Reviews

The Spooky Men’s Chorale

Independent Theatre, North Sydney, Feb 17, 2024. Avoca Beach Theatre, Feb 18, 2024

The Spooky Men pretend to be “spooky” but they’re not! They’re funny, weird, somewhat dark … but thought-provoking, original and very talented. Led by Spookmeister Stephen Taberner, they have been an Australian musical phenomenon for twenty-three years.

Know Your Role & Our Place

Actually Acting: Adelaide Fringe Premiere. Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres. Sat, 17 Feb - Wed, 21 Feb, 2024

Actually, Acting is an acting school created in 2007 with the mission of helping aspiring actors develop their skills and confidence in the dramatic arts. Students explore and develop their skills, while building their confidence in the process. Artistic Director, Alicia Zorkovic has made a theme of Actually Acting’s the empowerment, of young people. She is passionate about hearing their voices and allowing them to share their fears, dreams and opinions in a safe, constructive and creative way.

Bubble Show for Adults Only 2

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2024. Bubble Laboratory. The Virago at Gluttony, Rymill Park, Adelaide. Feb 16 to March 16, 2024

Eleven- thirty at night is a late show after a day of Fringe fun. However, the Bubble Show for Adults Only is well worth the wait!

The set is deceptively simple, a black stage with some silver podiums and copious mist pouring out to add to the atmosphere.

Thanks to the talents of Kurt Murray and Iulia Benze the action is non-stop, performing to a backing track of a radio program. There is an office scene, outer space, hippies and some BDSM fun and more!

Fafi D’Alour Uncut

Adelaide Fringe – Ukiyo at Gluttony. Presented by Delinquent Creatives. 17-25 February 2024

Five women bring music, movement, and acrobatics together to entertain and titillate in this return season from Fringe favourites, Delinquent Creatives.

Eliza Dickson’s vocals are fabulous – reaching those big notes with power and distance: her held notes left us out of breath, and she has the perfect voice for her raunchy vocals.

Faulty Towers the Dining Experience

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2024. Interactive Theatre International. Botanical Room at The Terrace Hotel, Adelaide. Feb 16 to Mar 10, 2024

A friend of mine recently asked me – “Do you need to have watched the original series Fawlty Towers before you see Faulty Towers the Dining Experience?” The answer is a resounding no. It is just good, old fashioned crazy fun played to the hilt!

The production is based on some of the 12 iconic episodes made in the 1970s and features the central characters of Basil Faulty, his wife Sybil and their Spanish waiter, Manuel.

Helios

Adelaide Fringe – The Yurt at The Courtyard of Curiosities at the Migration Museum. Presented by Wright & Grainger with Tom Oliver Productions and Joanne Hartstone. 16 February – 17 March 2024

Wright & Grainger are worldwide multi-award-winning storytellers for their previous shows Eurydice, Orpheus, and The Gods, The Gods, The Gods (the latter two have limited performances elsewhere in the Fringe this year). I’m a huge fan myself – despite it being a repeat season, Orpheus was still my pick of the Fringe in 2023: even my mum loved it (though for her, The Gods X 3 won out). Does their new show Helios live up to our high expectations?

Lilac Time

Music by Franz Schubert, arranged by Heinrich Berte & G.H. Clutsam. Presented by Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria. Directed by Robert Ray, musical direction by Geoffrey Urquhart. The Knowe, Clarkmont Road, Sassafras, Victoria. Saturdays and Sundays, 17 February - 3 March 2024.

Lilac Time is a charming and delightful operetta that is faithfully brought to life in this unique production. The story centres around Schubert (Edward Harcourt), his dedication to music and his infatuation with Lili Veit (Bridgette Kelsey). As a struggling composer he is surrounded by supportive friends and although his love for Lili is ultimately unrequited, the story maintains an upbeat and positive outlook.

In Small Doses

Adelaide Fringe – The roundabout at Fool’s Paradise. Presented by Maroussia Vladi. 16 February – 3 March 2024

A mother visits her daughter to help her recover from an injury – but her large suitcase and an admission that she’s left her interstate partner suggests it’s for longer than a weekend.

Tomatoes Tried To Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life

Adelaide Fringe – The Garage International @ Scots. Presented by Quivering Dendrites. 16 February – 3 March 2024

Keith Alessi walks onto the stage with his instrument and quips all the old jokes about banjo players, to get them out of the way. He darkens only to mention the movie with the men in the canoe, then delivers such positivity about how his life turned to bring him to where he is today.

The Whisper

By Brodie Murray. Fortyfivedownstairs, Flinders Lane. 15 – 25 February 2024

An indigenous family, Nan (Melodie Reynolds-Diarra), elder grandson Jack (Balla Neba) and younger grandson Riley (the playwright Brodie Murray) travel mostly by night, evading the police and making their way south, fleeing South Australia and heading for the (relative) safety of Swan Hill in Victoria.  It’s around 1946-47 and the police are not just taking children away, they’re bullying, harassing and arresting Aboriginal people. 

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