Reviews

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By William Shakespeare. The Australian Shakespeare Company. Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park, Sydney. Directed by Glenn Elston. 9 - 28 April 2024

‘You can find me later on Linkedin!’ calls Helena to her departing ex-sweetheart. Such a thing is permissible in this version of Shakespeare, which mixes modern quips with some heavy Elizabethan verse-making. Glenn Elston, director of Melbourne’s Australian Shakespeare Company for no less than 35 years, has mastered this mixing trick. Here he comes up with a fresh and convincing directorial take on an old and oft-told story.

Jacqueline Mifsud – The Full Mifsud

Written & performed by Jacqueline Mifsud. Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The Catfish Bar, Fitzroy. 8 – 19 April 2024

Jacqueline Mifsud has had an interesting life.  Maltese parents, Mother tried to fit in, but was fiery, irrepressible… Young Jacqueline escapes from Australia, falls in with a travelling dance troupe, has four years in Paris as an English language tour guide (dependent on tips), back to Australia, launches into stand up, wins awards, adds MC-ing, appears on television…  Now, at thirty-eight, to quote her blurb, she’s ‘single, childless and self-employed.’ 

Carmen

Choreography: Johan Inger. Score by Georges Bizet. The Australian Ballet. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. April 10 – 24, 2024

Johan Inger’s startling ballet Carmen shifts our focus from the famed femme fatale to the defeated Don Jose who swoons over her.  Callum Linnane excels as the sexually uncertain prison guard – having to lock up Carmen – dancing tall and lyrical, then crumpled into angular gestures by his unrequited love.  

Linnane is beautifully expressive of Inger’s cocktail of classical and contemporary movement (and music) in this dark psychoanalytical interruption.

A Shortcut to Happiness

By Roger Hall. Therry Theatre. The Arts Theatre – 53 Angus Street, Adelaide. 11th - 20th April 2024

A Shortcut to Happiness is a comedy from New Zealand playwright Roger Hall and follows Therry Theatres popular season in 2023 of his play Four Flat Whites in Italy.  Directed by Kerrin White, it is an unlikely love story peppered with comedy from a group of women who are determinedly and desperately seeking male companions, and a self-righteous know it all couple, all of whom form a folk dancing class. If you are unsure about seeing the play, get there to see Greg Janzow’s hen pecked, down trodden, seemingly mute portrayal of Ray.

Kuah Jenhan – Noted With Thanks

Written & performed by Kuah Jenhan. Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Trades Hall, Meeting Room. 8 – 21 April 2024

Popular across Asia – and MICF stalwart - comedian Kuah Jenhan finally got himself a ‘real job’.  At thirty-five.  In advertising.  For the same reasons anyone gets a real job.  His comedian mates accused him of selling out.  Kuah admits that’s true; he did sell out – for a regular wage, health care, paid holidays, superannuation…  For him, the lot of comedians who don’t sell out, who keep their integrity, is ‘crying in the streets’ – Kuah sees them as he rides past in his car.  Mean, huh?

For the Love of Paper

By Almitra Mavalvala. KXT on Broadway, Sydney, produced by BCD Theatre and Cultural Shock Theatrical. Directed by Kersherka Sivakumaran. April 5 – 20, 2024

The first thing of note about this world premiere of Almitra Mavalvala’s 3-hander is the excellent setting, designed by Paris Bell and contributed to by many. On the small traverse Broadway stage it displays many, many aspects of the Sydney flat shared by Kaveh, a Muslim doctor from Afganistan, and Amaliah, a Christian singer from Pakistan.

Joan Must Die - I Never Really Liked Her Anyway

By Daniel Evans. Curtin Theatre Arts and the Hayman Theatre Company. Directed by Leah Mercer. Hayman Theatre, Curtin University, Bentley, WA. Apr 9-13, 2024

Pop culture meets reality TV to retell the story of Joan of Arc and her cult of personality, with a contemporary lens, in a highly theatrical style. Curtin Theatre Arts and the Hayman Theatre Company present Joan Must Die - I Never Really Liked Her Anyway, in only its second ever production.

Josh Thomas – Let’s Tidy Up

Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne. 9th – 21st April, 2024.

 

Grit

Perseverance Street Theatre Company. Gympie. March 2024

In their mission statement, Gympie based Perseverance Street Theatre Company state they want to create theatre with an “authentic connection to people and place”. Grit fulfils this mission statement. This theatre company has struck a rich seam of gold in a town that allegedly ran out years ago. This particular nugget of culture is like a rock in the river of time. It fixes both in time and place our hopes and dreams. 

Mother and Son

By Geoffrey Atherden. Rockingham Theatre Company. Directed by Helen Brown. The Castle, Rockingham WA. Apr 5-20, 2024

Rockingham Theatre Company is currently presenting Mother and Son, a new play based on the original 1980s Australian TV series. Unlike most TV to stage adaptations, this one is written specifically for stage performance, and explores new ideas as the beloved Maggie comes to terms with today’s challenges including telephone scammers, FaceTime, and mobile phones.

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