Reviews

Survival

By Allee Richards. Directed by Marissa Bennett. Lonely Company. La Mama at Brunswick Mechanics’ Institute. 5 – 11 July 2018

Nadia (Tatiana Kotsimbos) lies unconscious in a hospital bed.  They pumped her out, but she took all the pills she had – anti-depressants and whatever else - and her life hangs in the balance.  Her mother Alison (Lainie Hart) is adamant it was an accident, that Nadia was just trying to calm herself down.  Nadia’s other – and biological – mother Heidi (Wendy Bos) doesn’t believe it.  Heidi, it turns out, is only there by chance.  She’s an aid worker in Kenya with an NGO, back in Melbourne for a conference.  That her presence i

Festen

By David Eldridge. Presented by Play Dead Theatre. Rippon Lea Estate Ballroom, Rippon Lea House and Gardens. 192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick. 5-22 July, 2018.

This production is a stunning example of site specific theatre which creates the impression that the play was especially written for the space. The opulence of the ballroom and the depth of stage area it provides are all used in a highly creative and effective manner. The attention to detail in the set and the beautifully choreographed movement gives the performance a sense of elegance and eloquence.

Pack Of Lies

By Hugh Whitemore. Javeenbah Theatre, Nerang, Gold Coast. Director: Nathan Schulz. July 5th – 15th, 2018

Based on a true story, a Pack Of Lies deals with the covert operations of two Russian spies in suburban London in the early sixties. 

Barbara – Kate Armon, Bob – Craig Smith and daughter Julie – Hope Di Sessa have lived in their comfy home for a number of years. About five years ago a ‘Canadian’ couple Helen – Amy McDonald and Peter – Ken Sauers moved in across the street and they all became the best of friends.

TWO

By Jim Cartwright. STARC Productions. Bakehouse Theatre (SA). July 4-14, 2018

There’s froth, plenty of body and a lasting after taste in the beer they serve at the Northern England working class pub that’s the setting for STARC Productions’ staging of Jim Cartwright’s quirky play TWO.

Banned

By Barbara Hostalek. Mudskipper Productions. Directed by Hellie Turner. The Blue Room, Northbridge, WA. 3-14 July, 2018

Barbara Hostalek’s first play is thoughtfully structured drama, with well developed characters, beautifully brought to life by director Hellie Turner and her cast for Mudskipper Productions and the Blue Room.

St Kilda Royale

MEMO Music Hall St Kilda. 4 to 8 July 2018

Conceived in the spiegeltent of the Edinburg Fringe Festival, Melbourne’s own jazz, swing and boogie band The Shuffle Club have been playing for live circus acts for a few years now. For the first time, they’ve brought the concept to Australia. While watching circus acts perform to recorded music, the band came up with the idea of accompanying them live. And what an electric combination it makes!

A Midsummer Night's Dream

By William Shakespeare. Holroyd Musical and Dramatic Society Red Gum Centre. Wentworthville June 29 – July 6, 2018.

Holroyd Musical and Dramatic Society's production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream brought a very fresh modern feel to the classic fantasy tale.

Director Laura May has escalated the environmental themes of the fairy world (acting as nature) throughout all design elements of the play.

The Farmer’s Daughter

By Ian Sinclair. Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Fremantle, WA. Directed by Phillip Mitchell. June 30 - July 20, 2018

Inspired by real-life stories of rural Australia, The Farmer’s Daughter is the story of a young girl and her relationship with her grandfather, set against the constant struggle of people against the land.

A beautifully presented piece with four on-stage performers, the puppetry in this show is non-traditional and includes large scale set pieces, shadow puppetry, sand art, prop manipulation and movement.

Switzerland

By Joanna Murray-Smith. Pigeonhole Theatre. Directed by Jordan Best. The Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre. 3 – 14 July 2018

Gripping. Tense. Hilarious. A sparkling gem of brilliant characterisation and vicious wit. This is one of those mind-blowingly great pieces of theatre that deserves a thesaurus of superlatives. Following on from their excellent productions of Playhouse Creatures and Summer of the 17th Doll, Pigeonhole takes Joanna Murray-Smith’s incredible script and applies Jordan Best’s incredible facility for flow, timing and nuance to create a breathtaking experience. At the centre of it all is the virtuoso performance by Karen Vickery as Patricia Highsmith.

Precarious

Circus OZ. Big Top, Southern Cross Lawn, Royal Botanic Gardens. June 29 – July 25, 2018.

A truly magical experience under the heated Big Top!

Precarious is the new show by Circus Oz, currently on at the Botanical Gardens.

Celebrating their forty years, Circus Oz have produced yet another wonderful circus extravaganza.

Director Rob Tannion has teamed up with independent director Kate Fryer to deliver a new era in circus entertainment, reflecting on the past to create an up-scaled grass roots production.

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