Reviews

Holding The Man

By Tommy Murphy, adapted from Tim Conigrave’s memoir. Upstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre. March 9 – Apr 14, 2024

Tommy Murphy’s stage adaptation of Tim Conigrave’s compelling memoir dedicated to his great love, John Caleo, was premiered by Griffin Theatre in 2006.  The audience was a mess, laughing and weeping profusely, especially in the row with Tim’s family up from Melbourne; the book, the play and then the film were landmark successes.  Teenage sweethearts at a Catholic school, and together 15 years later, Tim and John both died from AIDS.

Bang On Live

Zan Rowe and Myf Warhurst. Regal Theatre, Subiaco, Perth, Friday 15 March, 2024

Bang On has been podcasting for about 8 years, now so Perth listeners were not only desperate to see Zan and Myf in person, but also to secure some unique merchandise before and after the show. (Apparently, years ago, they used to make their own Bang On badges!)

Zan Rowe and Myf Warhurst are very familiar to all of us, as TV hosts and radio presenters, so watching them “Banging On” about various popular culture topics is an enjoyable night out.

Jungle Book Reimagined

Akram Khan Company. Adelaide Festival 2024. Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide. March 15 & 16, 2024

Jungle Book Reimagined pushes the boundaries of traditional theatre in so many ways, the double front projections, the recorded voices for the dancers to interpret and of course the choreography allowing them to create believable animal characters.

Summer Shorts

By Kerry Bowden, Noel O’Neill and Lis Hoffmann and Lynda Butler. Directed by Kerry Bowden, Noel O’Neill and Lis Hoffman. Main Hall, Melville Civic Centre, Booragoon, WA. March 8-17, 2024

After a long delay to move into their new home, it is perhaps serendipitous that Melville Theatre Company debuted their new venue with their short play season - with simpler sets and technical requirements an ideal chance to get used to their new venue. For the audience, the new venue feels quite familiar, with a similar double foyer arrangement and a high set stage. The venue’s raised, retractable seating is comfortable and spacious.

The Great Divide

By David Williamson. Ensemble Theatre, Sydney. Directed by Mark Kilmurry. 8 March – 27 April 2024

After 50 years of bashing out best-selling plays, David Williamson announced his retirement in 2020. ‘I haven’t missed it one little bit,’ he announced on the eve of his final play Crunch Time at the Ensemble Theatre, venue for nearly half his output. 

But, wait, there’s more! Four years later, at 82, he’s written no less than three new plays. And here’s the first of them, received by the Ensemble faithful with all due honour, big laughs included.

Antigone in the Amazon

Milo Rau / NTGent & MST. Adelaide Festival 2024. Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre. 15 March – 17 March, 2024

Every now and then a work comes along that simply defies the conventional. Milo Rau’s Antigone in the Amazon is one of these productions. After 1hr 50 minutes (with no interval) and the company receiving a much deserved and cheering standing ovation, I came out a little bewildered as to how will review this extraordinary work.

As You Like It

By William Shakespeare. Graduate Dramatic Society. Directed by Stephen Lee. New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA. Mar 13-23, 2024

Graduate Dramatic Society’s annual Shakespeare in the New Fortune is an end of summer tradition that is a mainstay of the Perth theatre season, and this week’s Opening Night garnered a very impressive sized audience. This modern dress and almost uncut production features a mix of new and familiar faces.

The Music Man

Book, Music & Lyrics: Meredith Willson. Story: Meredith Willson & Franklin Lacey. CentreStage. Directors: Michele Marcu & David Greenwood. Musical Director: Gabriel Taburet. Choreographer: Lochlan Erard. Geelong Arts Centre, March 8 - 23, 2024.

Meredith Willson, the renowned American composer and playwright, drew inspiration for his first musical, The Music Man, from his boyhood experiences in Mason City, Iowa.

Last Call

By Sean Guy. Directed by Tim Riessen. KADS Town Hall Theatre, Kalamunda, WA. Mar 8-23, 2024

KADS’ open their theatrical year with the first of two plays by Australian playwright Sean Guy. Set over a single evening, three seemingly disparate stories become increasingly entwined, as we add a supernatural element in the form of the personified character of Death. A show that frequently breaks the fourth wall and is aware that it is a play - it makes for interesting viewing.

Nu Disco

Written & performed by Ellen Marning. La Mama HQ. 12 – 17 March 2024

One night in a disco somewhere.  For some reason the door bitch is a German cliche, unsmiling and tough.  She makes us laugh – nervously.  She disappears and Trinity (Ellen Marning) plunges into the disco and is at once enveloped in the ambient cocoon, in the lights that ripple across her face and the bodies of the dancers and the drinkers, and the repetitive, heavy bass nu-music music like a thudding heartbeat…