon Corble & Nobby Dimon, from the novel by John Buchan and the Alfred Hitchcock movie (written by Charles Bennett). Hearth Theatre by arrangement with Fiery Angel Ltd. Chapel off Chapel. 8 – 17 March 2024

There is nothing profound, meaningful, significant, ‘woke’ or relevant going on here.  Instead, we get a couple of hours of sheer entertainment, of hilarious fun, of amazement at the endless inventions and transformations, and at knowing, witty commentary on the conventions and cliches of the story itself.  All created for us by just four skilled and apparently inexhaustible actors. 

Boeing Boeing

By Marc Camoletti, Hunters Hill Theatre. Director: Chrissie McIntyre. Club Ryde. 8-24 March, 2024

Boeing Boeing has a long history! It was a hit in its native France in 1960. The English adaptation opened in London in 1962 and ran for seven years! And despite some misgivings concerning inferences about American society, the 1965 movie starring Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis did well overseas. By 1991 the play was listed in the Guinness Book of records as the most performed French play in the world. Multiple revivals over the past 20 years have also done well, some winning awards.

Towards Zero

By Agatha Christie and Gerald Verner, St Luke’s Theatre Society. Christ Church Hall, Yeronga, Brisbane. 8 to 23 March 2024

Based on her novel of the same name, Towards Zero was dramatised in 1956 by Agatha Christie and playwright and thriller writer, Gerald Verner. There’s much enjoyment to be found in this familiar genre – and who better than Agatha when it comes to a good whodunnit? With St Luke’s Theatre Society cast of characters, under the astute guidance of experienced director, Sharon White, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the proceedings.

Superstars

A Musical Celebration of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice Live In Concert. The Very Popular Theatre Company. Directed by Erin James. Musical Direction from Dan Wilson. Newcastle Civic Theatre. March 8 – 10, 2024.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice famously composed the music and wrote the lyrics to their early blockbusters Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and Evita before forging incredible careers separately.

In the beautiful Civic Theatre, 100 members of a community choir, an orchestra of more than 30, local performers and dancers joined professionals Marina Prior, Silvie Paladino, Chloé Zuel and Joshua Robson to pay homage to the duo.

Dubious Intent

Presented by Lonely Heart Theatre Company and The Garage International. Adelaide Fringe: The Garage International @ Adelaide Town Hall. 9-11 March 2024

‘In order to write about life first you must live it,’ said Ernest Hemingway, and it’s an oft-quoted line between Mike and Jesse. The two students meet regularly in the library, to write together, to talk about their dream of how and where they would be successful writers. They have built a friendship where their future appears inextricably linked, but in reality, there are more than just these two in their world.

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