Reviews

The Caucasian Chalk Circle

By Bertolt Brecht - translated by Eric Bentley. Brisbane Arts Theatre, Qld. Directed by Jane Oliffe. May 1 – 11, 2019.

Set in Georgia in the Caucasus, this epic play is one of the many plays and poems written by Bertolt Brecht and is a reflection of his thinking and, in some ways, his political beliefs. He brings to the storyline a reflection of his own life in the time of political instability, war and carnage as he developed his skills in various countries before returning to Berlin with many Marxist beliefs. He uses a baby to represent what is in dispute – the land and the people - and this becomes the symbol of unreason, disorder and injustice.

Miss Saigon

Music: Claude-Michel Schonberg. Lyrics: Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby Jnr. The Metropolitan Musical Theatre Co. of SA. The Arts Theatre, Adelaide. May 9 – 18, 2019

First produced in London in 1989, Miss Saigon by Claude-Michel Schonberg (Music), Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr. (Lyrics) was and remains one of the most internationally successful of the late-20th century ‘mega-musicals’. It has also, however, been perhaps the most controversial, attracting negative criticism from the start, generally associated with accusations of ‘sexism’, ‘racism’, ‘racial stereo-typing and negativity’, ‘misogyny’ and ‘cultural appropriation’.

Water

By Jane Bodie. Black Swan State Theatre Company. Directed by Emily McLean. Studio Underground. State Theatre Centre of WA. May 9-26, 2019

Black Swan State Theatre Company’s World Premiere of Water, by Jane Bodie, set around the themes of water, immigration and family, looks at three families over three eras. Almost three interlocking plays, Water is a fascinating new work.

Don Juan in Soho

University of Adelaide Theatre Guild Inc. Little Theatre, The Cloisters. May 11 – 26, 2019.

In the era of the ‘Me Too’ movement, Director Megan Dansie is both courageous and provocative in presenting Patrick Marber’s Don Juan in Soho. Written in 2006 and updated in 2017, this play is more than a comedy. Set in modern day Soho in London, it pointedly flaunts modern hedonism by confronting the audience with a gentrified ‘twit’ who lives his life unashamedly, for his own pleasure. Played by Peter Davies, Don Juan is called DJ, but we all know who he is.

Rigoletto

By Verdi. Opera Australia. Director: Elijah Moshinsky. Revival Director: Hugh Halliday. Conductor: Andrea Licata. State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne. May 11 – 29, 2019

Rigoletto is one of my favourite operas and I have seen many productions over the years, but can’t remember one as impressive as the current OA production.

I had not encountered this production before and it worked very well. It started in Rigoletto’s dressing room, then the set revolved to show the Duke’s party in progress, and later Rigoletto entered from the dressing room. At the end of the first scene, he returned to his dressing room, changed and the set revolved again for him to exit into the street.

The Temple

Created by – Gavin Quinn, the cast and Nicola Gunn. Pan Pan / Malthouse Theatre. Becket Theatre. 2 – 26 May 2019

The Temple is a co-production with the innovative Irish company Pan Pan.  It is provocative theatre at its most acute.  Five actors (Alijin Abella, Ash Flanders, Genevieve Giuffre, Mish Grigor and Marcus McKenzie) work as a tight, well-oiled and rehearsed ensemble.  They portray a group of characters - young contemporary individuals - engaged in a self-lead residential retreat. 

Sense and Sensibility

By Kate Hamill. Directed by Vanessa Jensen. Melville Theatre, Palmyra, WA. May 3 - 18, 2019

Melville Theatre presents this pastel hued adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, which is also quietly acting as a fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Director Vanessa Jenson has a clear passion for Jane Austen, and this shows in the presentation.

Music from the Movies

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Opera House Concert Hall. May 11, 2019.

The 400 singers of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and their 72 piece Orchestra certainly fills out the Opera House Concert Hall in every way with this generously long, one-off concert.

Music from the Movies has a head start by drawing on thrilling scores from memorable films: what we hear returns us to what we saw and felt watching the original, some of it tissue box moments, all of it heightened. 

Arsenic and Old Lace

By Joseph Kesserling. Darlington Theatre Players. Directed by Brendan Tobin. Marloo Theatre, Greenmount, WA. May 3-25, 2019

Darlington Theatre Players are having a lot of fun with this mid 20th century classic about two lovely old ladies who are a little bit too enthusiastic about mercy killing.

Wondered

Written, Produced and Directed by Elodie Boal. Presented by Mira Ball Productions and Trent Sellars. The Sideshow. 10 - 17 May, 2019

The Mad Hatter’s tea party gets a gothic horror twist in the delightfully dark Wondered. Appearing at the back of a hyper-hip café in Brisbane’s West End for the Anywhere Theatre Festival, this creatively twisted tale is certainly no children’s story. The Mad Hatter is more like a psychotic hatter, putting Alice, the Cheshire Cat and the Tweedles in terribly hot tea indeed.

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