Reviews

Queensland Ballet at Home

Queensland Ballet. Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre. Feb 21 – Mar 13, 2024

Queensland Ballet at Home presents a dazzling showcase of ballet masterpieces carefully curated from local and international productions. Four pieces separated into two acts are featured in this year’s touring program: Ben Stevenson OBE's "Three Preludes", a poignant love story brought to life through Sergei Rachmaninoff's music. Matthew Lawrence's "Tchaikovsky Mash" delights with its enchanting blend of tutus and music from classical ballets like "Swan Lake" and "The Sleeping Beauty".

Rumours

By Neil Simon. Cairns Little Theatre. Directed by Narelle Shorey. February 23 to March 2, 2024

Set in Sydney in the 1980s, the deputy mayor of Sydney, Charley Brooks and his wife Vivienne are hosting a 10th anniversary party. Unfortunately, Charley, now bed bound, has gone and shot himself in the ear and Vivienne has disappeared. As the well-healed professional guests arrive, they each try to distance themselves from events, spinning unlikely tales as to what really happened to their hosts.

Are we not drawn onward to new erA

By Ontroerend Goed. Directed by Alexander Devriendt. Perth Festival. Heath Ledger Theatre, 21 – 25, February 2024.

It seems Belgian performance troupe, Ontroerend Goed, likes a clever joke and a play on words.

The mystery is, those sparse words in Are we not drawn onward to new erA might be in a Moomin-like language, clownish gibberish or Flemish and we don’t have the knowledge at the start of the 70-minute show, to be in on the joke.

Willing Participant

Rob Carlton. Adelaide Fringe Festival 2024. Holden Street Theatres – The Arch. February 16th – March 1st, 2024

Australian actor and writer Rob Carlton has brought his one-man show to his first ever Adelaide Fringe. Both humble and inviting, he welcomes the audience in for an old-fashioned night of storytelling. Directed by Darren Gilshenan, this no-frills production feels like catching up with an old friend.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland©

Choreography Christopher Wheeldon. Music: Joby Talbot. The Australian Ballet. Capitol Theatre, Sydney, 20 February to 5 March, 2024, then Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre from 15 to 26 March

Christopher Wheeldon’s stupendous homage to the surreal imagination of Lewis Carroll is revived even bigger on the wide stage at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.  Premiered in London, Alice was first staged by the Australian Ballet five years ago; now it’s their largest ever production.

Idomeneo

Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Libretto by Abbe Giambattista Vaersco. Opera Australia and Victorian Opera. Directed by Lindy Hume. Conducted by Johannes Fritzsch. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. February 20 - March 15, 2024.

Idomeneo was the first grand opera composed by Mozart at the age of 24 and is also believed the be one of the last written for a principal singer who was castrated.

The supply of male singers (who had made the prescribed sacrifice as children) was drying up and so the high-pitched leading role of Idamante was adapted by Mozart for a tenor, and these days is played by a mezzo-soprano.

This part is only one of the challenges of the opera, which has a sweeping story involving Greek Gods, a huge storm, a sea monster and the booming presence of King Neptune.

Rent

Book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson. Produced by Lauren Peters & Toby Francis, directed by Shaun Rennie, musical direction by Andrew Worboys and choreography by Luca Dinardo. State Theatre, Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank, Melbourne. 17 February - 7 March 2024

The cultural resonance of this musical is powerful because of its deep historical heritage and its ability to accurately capture the bohemian nature of 1980s New York. Despite being set in such a specific time and place this production effectively highlights the enormous contemporary relevance of this timeless story.

Mythos: Ragnarok

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2024. The Mythological Theatre and Phil McIntyre Live. Umbrella Revolution at the Garden of Unearthly Delights, Adelaide. Feb 16 to March 17, 2024

I remember watching Mario Milano and Hulk Hogan in World’s Championship Wrestling on television back in the 1960s. Being new to wrestling at that time, I was amazed that they did not break any bones, now I know better.

Mythos:Ragnarok takes WCW one step further and links it to Norse folklore in 70 minutes of mat thumping fun!

Godz

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2024. Head First Acrobats. The Vault at Fool’s Paradise, Victoria Square, Adelaide. February 20 to March 17, 2024

To the uninitiated, the setting for Godz appears to be a golden table and 4 golden chairs. In reality, it is the home of the Gods. Their table has ample wine for a bacchanal of epic proportions presided over by  Hercules (the god of strength) who beckons to us to join them in his revels!

There is so much to love about this show, incredible circus skills, a well written funny script, clever lighting, and sound plot and above all, the talent of the four performers.

Chronically Ill-Prepared

Adelaide Fringe – Prompt Creative Centre. Presented by Unscripted and Unmasked. 18-21 February 2024

Improv at Fringe usually means comedy – and there’s plenty of that here – but there’s also a good dose of serious drama: tension, thrills, and a narrative that you want to explore further than the ding of the bell allows.