Reviews

Rootless Cosmopolitans

By Ron Elisha. Monstrous Theatre. The Loft, Chapel off Chapel, Prahran. 15 May – 2 June 2024

‘Rootless cosmopolitans’ was the snide euphemism for Jews in Stalin’s USSR.  Permanent outsiders, people who don’t belong, can’t be trusted – and yet are also greedy, much too powerful, etc.  Every antisemitic cliché that has justified pogroms, persecution, exclusion, the Holocaust and the simmering suspicion and antisemitism that never goes away – and always threatens to break out.  When I was a kid, ‘Jew’ was an insult.  Such is the subject of Ron Elisha’s play.  That and contemporary ‘cancel

The Haunting

Written by Hugh James. Tugun Theatre Company, Gold Coast. Directed by Nathan Schulz. May 9th -25th, 2024

Are there ghosts afoot or is it merely synchronicity that sees two terrific ghost stories brought to the stage with days of each other, despite a year or more of planning?

The Gondoliers

By Gilbert and Sullivan. Gilbert and Sullivan Society of WA. Directed by Paul Treasure. The Dolphin Theatre, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA. May 16-15, 2024

The Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of The Gondoliers is well-produced and nicely sung, with a lovely feel.

The State

By Marli Jupiter and Rhi Bryan. Directed by Marli Jupiter. The Blue Room, Perth Cultural Centre, WA. May 14-25, 2024

The State is an unashamedly bold piece political theatre that reminds me of the agit-prop theatre of the 1970s. Employing bold costume, makeup, puppetry, and mask work, this look at democracy is an interesting and compelling piece of theatre.

Noises Off

By Michael Frayn. Presented by Centenary Theatre Group, Chelmer, Brisbane. May 18 - June 9, 2024

Michael Frayn's successful and well-known farce has been around a long time and since its first performance in the UK in 1982, where it ran for five years, there have been numerous revivals worldwide, even a movie version, directed by Peter Bogdanovitch and including an all-star international cast.

Ghost The Musical

Book & Lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin. Music & Lyrics by Dave Stewart & Glen Ballard. Blackout Theatre Company. Pioneer Theatre, Castle Hill. May 17 – 25, 2024.

In musical theatre, specific productions leave a lasting impression, captivating audiences with powerful storytelling and unforgettable performances.

night sweat

By Michelle McCowage. Motley Bauhaus, Carlton, Vic. May 16 -18, 2024

night sweat, written and performed by Michelle McCowage was of interest to me as I have always had difficulties in the sleep realm. The show was nominated for Best Theatre and Best Emerging Artist last year at Melbourne Fringe and it was remounted for a three-night season at the Motley Bauhaus. The blurb describes the show as a seamless interplay of physical theatre, improvisation and poetic storytelling, transporting audiences into the murky farrago between awake and asleep.

Rent

By Jonathan Larson. Directed by Shaun Rennie. His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth, WA. May 11-25, 2024

The Australian tour of Rent is in Perth for a (sadly) very short season, with a tight, passionate production that is exciting its audiences. A talented and very cohesive cast bring this much-loved musical to life in a production that surprises and touches the heart.

Cymbeline (Or, Imogen)

By William Shakespeare. Heartstring and Burning House Theatre Companies. Collingwood Yards. 15 – 25 May 2024

The rarely performed Cymbeline is a melodrama – a tale of treachery, betrayal, sibling rivalry, deception, revenge, guilt and innocence, love, loyalty and forgiveness, murder, misogyny, peerless virtue, cross-dressing, and rapid movement – and warfare - between ancient Britain and Rome.  Some have called it a comedy.  Others a romance.  (There are elements of both.)  It has been loved by some and derided by others.  Dr Samuel Johnson remarked that, ‘This play has many just sentiments, some natural dialogues, and some pleasing scenes, but t

Ulster American

By David Ireland. Ensemble Theatre, Sydney. Directed by Shane Anthony. 13 May – 8 June 2024

It’s very rare to hear an audience roar with laughter one minute and gasp out loud at the onstage action the next. But that’s exactly what happened at the Ensemble Theatre when the opening night audience was faced with this brilliantly brutal satire by Irish playwright David Ireland.

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