Reviews

The Confessions of Jeremy Perfect

By Sandy Fairthorne. Directed by Judy Ellis. La Mama Courthouse Theatre Carlton. Feb 28 - March 11, 2018

Most couples, at some point, grapple with the emotionally charged territory of having a baby. It is as universally familiar as it is challenging to any couple whether it is from hormones that race through your body, or disappointment. And it is an area fraught with emotionally charged responses as people grapple with outcomes.

The 39 Steps

Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Queensland Theatre. Directed by Jon Halpin. Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane. February 24-March 28, 2018

The program sounds exhausting - four actors playing 139 roles in an Alfred Hitchcock suspense thriller with a twist.

What is exhausted in this devilishly clever two hour production is every ounce of imaginative stagecraft, every accent known and exaggerated, and every seat in QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre.

Queensland Theatre’s The 39 Steps is sold out, which is frustrating because the moment it finishes, there’s a great urge to get another ticket and see it again.

It is a farce, a murder mystery, a comedy, a romance and riotously good fun.

Shrek The Musical

Based on The Dreamworks Animation Motion picture and book by William Steig. Book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, Music by Jeanine Tesorei. Directed by Suzanne Murphy. Brisbane Arts Theatre Playing February 24 - March 31, 2018

Of all the creatures of myth, legend and even fairy tales, the ogre stands out as the one to be most feared. Shrek is such an ogre. However, as we follow this part of his life we learn about many traits relevant to ourselves – acceptance, trust, love and belief. Thus, Shrek, with the help of good friend Donkey gains so much as he seeks to rescue the princess from the dragon for Lord Farquaad to marry. Of course, he also finds love.

Blue: The Songs of Joni Mitchell

Queenie van de Zandt. The Q, Queanbeyan, 2–3 March, and touring

In Blue: The Songs of Joni Mitchell, Queenie van de Zandt offers a new take on songs from Joni Mitchell’s oeuvre and the role of life events in shaping Mitchell’s lyrics, presenting the latter partly through narration and partly through recordings of — or apparently of — others narrating events in Mitchell’s life, including Mitchell, her mother, and her daughter.

 

The Way Of The World

By William Congreve. Directed by Raymond Omodei. Garrick Theatre, Guildford, WA. Mar 1-18, 2018

William Congreve’s baroque comedy of manners The Way of the World is brought to life in a visual feast at Garrick Theatre under the stewardship of nominally retired professional director Raymond Omodei.

This lavishly costumed production looks amazing, with beautiful 1700s costumes by Marjorie de Caux and gorgeous wigs, supplied by Liddy Reynolds and maintained by Lynda Stubbs. Set and lighting designer Jake Newby’s subtle and muted set with almost skeletal furnishing allows the costuming to shine.

The Ladies Foursome

By Norm Foster. Toowoomba Repertory Theatre. 17 February - 3 March 2018.

Toowoomba Repertory Theatre teed off their 2018 season with The Ladies Foursome, a comedy staged around a friendly game of golf. Three long-term friends (Tate, Margot and Connie), one player short due to the untimely death of their usual fourth (Cathy) are joined by a newcomer (Dory). Each hole on the course is a chance for the group to grapple with the game and parallel revelations about their friendships – especially why Cathy never mentioned Dory over many years of weekly golf meet-ups.

Parting the Red Curtains: A show that takes it up the arts!

Written by Queenie van de Zandt and Peter J. Casey. Directed by Queenie van de Zandt. The Q (Queanbeyan). 28 February – 1 March 2018, and touring

The risqué nature of the show that Queenie van de Zandt’s character the musical therapist Jan van de Stool launches upon her audience may be evident in the production’s sub-title.  Though there’s nothing crude in the humour that van de Stool launches upon her audience, it’s definitely risqué.

 

Hot Sauce Burlesque

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2018. The Rhino Room. Feb 18 - Mar 2, 2018

According to the Oxford dictionary, burlesque is “A variety show, typically including striptease.” However, as I discovered watching Hot Sauce Burlesque, it is so much more!

Yes, the girls do take their clothes off and show us what they can do with their tassels, but it is obvious that there is a real sisterhood between them. When not performing they are sitting at the side of the audience in robes encouraging each other.

Jimeoin: Ridiculous

Adelaide Fringe. Matthew Flinders Theatre, Flinders University. 3rd March 2018

Jimeoin will be well known to most Fringe-goers as that cheeky Irish comedian who’s graced our stand-up comedy stages for over a quarter of a century. Many of us have laughed all the way to middle age with him, but for the younger audience members he’s equally as well-known, but as that funny Irish guy seen on The Project and television comedy galas.

Venus in Fur

By David Ives. Melville Theatre, WA. Directed by Trevor Dhu. Feb 16 - Mar 3, 2018

Melville Theatre’s Venus in Fur, written by David Ives, is a dynamic and expertly presented two-hander that had the audience on the edge of their seats.

Set in New York, Thomas Novachek is directing his own adaptation of Venus in Fur, and lamenting the suitability of the actresses who have auditioned for lead character Wanda von Dunayev, when actress Vanda Jordan crashes into the room and demands an audition. Despite seeming obviously unsuitable, her reading is amazing and the lines between the novel, the play and life become increasingly blurred.

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