Reviews

Jungle Book reimagined

Akram Khan Company. Perth Festival. Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre WA. 9 - 17 February, 2024.

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling has been totally reinvented by Akram Khan (director and choreographer) with a futuristic script by Tariq Jordan.

Ultra-modern dance, animated drawings as projections, and original music by Jocelyn Pook bring the new folktale to vibrant but grungy life.

You see, Mowgli is reimagined as a modern-day refugee, torn from her home on life-threatening flood waters caused by climate change.

A Fool in Love

By Van Badham. Sydney Theatre Company. Wharf 1 Theatre. Feb 12 – Mar 17, 2024

In a NSW Central Coast palazzo a bankrupt Otto is trying desperately to marry off his daughter before her 30th birthday so that he can win the millions promised in his late brother’s will. The problem is that his daughter Phynayah, a Barbie lookalike, is so dumb that all her suitors and even tutors leave always give up.

The Pool

By Steve Rodgers. Perth Festival. Bold Park Aquatic Centre (215 The Boulevard, City Beach, WA.) Opening night, Sunday 11 February, 2024, playing until 25 February.

Writer, Steve Rodgers, had a great idea while swimming at his local pool - what if all these interesting, diverse people surrounding him, swimming, diving, training, gossiping and eating, were characters in a play, set in a pool?

He wanted to write about the community spirit that finds all manner of people using the same public space for a variety of reasons, exploring the healing power of water.

The Sound of Music

Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. Spotlight Theatrical Company. Directed by David Valks. Spotlight Theatre, Benowa, Gold Coast. 9th February to 9th March, 2024

Few would argue that The Sound of Music is the world’s most popular musical, an icon even for those who generally don’t embrace musical theatre. If you need further convincing, let me tell you that the entire season of Spotlight’s new production was already sold out in advance of its opening night.

Tell Me On A Sunday

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics by Don Black. Suncoast Repertory Theatre Inc. Directed by Simon Denver. Black Box Theatre, Nambour. February 2 – 11, 2024

Kicking off the weekend with a stunning musical theatre production!!

As ever, director Simon Denver ensures he pulls the most riveting performance out of his players - or in this case, just ONE - the indomitable musical talent that is Shelley Hansen.

Because, after all, Tell Me On A Sunday IS a one woman tour-de-force, a one act “song cycle” with lyrics penned by Don Black, and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. However, as we all know, a solo show doesn’t happen without a team!

HOMOPHONIC! 2024

Directed and presented by Miranda Hill. Performed by the Consort of Melbourne, and the Homophonic! Chamber Ensemble. La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street, Carlton. 9 -11 February 2024.

Miranda Hill is an incredible driving force behind this blissful exploration of classical music. In its 14th year, HOMOPHONIC! Continues to ardently promote and celebrate queer composers and musicians. Hill carefully curates collections of music that represent extraordinary talent that is often overlooked or obscured. This year this vision is particularly emphatic and unapologetic as it takes euphoria as its predominant theme. 

Martin Brock – Probably the Coolest, Funniest and Most Magical Magic Show in Town!

Australian Premiere. Fringe World. The Enchanted Ballroom at FANTASIA, Perth Town Hall, Perth. 10 February, 2024.

Extended for three more nights - prepare to be spellbound by young, Danish illusionist Martin Brock during the Perth Fringe World.

His magic is sophisticated enough for adults but will also appeal to children who might not understand the jokes but be dazzled by the disappearing and reappearing cards and martini glasses.

Right from the start, Martin Brock is teasing and entertaining his audience, even when he’s not on stage.

Low Level Panic

By Clare McIntyre. HER Productions in association with bAKEHOUSE Theatre Co. Director: Maike Strichow. KXT on Broadway. 7-17 Feb, 2024.

Since its inception in 2021, HER Productions has become a small ‘tour de force’ on the theatre scene in Newcastle.  Low Level Panic is their first venture onto the bigger Sydney stage.  What better way to do so than with the team at bAKEHOUSE, whose business is “supporting independent theatre, diverse work and new and emerging artists.” And what better theatre to perform a play set in a bathroom than the intimate traverse stage of KXT on Broadway!

Homos, or Everyone in America

By Jordan Seavey. New Theatre, Newtown, NSW. Feb 6 – Mar 9, 2024

Jordan Seavey’s play follows the tender and fiercely argumentative relationship of two gay twenty-somethings living in Manhattan.  His interesting storytelling leaps through scenes, long, short, sometimes repeated, and not always chronological.

While this fractures that familiar arc of a relationship story, and sharpens our listening, we do learn this intense five year bond began talkatively in a wine bar and ended in tears on a  subway, just before gay marriage equality arrived in America.

Wundig Wer Wilera

By Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse. West Australian Opera / Perth Festival. His Majesty’s Theatre. Opening Night Perth Festival, Friday 9 February 2024.

Official opening night event of the Perth Festival, Wundig Wer Wilera, is a real crowd-pleaser.

The traditional Noongar legend of young lovers – Wundig (Jarred Wall), a young man from the Hills and Wilera (Jess Hitchcock), a young girl of the Grass people, both in the York area of Western Australia, are betrothed to others but after a chance meeting by the river, find themselves in love.

The couple’s chemistry is perfectly embodied by the voices of Jarred Wall and Jess Hitchcock, blending harmoniously in their duets.

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