Reviews

Ruthless

Book & Lyrics Joel Paley. Music Marvin Laird. A Stagebugs Production. Alex Theatre, St Kilda. 1 -24 March 2024

Everybody is ruthless in Ruthless, but some are more ruthless than others.  Naturally the most ruthless wins.  This musical is about How to Succeed in (Show) Business by scheming, by making your own opportunities, eliminating rivals, and, yes, having some talent. 

West Side Story

Book by Arthur Laurents. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Opera Australia. Handa on Sydney Harbour. Mar 22 - April 21, 2024

It’s as if every other performance of West Side Story you’ve seen was in black and white, whilst this one was in full technicolour.

Such was the intensity of the brilliance of so many aspects of this production that it felt fresh and more detailed than any I have watched before.

Sydney turned on a balmy sunset for the opening night performance of the annual Handa on Sydney Harbour, a revival of West Side Story, first staged five years ago.

Strangers on a Train

Adapted by Craig Warner from the novel by Patricia Highsmith. Genesian Theatre Company, Sydney. March 16 – April 20, 2024.

Strangers on a Train is the thrilling adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel, by Craig Warner. Highsmith is well known for her sinister plots and entangled webs, and this is no different. Two strangers (yes on a train) become entangled in a murderous pact which comes to life on stage. From the very opening scene - a glimpse of a solitary traveller, the soundscape of a train - I felt a chill and the sudden appearance of the ever lurking antagonist that made me jump. This one thrills as much as it intrigues. 

Farewell Lady Autumn

By Melka Stansah. Produced and directed by Wolf Heidecker. La Mama HQ, 205 Faraday Street, Carlton, Melbourne. 20 – 28 March 2024.

Qiu Jin (Isabelle Wang) is an extraordinary historical figure who resisted sexist and misogynistic cultural practices in China. She fought for women’s freedom in an era when foot-binding was still common. The amazing story of her intelligence and determination is certainly well worth depicting and retelling.

Hot White Kiss

By James WF Roberts. One Act Play Festival at The Butterfly Club. March 18 – 23, 2024

As a theatre-maker myself, I was interested in checking out The Butterfly Club’s One Act Play festival, and when I saw that poet James WF Roberts was staging his first theatre show Hot White Kiss, I was keen. As a poet myself, I hadn’t seen James read for some years. But what I did remember from his poetry was that it was dark, sexually charged, politically incorrect, messy and raw – my kind of poetry.

Mercury Poisoning

By Madeleine Stedman. KXT Broadway, Sydney, presented by Snatched Collective and White Box. Directed by Kim Hardwick. 15 – 30 March, 2024

‘I’d like to get down from the rocket, please,’ says the new recruit. ‘I’m menstruating.’ This is not the kind of snippet you normally hear in plays (stage, TV or film) about the beginnings of space travel. But Madeleine Stedman is exploring a new angle: a history of women in space, from the two competing countries, America and Russia.

Future Proof

Gravity Dolls. Co-creators: Tim Rutty and Harlow Carey. Director: Harlow Carey. Compositions/Sound Design: Ian Moorhead. Darebin Arts Speakeasy. 401 Bell Street, Preston. 14 -16 March 2024

This company has taken a broad range of highly honed physical skills which can more usually be found in company with trapezes and juggling balls and applied them to a series of pressing social and environmental issues. The result is confronting and inspiring.

A Taste of Ireland

Presented by Pace Live. The Palms at Crown, Level 3, Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank Melbourne. Sunday 17 March 2024.

This delightful performance is touring across Australia (April – June) and showcases the unique dance style of Ireland and its enormous crossover with other genres. The extremely talented ensemble of singers, dancers and musicians provide engaging and fun-filled entertainment. Much of the Irish humour is infused into each number and this is combined with a captivating youthful effervescence.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Lyrics by Tim Rice. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Redcliffe Musical Theatre. Directed by Madeleine Johns. Redcliffe Entertainment Centre. March 15 – 24, 2024

From the initial steps in the late 1960’s to the modern full version, the path of this challenging musical has slowly evolved to what was performed in Redcliffe.  The play is based on the character of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis. His father, Jacob, gives him the multi-coloured coat as a show of affection and this pleases Joseph while it upsets his many brothers and things go badly for him from there. From slavery in Egypt to interpreting the dreams of the Pharaoh, the path of redemption finally leads to his reunion with the coat of many colours.

Frankenstein

Adapted by A.N. Sandberg based on the novel by Mary Shelley. Brisbane Arts Theatre. Directed by Nick Scotney. March 16 – April 20, 2024.

Well now I know about this character Frankenstrein, who has been representative of evil for many years since the novel was first published. That sense of evil and dread came alive so effectively and disturbingly that some parts just drifted back into my thoughts. If you do know the character Frankenstein already from the novel, this production will enhance those feelings.

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