Reviews

Nailed It!

By Andrew Strano. Adelaide Cabaret Festival. ARTSPACE, Adelaide Festival Centre. 10 & 11 June, 2016.

If the words 'modest', 'intelligent', and 'likeable' describe your ideal theoretical cabaret evening, then Andrew Strano may be the one who hits (nails?) the spot for you. On the other hand, you'll also need to be prepared to deal with some startling content that pushes against conventional boundaries.

All My Sons

By Arthur Miller. Sydney Theatre Company. Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay. June 4 – July 9, 2016.

The Sydney Theatre Company may have, without plausible explanation, just lost its new artistic director Jonathan Church back to Britain, but meanwhile onstage its resident director Kip Williams in in powerful control of his material.

All My Sons is Arthur Miller’s griping family thriller set on one day in 1947, as the criminal wartime secret of business man Joe Keller is about to explode.   

Gala Variety Performance

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2016. June 10, 2016. Adelaide Festival Theatre.

Following a cold and cloudy winter’s day in Adelaide the stars were out at last, both in the sky and on the Festival Theatre stage, as old chums and new ‘came to the Cabaret’ to celebrate the start of 2016’s June 10-25 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Jesus Christ Superstar

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics: Tim Rice. Queensland Musical Theatre. Director: Deian Ping. Musical Director: Andrew Wadley. Choreographer: Jess Page. Schonell Theatre. June 8 – 12, 2016

Despite being forty-four years old, Webber and Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar still thrills musically. The score is irresistibly catchy and the lyrics are witty and literate. Although labelled a rock-opera it’s really a rock-oratorio and as such demands strong voices. It also needs to be staged simply to be effective.

The Big Dry

By Mark Kilmurry, adapted from the novel by Tony Davis. Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) / Ensemble Theatre. Directed by Fraser Corfield. Ensemble Theatre. June 4 - July 2, 2016.

It’s hard to under-estimate the challenge; the world premiere of a new play in a professional theatre, where carriage of the drama rested almost solely on teenagers and a child. Throw into the mix the need to re-create the atmosphere of a futuristic world dominated by dust storms, fighting over scarce resources and a Police state with only one set to play with on a small stage.

Yarn

Written & performed by Lily Fish. Directed by Andrew Gray. La Mama Theatre, Carlton VIC. 9 – 19 June 2016.

Lily Fish is a marvel - a protean, highly physical performer.  She tells tales illustrated by the tiniest but clearest gestures, her hands like minimal puppets.  With her buzz cut hair, she brings to mind Falconetti in Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc, but then, with her mobile face, she becomes a rather blundering Old Testament God at the dawn of creation.  Then she’s God’s ‘mistake’, Lilith, made like Adam from the primeval mud.  Later, in total contrast, an unhappy romantic wondering why love has failed.  Then she jumps o

Big Fish

Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Book by John August. The Therry Dramatic Society. Directed by Amanda Rowe. The Arts Theatre, Adelaide. 9-18 June, 2016

The Therry Dramatic Society’s latest production is an enchanting fable that explores many deep and thought provoking themes - ageing, mortality, generation gaps, the quest for identity, the sacrifices required to ensure that love endures, the conflict between history versus mythology and the value of storytelling – thorough the prism of a fantastical hero’s journey that joyously illuminates the absurdities of life. Big Fish is arguably the most accomplished work of musical theatre to have been staged in Adelaide during the last five years.

Megan Hilty In Concert

Concert Hall, QPAC, 9 June 2016, then Theatre Royal Sydney and Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

When Broadway’s favourite ‘Blonde Bombshell’ Megan Hilty sang the Smash anthem “Let me be your Star” last night there was no doubt she was a star and a star of the first magnitude with a voice that could blast a tune to the back wall of the theatre or caress a ballad with touching sweetness or regret.

Indian Embrace

Indian Australian Association. Star Theatres, Adelaide. June 8-11, 2016

American raised Playwright Carol Dance has joined forces with the Indian Australian Association of South Australia to bring to the stage her cross-cultural play Indian Embrace, a tale of connection with family and country. Dance aims to teach us life lessons and traditions, but with mixed results.

The action takes place in a guesthouse located in Varanasi, India. Location is established with projections on the back wall and a distinctive Indian soundtrack.

Young Frankenstein

Book: Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan. Music & Lyrics: Mel Brooks. Original Direction & Choreography: Susan Stroman. Director: Matt Bearup. Musical Director: Matthew Nutley. Choreographer: Rhylee Nowell. MLOC Productions. Shirley Burke Theatre, Parkdale. May 2016.

Ever wondered what happens to your favourite characters after the credits roll or you reach the last page of a book?

Young Frankensteincontinues the story of some classic characters. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Adam Jon) is the grandson of the Frankenstein famous for reanimating the dead. Frederick wants to escape his family’s legacy and insists on pronouncing his surname, ‘Fronkensteen.'

This is the musical version of a 1974 horror comedy movie by Mel Brooks. It’s a great choice for the first show in MLOC Productions’ 71st year.

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