Reviews

Annie

Book by Thomas Meehan, Music by Charles Strouse and Lyrics by Martin Charnin. Holroyd Musical and Dramatic Society. The Red Gum Centre, Wentworthville. April 13 - 21, 2018

HMDS's production of the classic Depression themed musical Annie was a great retelling of the well-known story about the red-headed optimistic, orphan and her chance adoption by the Billionaire Oliver Warbucks.

Director Olivia Linas and her cast gave a very well gelled and polished Opening Night performance.

The show opened with an action sequenced overture, which was a delight to see and gave the audience an immediate insight to the title character Annie, played on opening night by Sami Dinnerville.

An Emotional Rollercoaster

Debussy: Prelude a “l’apres-midi d’un faune” (Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun), Ginastera: Concerto No. 1 for piano and orchestra, op.28, Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98. Queensland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alexander Prior. Piano: Sergio Tiempo. Concert Hall, QPAC, 14-15 April 2018

It has often been stated that Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera was arguably the finest composer South America ever produced and after listening to fellow Latin,Sergio Tiempo playing his Concerto No. 1 you would get no argument from me. This atonal work built on a twelve-tone scale is theatrically dramatic, bold and passionate with moments of underlying rage and volcanic power, and in Tiempo’s dazzling hands a bravura showpiece.

Billionaire Boy

By Maryam Master, based on the novel by David Walliams. Presented by Sydney Opera House and CDP Kids. Sydney Opera House (Playhouse). 14 – 29 April 2018.

After his Dad made eleventy squillion dollars inventing Bumfresh toilet wipes, 12 year old Joe has everything a boy could ever want including a golden underwater Ferrari, his own bowling alley and cinema, or so you would think, but all he really wants is a friend.

The world premiere Australian adaptation of David Walliams’ book, Billionaire Boy, is chucklesome, entertaining and appealing to all ages.

Electric Butterflies

Kuah Jenhan. Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Mantra On Russell. March 29 – April 22, 2018

Kuah Jenhan has returned to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2018 with his brand new show - Electric Butterflies.

One of Malaysia’s brightest comedy talents, with sellout shows cross Asia, Jenhan is back with his unique Asian induced flavors to tantalize our exotic taste buds.

Electric Butterflies is a romantic comedy in sixty minutes. He doesn’t get the girl but he finds true love in true screwball comedy style.

Josephine Wants to Dance

Adapted by Eva Di Cesare, Sandra Eldridge and Tim McGarry, from the book by Jackie French. Music and lyrics by Phil Scott. monkey baa theatre company. Lendlease Darling Quarter Theatre, Sydney. April 14 – 24, 2018

This delightful adaptation, by monkey baa’s Eva Di Cesare, Sandra Eldridge and Tim McGarry, entertains children and adults alike. It’s fun, lively and realises the deeper message to kids in Jackie French’s story … that if you really believe in yourself, your dreams can come true.

The Little Mermaid

Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, book by Doug Wright. Birdie Productions. Bryan Brown Theatre (Bankstown). 13 – 22 April 2018.

A heroine, a loyal sidekick, a villain, love, sacrifice and a happy ending are some of the key ingredients of a Disney movie, but when you put that on a stage, add stunning costumes and sets, strong vocals and an impressive orchestra, you have a fantastic show. Birdie’s production of the Little Mermaid is all this and more.

About four months ago, I was talking to Executive Producer, Rodney Bertram about his crew’s plans for the show and he told me how they wanted to bring the “Disney magic” to the stage. They certainly achieved this!

The Owl and the Pussycat

A new opera for children based on the poem by Edward Lear. Flowstate, Festival 2018 and Little Match Productions. Directed by Bridget Boyle. At Surfers Paradise, April 5-8, 2018, then Flowstate, South Bank, April 11-15.

The festival supporting the 2018 Commonwealth Games is as full of “personal bests” as the Games themselves and the Owl and the Pussycat is a marvellous example.

Commissioned for the festival, this operatic story expands on Edward Lear’s famous poem about a misfit Owl and Pussycat who find each other and despite the misgivings of their families, run away on an adventure.

Kitty Flanagan Smashing

Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins St, Melbourne. 10-22 April, 2018.

Kitty Flanagan’s sharp wit and astute cultural observations are finely tuned in this ‘smashing’ show. Flanagan mocks everything from fashionable words, personal relationships, and intimacy to our contemporary internet obsessed life. She leaves no stone unturned when it comes to highlighting bizarre and often less than graceful behaviour in our society, and Flanagan mimics this with incredible precision. Her energy and vibrancy produce non-stop hilarious humour which is intelligent and biting.

Flash Donahs

Written & directed by Graeme Dale. La Mama Courthouse, Carlton VIC. 12 – 22 April 2018.

Flash Donahs is ‘documentary theatre’ set in Melbourne in the 1880s.

Cock

By Mike Bartlett. Bakers Dozen Theatre Company. Directed by Beng Oh. The Stables – Meat Market. 11 to 21 April, 2018

Opening night of Cock was refreshingly ready for an audience.  There was no evidence of a lack of time spent in the rehearsal room in this superbly directed (Beng Oh) 2009 work by British playwright Mike Bartlett. 

Cock is about relationships, sexual identity, romantic relationships, and performed identity.  At its heart is the suggestion that the act of sex can be isolated from gender and feelings of love, and, an individual’s behaviour can be controlled by social expectations and the coercion of others.

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