Reviews

Halfway through Act One of Rupert, Murdoch says – in defence of one of his tabloids – “It’s entertainment, not in depth analysis.” That might be the only time we hear playwright David Williamson’s “voice” in the entire evening. Williamson is our best known and most prolific playwright. He may have started out as a bolshi liberal at La Mama, but in later years he became the voice of the middle class; smart, literate, witty and able to afford theatre tickets.

Whistle Down The Wind is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s lesser know works but, none the less, it abounds with memorable music one expects from this icon of musical theatre.

Based on a book by Mary Hayley Bell and film directed by Richard Attenborough, ALW collaborated with Patricia Knopp and Aussie Director Gale Edwards in adapting the story to the stage, changing the location from the UK to the US state of Louisiana along the way.

Brian Friel ‘s wonderfully crafted play Molly Sweeney is certainly done justice in Old Van’s ‘less is more’ production.  Nothing is out of place, extraneous or unnecessary.

Molly Sweeneyis the story of an Irish woman who had sight for the first eleven months of her life then became blind.  Through the love and care of her father she was truly integrated into her close-knit small town community and lived comfortably in her own skin.  That is until she met a man who wooed and married her. 

David Gilmore’s direction, based on his long-running West End revival satisfied on every level. From Terry Parsons’ ablaze with neon set, Arlene Phillips era inspired dance routines, to Stephen Amos’ kick-ass band, 1950s Rydell High was brought brilliantly, if garishly, to life.