Reviews

Reuben Kaye – Live and Intimidating

HOTA Gold Coast. Wed July 12th, 2023

Not content with already having two different shows in production this year, the powerhouse that is Reuben Kaye has added a third before heading off to the Edinburgh Festival and then to conquer Europe with his unparalleled wit.

The new show is called Live and Intimidating, but in truth there is nothing intimidating about Kaye…. he is confronting, yes, but ultimately the choice is yours. (Though one hapless male victim of a mock seduction was told “If you look away, you’re a Homophobe.” )

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Composer / lyricist Dave Malloy. Darlinghurst Theatre Company. Eternity Playhouse, Darlinghurst. July 7 – August 20, 2023

Inspired by a slim slice of Tolstoy’s epic War and Peace (the 70-page Part 8), immersive, quirky Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, dubbed an “electro-pop opera”, envelops the Eternity Playhouse and its audience.

One Act Season - Irish Theatre Players

By Edward Albee, Noel O’Neill, and David Tristram. Irish Theatre Players. Directed by Michael McCall, Noel O'Neill, and Christine Ellis. Irish Club of WA, Townshend Rd, Subiaco WA. July 12-16, 2023

The Irish Theatre Players One Act Season is a short run of three very different one act plays. Featuring Irish Theatre Players’ wonderful hospitality, the three shows offer great variety and are being well received by the audience.

The Tales of Hoffmann

Composed by Jacques Offenbach. Libretto by Jules Barbier. Opera Australia. Directed by Damiano Michieletto. Dame Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. July 11 – 22, 2023.

The arrival of this shared production of Opera Australia, Covent Garden and two of Europe’s biggest opera houses was a cause for celebration and relief.

Italian creatives commenced rehearsals via zoom from hotel quarantine in 2021, only to be sent packing back home when Sydney went into lockdown. You could feel the glee in the sinews of every member of the ample chorus, who milked so many comic moments with skill and relish.

We’ll Always Have Bali

By Lily Baitup. The Blue Room Theatre and Samantha Hortin. The Blue Room Theatre, Perth, WA. July 11 - 29, 2023

We’ll Always Have Bali Is a family drama with some bite currently playing at the Blue RoomWell-presented and acted with credence. This thoughtful slice of life drama has much to like.

Performing on one of the most realistic sets I've ever seen at the Blue Room, William Gammels’ attention to detail place us firmly in a home that could belong to many people that you know. Amber Lorenzi, currently in her final months at WAAPA, provides a lighting design that is both thoughtful and emotive.

Wolfgang's Magical Musical Circus

Circa. Riverside Theatre Parramatta. 10-12 July, 2023

What a great way to introduce kids to really clever circus – and classical music! The productions of Circa are renowned internationally not just for the talent and daring of the artists involved, but also for their theatricality and clever physical comedy. This production, aimed specifically at young audiences, combines each of those features performed with split second timing to classical musical pieces augmented by a piano accordion.

Billy Elliot The Musical

Music by Elton John. Lyrics and Book by Lee Hall. Matt Ward Entertainment. Directed by Tim Hill. The Theatre, Star Casino, Gold Coast. July 6th – July 30th, 2023

The story of a young Geordie boy aspiring to become a ballet dancer in Britian’s Northern coal fields during the miners’ strike of 1984 proved a smash hit when the feature film was released in 2000, but it isn’t an obvious choice for a musical. The Geordie accent can prove difficult for cast and audience alike, and some find the poverty and grime of the despairing striking miners to be depressing, and yet the 2005 musical is constantly on top ten lists of Best Musicals of the 21st century.

All Shook Up

By Joe DiPietro. HAMA Productions. Directed by Vincent Hooper. Crown Theatre, Perth, WA. July 8-23, 2023

Last weekend saw one of the biggest theatre weekends for Perth this year, with at least nine shows opening, the biggest of which has to be HAMA Productions’ All Shook Up at Crown Theatre. Attracting great crowds despite a heap of competition (including the Dockers’ game next door), this bright show based on the music of Elvis Presley had the audience tapping their feet throughout.

The Cemetery Club

By Ivan Menchell. Directed by Phil Carney. New Farm Nash Theatre. July 7 –29, 2023.

This is a poignant comedy-drama about relationships, ageing, relationships and life after adversity concerns three friends – Doris, Lucille and Ester.  All three live in the same Jewish community, are in their mid-to-late fifties and have become widows in the past few years. Once a month they gather to visit their husbands’ graves and meet afterwards to talk about their lives. From these talks, the audience learns of the developing differences between them as to how to approach the future while not forgetting the past marriages.

Ray Plays Tchaikovsky

Queensland Symphony Orchestra. QPAC. 8 July 2023

The concert hall at QPAC was once again alive with the music of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, this time accompanying violin virtuoso Ray Chen. The sixth Maestro concert of the year for the Orchestra, Chen took to the stage to play Tchaikovsky’s Concerto in D for Violin and Orchestra.

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