Reviews

Impromptunes - The Completely Improvised Musical

FringeWorld. The Circus Theatre, Fringe Central, Perth Cultural Centre. 18-27 Jan, 2019

I’ll admit, reviewing Impromptunes was completely indulgent on my part. They have been reviewed before, but I just really wanted to see it. I was not disappointed.

Impromptunes is exactly as described. A completely new improvised musical at every performance. A cast of six (the line up varies) and a pianist, take a suggestion from the audience and perform that title over the next hour. Previous titles include Quarter Life Crisis, Texas Homeschool Prom, Mummies in Brunswick and Toyota Corolla.

Shrek The Musical

Music by Jeanine Tesori. Book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. Directed by Lindsay Nobile. Townsville Choral Society, Townsville Entertainment Centre. 18 – 27 Jan 2019.

As far as the music itself is concerned, Shrek the Musical may not be the best-written musical in the world, but if affection for the 2001 animated classic that was displayed by the enormous cast is a yardstick by which to measure, then this latest Townsville Choral Society production has it in quids.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned by Being in a Bad Murder Mystery

By Werner Trieschmann. Bakehouse Theatre: Studio. Flinders University Performing Arts Society. January 17-19, 2019.

This year and over the last couple of years in Adelaide, we have celebrated significant milestones for a number of amateur theatre companies. It is these sorts of companies that are the lifeblood of amateur theatre and the training ground for many prominent Australian actors. These companies also serve to provide pleasure, skill development, leisure, team building and collaboration skills, and entertainment for audiences and performers alike.  

A Doll’s House

By Henrik Ibsen, adapted by Miriam Fietz and Nathan Quadrio. IpSkip Productions. Bakehouse Theatre, Adelaide. Jan 16-19, 2019

I have often started to read a review only to find the dreaded word ‘dated’ in it, used because the play was written last century or even the century before. Apart from the syntax, A Doll’s House could not be more contemporary as it presents a woman's dilemma as a human dilemma, relevant to both sexes when so often women's stories are treated as a special subject of concern only to women.

The Chat

By JR Brennan and David Woods. Sydney Festival. Carriageworks, Sydney.January 16-20, 2019

There’s a certain anticipation as you enter Track 8 of Sydney’s Carriageworks and are greeted by a former prisoner or parole officer. You are here for a unique performance, where they will test your preconceptions of rehabilitation and the capacity of ex-offenders to reintegrate with society. The audience is asked to act as parole board and judge if one former prisoner - John Tjepkema at our performance - deserves freedom.

The Snow Queen

By Ruth Cantrell. Art in Motion. Directed by Lys Tickner. Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Thornlie. 16-19 Jan, 2018

The Snow Queen is a lovely way to kick off 2019 - a production packed with enthusiastic, very young actors, from a brand new company completing its first full-length production. It is an experience laden with possibilities.

Counting and Cracking

By S. Shakthidharan. Belvoir and Co-Curious. Sydney Festival. Sydney Town Hall, Jan 11 – Feb 2, 2019 and Ridley Centre, Adelaide Showgrounds, Mar 2 - 9.

Sydney Town Hall has been transformed into a long, thrust stage surrounded by wooden tiered seating spread with brightly covered foam cushions. Colourful peaked gables arch above the lighting loom. Expectant patrons savour delicately flavoured lamb biryani before making their way to their seats for Belvoir and Co-Curious’ mammoth undertaking of S. Shakthidharan’s family saga, Counting and Cracking.

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure Jr.

Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture. Book By Kevin Del Aguila. Original Music and Lyrics by George Noriega and Joel Someillan. Gosford Musical Society Jnrs. Laycock Street Community Theatre. January 15 – 19, 2019

Gosford Musical Society Juniors never cease to amaze their audiences with well produced shows, and Madagascar Jr is no different. A musical based on the 2005 animated film may seem like a strange choice for a stage adaption, but in an era where every second Disney movie is hitting Broadway, it hardly comes as a surprise - it’s sure to be a hit with both young and old.

Picnic at Hanging Rock

Written by Laura Annawyn Shamas. Based on the novel by Joan Lindsay. Directed by Claire Argent. Brisbane Arts Theatre. Jan 12 –Feb 16, 2019

Ever since the novel was published in 1967, the story has intrigued readers and viewers as it has been both a movie and TV mini-series. Is it in any way true?  Apparently Lindsay wrote the novel in two weeks based on mystic dreams she had. The main action is centred around Mrs Appleyard, her girls’ school and students and what happens following the disappearances. The period is from Valentine’s Day, 1900.

 

Trial by Jury

By: W.S. Gibert and Arthur Sullivan. The Gilbert and Sullivan Society Tasmania. Hobart Supreme Court. Director: Patricia Robinson. January 4-18 2019

Trial by Jury has been a summer tradition in Hobart for more than a decade. It is often difficult to attract performers in the warmer months and director, Patricia Robinson, has achieved this with fluid casting options.

It was a privilege to see accomplished performer Darren Sangwell in the role of the judge. There were echoes of Hamilton’s King George in his excellent characterisation. In the following session (there are two every Friday and Saturday evenings), Kieren Slicer, took the same role and did not disappoint.