Reviews

XANADU

Book by Douglas Carter Beane, Music and Lyrics by Jeff Lynne & John Farrar; Directed by Meg Day, Musical Director Nerissa Cavaliere, Choreographer Jessica Kuit. Presented by Ikigai Entertainment at Sutherland Arts Theatre. Feb 22 – Mar 5, 2023

In musical theatre timing is everything and whether it is by good luck or good management, Xanadu is perfectly timed with Mardi Gras, Sydney World Pride and even the State Funeral for our beloved Olivia Newton John taking place on the opening weekend of this 80s camp fest fantasy musical based on the cult movie starring Olivia and dance legend Gene Kelly.

Xanadu is the first production of this indi theatre company which strives to provide high quality performance opportunities in a supportive and inclusive environment for professionally trained and technical artists.

A Mouthful of C Words

By Matthew Cook, Hera Fox, Stephanie Jack, Carrie McLean and Andy Vagg.. Salamanca Arts Centre (Lucien Simon). The Peacock Theatre. Director / Dramaturg – Chris Mead. Set - Nicole Robson. Composers – Natlaya Bing and Joshua Santospirito. 23-25 February, 2023

A Mouthful of C Words emulates the structure of Arthur Schnitzler’s 1897 play, La Ronde (Reigen), in which the intimate encounters of various couples create a mobius strip of connection. One character from each of the ten scenes, continues into a subsequent scene until the cycle is complete. In each scene, a sexual act is simulated or referenced. This sexual sinnet takes place in the limited gene pool which is known as Hobart, Tasmania.

Nancy Wake: The White Mouse

Adelaide Fringe. Presented by Palmerston Projects. Main Theatre: Goodwood Theatres. February 17th to 26th, 2023

Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, AC, GM was born in 1912 in New Zealand. Some two years later, her family moved to Sydney where she grew up, and for this reason, we have long claimed Nancy as an Australian. Also known as Madame Fiocca and Nancy Fiocca, Hélène by the British Special Operations Executive, Andrée by the French Resistance and White Mouse by the Gestapo in France, she was a nurse who retrained and worked in the 1930s for Hearst newspapers as a journalist.

The Wind in the Willows

Adapted by James Belich. Darlington Theatre Players. Directed by Sophie David (assisted by Natalia Myslinska). Marloo Theatre, Greenmount, WA. Feb 10 - Mar 4, 2023

Darlington Theatre Players’ rendition of The Wind in the Willows is a little darling of a show and feels like a picture book brought to life. 

DOMINANCE and Submission

Devious Adelaide. Adelaide Fringe. The Peacock at Gluttony, Adelaide. Feb 24 – March 18, 2023

Standing in line to watch DOMINANCE and Submission, I could help but notice the diversity of the audience. Younger, older, they were all there, including a pup and his Master. I knew it was going to be an experience to remember.

The mood is definitely buzzing as I sit down and take in my surroundings; candles circling the stage area, a red leather coach, a bondage cross and long lengths of chains hanging tantalizingly in the centre.

Rapture

By Joanna Murray-Smith. Pymble Players, NSW. February 22 – Mar 19, 2023

Three middle-aged couples appear to be reasonably happy with their lives.  That is until one of the couples reveals that they have had an epiphany of sorts and are moving on, leaving their old friendships behind. Thus begins the real drama in the Pymble Players' latest production, Rapture.

The Crucible

By Arthur Miller. National Theatre Live. Cinema Nova & other participating cinemas nationally. 4 – 12 March 2023

For most of today’s audiences, terms such as God, the Devil, salvation, witches don’t have much credibility or substance.  Yet they are used with dangerous certainty by the characters in Arthur Miller’s 1953 play.  For them, all these things are without question real.  For most of today’s audiences, the parallel with ‘McCarthyism’ too may well be unknown.  So why is The Crucible, in this excellent, sustained production, still so gripping, so frightening, and even so plausible? 

Mansion

Bass Fam Creative. Adelaide Fringe. The Octagon at Gluttony, Adelaide, Feb 21 – March 5, 2023

I somehow missed Matador and couldn’t get in to see Oracle, so I was keen to see Bass Fam’s latest production of Mansion, billed as a “spine tingling, gothic fusion of dance, circus & burlesque”.

An Andrews Sisters Tribute

TS Entertainment Co. Adelaide Fringe. Various venues. February 23rd – March 4th, 2023

Described as the most popular female vocal group of the first half of the 20th century, The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto Laverne, soprano Maxene, and mezzo-soprano Patty and it is this vocal range that helped them create the range and depth of their sound. During WWII, they entertained the Allied forces extensively in Africa, Italy, and in the U.S., visiting Army, Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard bases, war zones, hospitals, and munitions factories. They encouraged U.S.

Adults Only Magic Show

Showmen Productions. Adelaide Fringe. The May Wirth at Gluttony, Adelaide. Feb 21 – March 19, 2023.

My uncle was a magician, and I remember him taking me, when young, to the magicians’ secret club, which was (and maybe still is) in an underground clubroom in the western suburbs of Adelaide.

While he never disclosed the secrets of his trade, he did instil a love of magic that has remained with me ever since.

In Adults Only Magic Show, Sam and Justin present sixty minutes of adult humour, sleight-of-hand, illusions, mentalism, and a chance of nudity. It all happens later in the evening and is extremely well done!

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