Reviews

Driving Miss Daisy

By Alfred Uhry. Directed by Jon Lambert. Koorliny Arts Centre, Kwinana WA. June 14-22, 2019

In Atlanta in 1948, Daisy Werthan, a 72 year old Jewish widow has a car accident. Her concerned son, Boolie, hires Hoke Colburn, an African American man to be her chauffeur. Initially an awkward and hostile relationship, over many years, the two develop a deep, life changing friendship.

Ruthie Henshall: Live & Intimate

Adelaide Cabaret Festival. An Enda Markey Production. The Famous Spiegeltent. 21/22 June, 2019.

If what you seek from a cabaret performer is personality coupled with versatility, then Ruthie Henshall fits the bill. She can be comical or serious, rousing or understated. Her repertoire includes familiar favourites from the world of musical theatre, as well as hidden gems. The personal anecdotes range from cheeky and light-hearted to piercing and poignant.

In her distinctively throaty vocal delivery, Henshall prefers to dig deep into the substance of a song, rather than floating free into the realm of gratuitous acrobatics.

Megan Hilty In Concert

Camerata – Qld Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Tyack. Concert Hall, QPAC. 20 June 2019

Musical Theatre fans were in seventh heaven last night when QPAC presented Megan Hilty in Concert with a 40-piece band conducted by music-theatre maestro Michael Tyack. On her first visit to Brisbane three-years ago the sassy blonde Broadway star was great performing with a four-piece group, but hearing her with a swinging big-band was so much better.

iOTA – Slap and Tickle

Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Dunstan Playhouse, Festival Centre, Adelaide, June 21 – 22, 2019

Even though Slap the clown declares in his first musical number “I may be gay, but I’m not THAT cabaret”, in iOTA – Slap and Tickle, that’s exactly what he is.

What follows are 60 minutes of humour with just a touch of heartbreak. Set in a world of glitter curtains, a makeup table and a wonderful ten-piece band, Slap the Clown and Tickle the Gimp reveal their somewhat abusive relationship and a collection of outrageous characters created by Slap.

Pride & Prejudice.

Adapted by Kirsty Budding. Based on the Jane Austen novel. Budding Theatre, directed by Kirsty Budding. Belconnen Community Theatre, 18–22 June 2019.

Fans of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice are likely to find Kirsty Budding’s stage adaptation gratifyingly faithful to the novel.  With one or two slips into more modern parlance, it’s a mature adaptation that highlights the novel’s subtle humour without seeking to outshine Austen’s own words.

 

Melbourne Cabaret Festival Opening Gala

Chapel Off Chapel. June 19, 2019

The Melbourne Cabaret Festival is celebrating its tenth year at Chapel Off Chapel.

This year’s Gala host, feisty Festival Ambassador Sally Bourne (accompanied by her partner in crime Drew Downing on piano) commenced proceedings by belting out a joyful rendition of “Big Time” (Peter Gabriel), preceding her boisterous introduction to a selection of many of the wild and wonderful acts participating in this year’s festival.

Spontaneous Broadway

Adelaide Cabaret Festival. The Blue Room. Adelaide Festival Centre. 19-22 June, 2019

Fans of the brilliant, sadly now defunct comedy improv show Thank God You’re Here will love Spontaneous Broadway.  This is the Australian version of the very successful New York Theatresports company production, and is nothing like scripted, performed theatre.

Between Two Shores

Vika and Linda Bull. Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Dunstan Playhouse– Adelaide Festival Centre. June 20 – 22, 2019.

Beginning with a beautiful lilting rendition of the Lord’s Prayer in Tongan followed immediately by a traditional Irish Lullaby, Vika and Linda Bull introduced the audience to their parents and their childhood. Their mother was a powerful singer and the lead soloist in the Tongan Church they attended every Sunday, and their father was an Australian who sang them to sleep every night.

The Torrents

By Oriel Gray. Black Swan State Theatre Company / Sydney Theatre Company. Directed by Clare Watson. Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA, Perth, WA. June 15 - 30, 2019

Opening Night of The Torrents started with an address to the audience from a casually dressed Celia Pacquola, talking briefly about the show, and very naturally sharing a touch of her comic talents. It was a lovely surprise, and a great way to introduce this little known show.

Megan Hilty: Broadway Hits In Concert

Orchestra conducted by Michael Tyack. Sydney Opera House, 17 June 2019

Megan Hilty is pure magic. Magic of the incandescent, amazing, feel-good kind.

Backed by a brilliant 40 piece orchestra led by MD supremo Michael Tyack, Ms Hilty gave a concert that, for the mostly music theatre fans in the audience, dazzled with the "Wow" factor.

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