Reviews

Iconic, A Brief History of Drag

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2018. Parasol at Guttony. March 6-17, 2018.

Life is anything but a drag in Iconic, A Brief History of Drag. Velma Celli, aka Ian Stoughair, takes us on a wild sixty-minute ride about becoming a drag diva.

From life in music theatre as a West End chorus boy to the drag icon ‘she’ has become, the audience (and I) are right behind her and our reaction builds to a crescendo at the end of the night.

We Will Rock You

By Queen and Ben Elton. Gosford Musical Society. Laycock Street Theatre. March 3 - 17, 2018.

This is an electrifying production that delights and surprises members of the audience. I overheard this comment at interval in the men’s room: “Gee, I didn’t expect it to be this good!”

The throbbing heart of the performance is the kick ass band. They perform at the top of the stage with lights teasing us with their presence. The musical director Nathan Barraclough, who looks and plays like a rock star, gets his own moment under the spotlight. 

The Far Side of the Moon

Adelaide Festival /Ex Machina. Her Majesty's Theatre. March 2nd - 7th, 2018

Ex Machina formed in 1994 under the direction of Robert LePage. This Canadian born writer and director wanted to form a company that incorporated the creativity of actors, technicians and designers alike.

The Confessions of Jeremy Perfect

By Sandy Fairthorne. Directed by Judy Ellis. La Mama Courthouse Theatre Carlton. Feb 28 - March 11, 2018

Most couples, at some point, grapple with the emotionally charged territory of having a baby. It is as universally familiar as it is challenging to any couple whether it is from hormones that race through your body, or disappointment. And it is an area fraught with emotionally charged responses as people grapple with outcomes.

The 39 Steps

Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Queensland Theatre. Directed by Jon Halpin. Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane. February 24-March 28, 2018

The program sounds exhausting - four actors playing 139 roles in an Alfred Hitchcock suspense thriller with a twist.

What is exhausted in this devilishly clever two hour production is every ounce of imaginative stagecraft, every accent known and exaggerated, and every seat in QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre.

Queensland Theatre’s The 39 Steps is sold out, which is frustrating because the moment it finishes, there’s a great urge to get another ticket and see it again.

It is a farce, a murder mystery, a comedy, a romance and riotously good fun.

Shrek The Musical

Based on The Dreamworks Animation Motion picture and book by William Steig. Book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, Music by Jeanine Tesorei. Directed by Suzanne Murphy. Brisbane Arts Theatre Playing February 24 - March 31, 2018

Of all the creatures of myth, legend and even fairy tales, the ogre stands out as the one to be most feared. Shrek is such an ogre. However, as we follow this part of his life we learn about many traits relevant to ourselves – acceptance, trust, love and belief. Thus, Shrek, with the help of good friend Donkey gains so much as he seeks to rescue the princess from the dragon for Lord Farquaad to marry. Of course, he also finds love.

Blue: The Songs of Joni Mitchell

Queenie van de Zandt. The Q, Queanbeyan, 2–3 March, and touring

In Blue: The Songs of Joni Mitchell, Queenie van de Zandt offers a new take on songs from Joni Mitchell’s oeuvre and the role of life events in shaping Mitchell’s lyrics, presenting the latter partly through narration and partly through recordings of — or apparently of — others narrating events in Mitchell’s life, including Mitchell, her mother, and her daughter.

 

The Way Of The World

By William Congreve. Directed by Raymond Omodei. Garrick Theatre, Guildford, WA. Mar 1-18, 2018

William Congreve’s baroque comedy of manners The Way of the World is brought to life in a visual feast at Garrick Theatre under the stewardship of nominally retired professional director Raymond Omodei.

This lavishly costumed production looks amazing, with beautiful 1700s costumes by Marjorie de Caux and gorgeous wigs, supplied by Liddy Reynolds and maintained by Lynda Stubbs. Set and lighting designer Jake Newby’s subtle and muted set with almost skeletal furnishing allows the costuming to shine.

The Ladies Foursome

By Norm Foster. Toowoomba Repertory Theatre. 17 February - 3 March 2018.

Toowoomba Repertory Theatre teed off their 2018 season with The Ladies Foursome, a comedy staged around a friendly game of golf. Three long-term friends (Tate, Margot and Connie), one player short due to the untimely death of their usual fourth (Cathy) are joined by a newcomer (Dory). Each hole on the course is a chance for the group to grapple with the game and parallel revelations about their friendships – especially why Cathy never mentioned Dory over many years of weekly golf meet-ups.

Parting the Red Curtains: A show that takes it up the arts!

Written by Queenie van de Zandt and Peter J. Casey. Directed by Queenie van de Zandt. The Q (Queanbeyan). 28 February – 1 March 2018, and touring

The risqué nature of the show that Queenie van de Zandt’s character the musical therapist Jan van de Stool launches upon her audience may be evident in the production’s sub-title.  Though there’s nothing crude in the humour that van de Stool launches upon her audience, it’s definitely risqué.

 

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