Reviews

A Christmas Carol

By Charles Dickens, adapted by David Edgar. Harbour Theatre. Camelot Theatre, Mosman Park, WA. Directed by Ann Speicher and SJ Christiner. Nov 25 - Dec 11, 2022

Harbour Theatre are rounding of the year with this heart-warming new adaptation of A Christmas Carol, a large cast play that includes some singing and is a faithful and thoughtful adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic.

The Wizard of Oz

By L. Frank Baum, with Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. Background Music by Herbert Stothart. Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros. Beenleigh Theatre Group. November 18 – December 3, 2022

The Tin man might not have had a heart but this production certainly does – and plenty of courage to take on such a technically demanding show.

42nd Street

Music by Harry Warren. Lyrics by Al Durbin. Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. Wanneroo Repertory Club. Directed by Drew Anthony. The Limelight Theatre, Wanneroo. WA. Nov 24 - Dec 10, 2022

Perth and Peel are having somewhat of a theme in musicals at the moment, with four shows opening in November that are “musicals about musicals”. Following on the heels of The Drowsy Chaperone, Curtains and [title of show], comes the ultimate backstage musical, 42nd Street, currently enjoying a fully sold-out season at Wanneroo Repertory Club’s Limelight Theatre.

That Was Friday

By Charley Sanders and Eliza Sanders. House of Sand, Directed by Charley Sanders & choreographed by Eliza Sanders. Belconnen Arts Centre, 23–26 November 2022, and touring.


That Was Friday is an unusual production.  At first it appears to be about the relationship between a mother, played by Sara Zwangobani, and her geographically distant adult children — daughter Eliza (Enya Daly), and son, Jack (Lachlan Martin).  Mother and children keep in touch — more or less — via Zoom, sharing something of their rather average lives.


Monsters

By Emme Hoy. Directed by Matthew Lutton. A Malthouse theatre production in association with Stephanie Lake Company. Malthouse Theatre, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank. 24 November - 11 December 2022.

This is a play with incredible mood and atmosphere. Writer Emme Hoy suggests that the pandemic has inspired a great deal of escapist entertainment material to help society work its way through what has become known as “permacrisis” (permanent crisis). This play does quite the opposite and seeks to confront the demons that have generated the variety of social and political ills which have plagued recent times. This is addressed via a story around the rescue of a woman, Claire, who has fallen through a sink hole and is trapped in a terrifying labyrinth-like underworld. 

The Drowsy Chaperone

Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Murray Music and Drama. Directed by Trevor Delaporte. Pinjarra Civic Centre, WA. Nov 11-26, 2022

Murray Music and Drama’s The Drowsy Chaperone, subtitled “a musical within a comedy” is a warm, fun musical that was very much enjoyed by audiences at Pinjarra Civic Centre.

God of Carnage

By Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton. Echo Theatre. Directed by Jordan Best. The Q, Queanbeyan. 24–26 November 2022.

An afternoon conversation between two sets of parents whose sons have had an altercation at school sets out at the height of civility.  Veronica and Michael Vallon (caroly Eccles and Josh Wiseman) are of course concerned that their boy will require dental surgery and a permanent tooth replacement, and Annette and Alan Reille (Lainie Hart and Jim Adamik), whose son is responsible for the dental damage, completely understand their concern.

Carmen on Cockatoo Island

Composed by Georges Bizet. Librettist: Ludovic Halévy. Henri Meilhac. Opera Australia. November 25 – December 18, 2022

Photo above by Hamilton Lund

Opera Australia has reached new heights of artistic excellence with its bold heavy metal interpretation of the classic, which blends a full symphony orchestra sound with a rock music sensibility.

Getting there is an adventure. Audience members catch the ferry from Barangaroo and make their way to the island, where they walk across cracked cement and light gravel strewn paths, through tall metal buildings where ships were built in the last century.

Made to Measure

Graduating Class Showcase. National Institute of Circus Arts. Curators: James Brown, Martine Howard, Benjamin Sheen and Linda Sastradipradja. Artistic Consultants: Katie Cawthorne, Kyall Shanks, Jess Love and Jess McCrindle. 23-26 November, 2022

This Showcase brings together a disparate group of performances to create an entertaining whole by introducing a fashion theme and having Valerie Hex (YUMMY), a well-known and glamorously clad drag artist, be Master of Ceremonies. Valerie introduced the show and provided snippets of engagement and fashion advice to cover equipment changes.

Shakespeare in the Park - The Tempest

By William Shakespeare. Roleystone Theatre. Directed by Paul Treasure. Araluen Botanic Park, Roleystone WA. Nov 12-19, 2022

Roleystone Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park has quickly become established as an integral part of the theatrical calendar, and The Tempest proves a worthy addition to this series. 

Performed in the late afternoon, Araluen’s amphitheatre is a beautiful setting - and a particularly lovely for the island setting of The Tempest. Preshow music and costuming (Penny Ramsell and Jo Padgett) gave us a sixties beach feel (with some oblique references to Gilligan’s Island and perhaps anachronistically to Baywatch).

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