Reviews

The Seagull

By Anton Chekhov. Directed by Cheyney Caddy, Black Apple Theatre, Northcote Town Hall, West Wing Studio Two, 189 High Street, Northcote. 2–7 February 2016.

It would seem a rather risky exercise to create a contemporary adaptation of a Chekhov play. His texts are weighted by emotive characters and impassioned speeches and seem so unlikely to be relevant in a 21stcentury context. Surprisingly, this play lends itself to being transplanted into the suburban badlands of Putin’s homophobic Russia much more easily than expected. This is what makes this version of The Seagull quite radical and the concept is, on the whole, carried with confidence, charm and wit.

Gone

By Dion Teasdale. Midsumma Festival 2016 (City of Port Phillip Cultural Development Fund). Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park (Vic). Director Dion Teasdale. Sound Design: Nathan Baird. Lighting Design: bluebottle . Choreography Sunny Ford. 3-6 February, 2016

When Alex Riley wakes on the morning of his 40th birthday he is in for rude shock. His penis has gone, vanished, disappeared. Alex, an erotic gay fiction writer, has quite the reputation about town, with an online profile to match. News of Alex’s misfortune travels the social media networks and leaving him to ponder his own identity, and loss of currency in the sexual marketplace.

Sense and Spontaneity

The Shambles, Perth Cultural Centre, Fringe World, WA. Feb 1-4, 2015

Sense and Spontaneity may very well be the sweetest show at the 2016 Fringe World Festival. With beautiful manners, and lovely costuming this warm hug of an improvised show is overwhelmingly "nice".

Esther Longhurst and Jessica Messenger have an obvious love for the novels of Jane Austen and at the performance I viewed, the real life romance of audience member Isabelle was given an Austen makeover and was presented as a long-lost Jane Austen manuscript.

North by Northwest

Adapted from Ernest Lehman’s film script by Carolyn Burns. Directed by Simon Phillips. State Theatre Arts Centre Melbourne. Jan 29 - Feb 13, 2016.

Premiering last year with MTC, this production of the iconic 1959 Hitchcock film took Melbourne by storm, though I missed it. I can only assume that something has been lost in the transference to the much larger State Theatre.

The Measure of a Man

Performed and devised by Gavin Roach. 2016 Midsumma Festival. Gasworks Studio Theatre, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park, 1-6 February, 2016.

The title alludes to historical figures who use this idiom to refer to spiritual and moral standards that define a man’s place in the world. Roach is no less probing in his deliberations on what it means to be a gay man in contemporary society. This performance is an extremely personal journey, which provides a frank account of the insecurities, longings, and compulsions that plague the protagonist. Roach’s character is alluring and the explicit nature of his revelations is a fascinating journey into a psyche that is rarely given such detailed attention.

Cats

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Based on ‘Old Possum’s Book of practical cats by T.S Eliot. Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane. From January 29, 2016.

One of the greatest musicals to ever grace theatre stages, Cats opened at the Lyric Theatre on the 29th of January for a short three week season.  Since its World Premiere, Cats has been presented in over 30 countries, has been translated into 15 languages and has been seen by more than 73 million people worldwide.

Writer’s Block

Written and directed by Kellie Eatock. World Premiere. Javeenbah Theatre, Nerang, Gold Coast. January 29 – February 13, 2016

Writer’s Block tells of the struggle between Writer, Jane (Libby Bancroft) and her characters to create a story line where everyone is happy with the plot; not an easy situation when the characters are self opinionated and determined to get the outcomes that they believe are rightfully theirs.

Meow Meow's Little Mermaid

Created by Meow Meow. Directed by Michael Kantor. Merlyn Theatre, Malthouse Theatre (Vic). Jan 28 – Feb 14, 2016; then Perth International Arts Festival, 24 - 28 Feb 2016 at Octagon Theatre, UWA

When you take a highly intelligent, very beautiful and multi-talented performer and give her free range over her own creation, you would expect the results to be spectacular and, for the most part, they are.

Herstory

Directed by Imogen Kelly. De Parel Spiegeltent, Urban Orchard, FringeWorld, Perth WA. 27-31 January, 2015

Herstory makes its WA premiere as a late night show night show in De Parel Spiegeltent at FringeWorld.

Part Burlesque, part fun women's history lesson, Imogen Kelly, Burlesque Queen (2012) plays Marlene Dietrich who introduces an hour long show which explores some of history's most notorious women.

A fabulously eclectic production which includes satire, puppetry, singing, amazing aerials, clever short films, stripping and audience interaction, it would be impossible to be bored in this swift ever-changing show.

The Angel of Death

Written and directed by Matthew Briggs. Composed by Josh Heaysman. B&H Theatre Co. The Bakehouse Theatre, Adelaide. 26-30 January, 2015.

Where and how did the legend of the Grim Reaper - as spooky as it is indelible - first originate, and what must it be like to have to carry out the duties of the job? B&H Theatre Company have attempted to answer these (and other) questions in a musical theatrical package which, despite more than its share of bumpy and wobbly passages, ultimately sent this reviewer home with a smile.

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