Reviews

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.

Molière’s Tartuffe

Written by Justin Fleming. Directed by Todd Macdonald. Presented by Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium. Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre, 23 – 27 March, 2024

Queensland Conservatorium’s latest production of Tartuffe features the third year acting students in an energetic and delightful performance that has the audience in stitches from start to finish. The cast, with a palpable enthusiasm, attacks Molière's classic with gusto. Writer Justin Fleming has infused the adaptation of the material with modern vernacular and a vibrant sense of humour, all while staying true to the essence of the original.

Macbeth

By William Shakespeare. WAAPA. Directed by Stephen Nicolazzo. Subiaco Arts Centre, WA. Mar 22-28, 2024

WAAPA’s Third Year Acting’s production of The Scottish Play is a striking and emotive production that keeps its audience engrossed.

Australia Felix

Written and directed by Geoffrey Sykes, with songs by Steve Wood. Playscript Presents. Roslyn Packer Theatre. Mar 22 - April 6, 2024.

The Ros Packer Theatre was originally used by merchants as a Bond Store in the wool trade, and writer Geoffrey Sykes has chosen the cosy industrial looking sandstone room known as the Richard Wherrett Studio for his historical revue.

It is a good space for the piece, much of which is set at the trial and jail cell of runaway convict George Clarke in the 1830s. He was deemed to be a major threat to public safety of the colony because he befriended and lived with nine Aboriginal tribes.

Are You Being Served?

Written by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft. Ballina Players. By arrangement with ORiGiNTM Theatrical. On behalf of Samuel French. A Concord Theatricals Company. Director: Fran Legge. March 15 – 24, 2024.

If you like a little (or should that be a little more than a little?) innuendo, the occasional double entendre, or if you simply want to laugh at one-liners that you know (yes, you know) you shouldn’t be laughing at, then Are You Being Served? at Ballina Players is the place to be.

Theatre of Magic

Performed and Devised by Christopher Wayne, Josh Norbido, and Kerry Domann. Map Room, Treasury Hotel. Two Shows Each Saturday Evening from March 2024

Venturing into Brisbane's Theatre of Magic feels akin to stepping through a portal into another world. It’s reminiscent of a bygone era, with the venue’s décor, performers’ garb, and pre-show tunes all designed to set the mood of old-school opulence. 

The Producers

By Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan and Glen Kelly. Primadonna Productions. Directed by Carole Dhu. Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, WA. Mar 22 - 24, 2024

Primadonna Productions’ The Producers was a clean, slick, and well-performed production that deserved a longer run. Playing to big audiences at the 800 seat Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, this was a production with strong production values that felt worthy of this beautiful venue.

Looking fabulous with excellent costumes from Carole Dhu and cast, simple but effective sets - predominantly using drops and projections and strong lighting choices, served the show well.

Hillsong Boy

Created by Scott Parker and Felicity Nicol. The Flying Nun by Brand X, 34-40 Burton Street, Darlinghurst. March 22 & 23, 2024

This is the story of Scott Parker who spent 20 years in Hillsong reaching the heights of Christian celebrity as a star singer. Welcome to the alluring world of megachurches, which make such great dramatic backdrops with their evangelical bigotries and financial secrets, their effusive theatre and enveloping community – and especially in Scott’s telling, since he’s also queer.  

Baskerville - A Sherlock Holmes Mystery

By Ken Ludwig. Adelaide Repertory Theatre Company. Arts Theatre. 21-24 March; 4-6 April, 2024

If you are going to see Baskerville- A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, prepare yourself for something extraordinarily different!

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.