Reviews

From the initial steps in the late 1960’s to the modern full version, the path of this challenging musical has slowly evolved to what was performed in Redcliffe.  The play is based on the character of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis. His father, Jacob, gives him the multi-coloured coat as a show of affection and this pleases Joseph while it upsets his many brothers and things go badly for him from there. From slavery in Egypt to interpreting the dreams of the Pharaoh, the path of redemption finally leads to his reunion with the coat of many colours.

It’s not new to the Australian Ballet. It’s not even part of the 2024 Season. However, Christopher Wheeldon’s fantastical version of the famous story is truly a ballet spectacular.  Opening night crowds vary these days but on Friday night, the big difference was how many children were in attendance.

This clever play revolves around a dying patriarch and his two daughters as they act out an end of family era drama in an old Queenslander. The plot sounds familiar, but what makes this drama exceptional is that the characters are all so ordinary. There are no arrogant billionaires here, with siblings cowering in the background hoping to claim the prize. Instead, all the characters are normal, recognisable, but flawed and decent at the same time.

Playwright Devon Williamson is based at Detour Theatre in Tauranga, NZ, a coastal town just north of Rotorua.  It is just a hop, skip and a jump to Huonville from there. A season at Detour very much like a season at Huon Valley.

Williamson churns out one play a year. Many have the word “murder” in the title. Typically, they are set in one room, in a limited time frame. The cast is small and the characters wild and wacky but recognisable.

SunLive (The Bay News First) quotes Williamson on Tauranga audiences: