Reviews

American property developer B F Pinkerton is subdividing a little slice of Japanese waterfront paradise just off the Botanical Gardens, where Sydney’s brightly lit skyline and passing ferries provide an aptly striking panorama for this modern take on Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

The idyllic natural setting of the first act, a lush pristine green slope, topped by an attractive grove of trees, is marked out with tell-tale white chalk lines, clearly being carved up for development. Large screens telegraph the message of Lost Paradise.

The Tiger Lillies are a musical trio from Britain, comprising the founder Martyn Jacques (vocals, accordion and piano), Mike Pickering (drums, percussion and backing vocals) and Adrian Stout (double bass, musical saw, theremin and backing vocals).

Their style is quite a mixture: obvious Brechtian influences, a dash of punk, the darker edge of old folk songs, a bit of Jacques Brel, and a nod to Parisian cabaret. All this creates a strange but compelling soundscape where the audience comes along on an eerie narrative journey.

Neighbourhood Watch is about the rich complex life of Ana, an acerbic aging Hungarian woman.  Our amazing matriarch of theatre Robyn Nevin is truly a ‘tour-de-force’ as Ana, who is depicted through her interactions with the people living around her.  It is fascinating to watch Ms. Nevin’s rich and multi-layered characterization.  Working opposite her, Megan Holloway, as Catherine, adroitly bridges the gap of portraying a vague self-interested young actor and Ana’s younger self, both on treacherous journeys to adulthood.

Guys and Dolls is a very dated musical and in this productions feels as though it has gone well beyond its use-by date. A quintessential American musical, or more specifically a Broadway one, it was written 64 years ago when people were still reading Damon Runyon. At the time Frank Loesser’s adaptation of the characters was considered brilliant, but times change and what was considered a classic yesterday, today seems merely tired and old-fashioned.