Reviews

Mamma Mia!

By Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Catherine Johnson. Directed by Brad Tudor. Koorliny Arts Centre, Kwinana, WA, Mar 12 - 27, 2021

Mamma Mia! is Koorliny Arts Centre’s first home produced show in over twelve months, and this fun, vibrant show was definitely worth the wait.

Sounding great, under the leadership of Musical Director Kate McIntosh, leading an unseen six-piece band, this show also looks amazing. Director Brad Tudor gives us a simple but evocative set design and a stunning costume palette, where colour is used to excellent effect. Lighting design, by Jon Lambert, is colourful and bold, with a dance club feel.

Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes

By Hannah Moscovitch. Melbourne Theatre Company. Southbank, The Sumner. 6 March – 1 April 2021

Sexual Conduct of the Middle Classes depicts an ‘affair’ – and its fallout - between Jon (Dan Spielman), a successful novelist and charismatic university lecturer, and Annie (Izabella Yena), his star-struck 19-year-old student.  ‘Affair’ may not have quite the right connotations; the play is very much about the power imbalance between them – and by implication, in the wider world. 

The Comedy of Errors

By William Shakespeare. Graduate Dramatic Society. Directed by David Cotgreave. The New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia, Nedlands. Mar 10-20, 2021

The poster for Graduate Dramatic Society’s Comedy of Errors contains the warning that “This play contains Shenanigans” and boasts “Now with added Fish!!”, which is a huge clue to the tone of this rollicking comedy presented at this outdoor replica Shakespearean Theatre.

Triple X

By Glace Chase. Queensland Theatre. Directed by Paige Rattray. Bille Brown Theatre, Brisbane. 6 March to 1 April 2021

Glace Chase is unforgettable in Triple X, an outstanding performance in her self-penned play. This was an emotional opening night – a world premiere 12 months in the making, since the disruption of 2020’s lockdown. But the cast and crew’s patience has paid off, and you could feel that all the performers were eager to get back on the stage and entertain.

Bigger & Blacker

Written and Performed by Steven Oliver. Directed by Isaac Drandic. A La Boite and W Lance Reynolds Production. Roundhouse Theatre, 8 – 27 March, 2021

Steven Oliver is a born showman. The hometown crowd at La Boite theatre couldn’t have been more excited on opening night to welcome him back at the Roundhouse Theatre. Everyone was itching to see him sing some songs, tell some stories and shake his bum.

Outdated

Written and Directed by Mark Kilmurry. Ensemble Theatre. March 5 - April 17, 2021

The premise of Outdated is delicious. Two 40 something adults, damaged by being dumped by their long-time partners, get back in the saddle of dating by signing up to an introduction app.

The cosy Ensemble stage is groovily decked out by designer Simon Greer with an AV screen, that was lit up with texts and emojis providing a running commentary, on a set with a colour scheme that evoked an episode of the TV series Perfect Match.

Euromash

Johanna Allen. Adelaide Fringe Festival 2021. The Chamber at the Queens. Mar 11 – 14, 2021

The Eurovision song contest is traditionally held in May, however thanks to Johanna Allen we can have our own Eurovision at The Queens featuring Allen as all the contestants in Euromash.

S/WORDS and Unfolding

Choreographed by Lewis Major. Adelaide Festival 2021. The Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre. Mar 11 – 14, 2021

The unbelievable tenacity of the Covid 19 pandemic has at least delivered an opportunity for The Adelaide Festival to grant some main stage time to South Australian artists which may not have been possible if international artists were able to travel here. 

Impermanence

Presented by the Sydney Dance Company and Australian String Quartet. Adelaide Festival 2021. Festival Theatre. Mar 10 – 11, 2021

Sometimes out of disaster something astonishing arises. So it is with Impermanence.

The Deep North

By Matt Hawkins with music by James Bannah Jr. South Australian Playwrights Theatre. Adelaide Fringe. The Lab @ Light Square. 10 - 21 March, 2021

‘Where are you going? / Where do you come from’ is the opening ensemble number of The Deep North – a new African-Australian musical currently playing at The Lab @ Light Square as part of this year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival. This opening number encapsulates what this wonderful ‘coming-of-age-musical’ is all about. Originally from Uganda, Jasmine Mutesa (Pontsha Nthupi) is a young girl living with her Uncle Ebby (Stephen Tongun) and brother Ben (Tumela Nthupi) in Port Augusta.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.