Reviews

The Beep Test

By Conor Neylon (Music & Lyrics) & Jackson Peele (Book & Lyrics). Theatre Works and Neylon & Peele. Theatre Works, St Kilda. 30 April – 10 May 2025

What began in 2019 as a ten-minute musical sketch has evolved and developed into fifty-five minutes of great, sustained music theatre entertainment.  Clever, witty songs – that advance the story.  Intricate, inventive and energetic choreography.  Sharp and economic character development.  Touching reveals.  And great performances.

Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular

Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg. Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. Original French text by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. Additional material by James Fenton. Adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. Presented by Cameron Mackintosh, and Nick Grace Management, in association with Live Nation Australia. ICC Theatre Sydney from 1 May 2025, then Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne from 14 May and Brisbane Entertainment Centre from 28 May 2025

Photograph above by Danny Kaan.

Manon

Score by Jules Massenet. The Australian Ballet. Choreographer: Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. April 30 - May 17, 2025.

Manon is a fascinating anti-heroine, an alluring schemer with an eye for diamonds, desperate to escape poverty in eighteenth century France, and fickle to her great love as she’s pimped by her brother to arrogant aristocrats.  Not your usual heroine of classical ballet!  She ends up back in rags in a Louisiana swamp. 

Love You Hate You Drive You Wild

By Bianca Butler Reynolds. Minola Theatre and Pip Theatre, Brisbane. 1-10 May 2025

Just like Elwood P Dowd and Donnie Darko, Molly (Alisha O’Brien) is shadowed by a creepy anthropomorphic animal – in this case an endearing but wise-cracking Canadian moose (Colin Smith). Mr Moose follows Molly when she moves from Canada to Australia to escape an embarrassing incident that serves as the metaphor for her anxiety and mental health issues.

The Comeuppance

By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre. 26 April – 25 May 2025

A dictionary definition of ‘comeuppance’ is ‘deserved punishment, retribution’.  But playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins does not judge his anxious, unhappy characters as severely as they judge themselves.  Instead, he gives us a sad recognition of waste and delusion that is almost Chekhovian.

Shakespeare’s R&J

An adaptation by Joe Calarco. FloMo Creative (directed by Jeff Kevin), Hobart. Peacock Theatre. 30 April – 10 May 2025

The opening moments of Shakespeare’s R&J in Hobart’s Peacock Theatre – a tight montage of regimented life in a 1950s Catholic boys’ institution – launch us energetically into not just the play but the life of a new independent theatre production outfit: this is FloMo Creative’s inaugural production.

The Verdi Gala Concert

Music by Giuseppe Verdi. Presented by Opera Australia. Directed by Shaun Rennie. Conducted by Alexander Briger. Hamer Hall, Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. 30 April & 3 May 2025.

This sumptuous event is hosted by Greta Bradman and provides a taste of some of the most renowned and recognisable Verdi operas. The performance features Orchestra Victoria and the luscious voices of Nicole Car (soprano), Paul O’Neill (tenor) and Etienne Dupuis (baritone). The program pays tribute to Verdi and also includes rarely performed pieces.

Reincarnations

Presented by Brisbane Chamber Choir. St John's Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane. April 25, 2025

Choral music has a unique sound and quality and what better venue and day of the year to demonstrate the talents of this superb group of vocalists than on Anzac Day and in one of Brisbane's iconic cathedrals. Musical Director, and Principal Conductor in this performance, Dr Graeme Morton founded the choir in 1997 which has since grown to become one of Brisbane's  exponents of a variety of choral works from all ages including an accent on original works from local composers, two of whom were present at the concert, namely Joe Twist and Stephen Leek.

The Other Place

By Sarr White. The Adelaide Repertory Theatre. Arts Theatre, Adelaide. 24th April to 3rd May, 2025

The Other Place by Sarr White, currently being performed by The Rep is deeply personal for its director, David Sinclair. Supported by Dementia Australia, this season is dedicated to Meredith Sinclair who suffered from, and died from Dementia, the leading cause of death for Australian women.

A Chorus Line – Teen Edition

By James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante (book), Marvin Hamlisch (music) and Edward Kleban (lyrics). Original direction and choreography by Michael Bennett. Teen Edition adapted by Timothy Allen McDonald. Venus Creative. Acting Director: Justin Turner. Choreographer: Emily Braithwaite. Vocal. Director: Alice Skinner. Audio: David Szoka and Lucy Allen (Lighting). The Playhouse, Hobart. 26-27 April, 2025

Venus Creative is a female run company that encourages the talent of Hobart’s many excellent dancers in shows with significant dance content. A Chorus Line (Teen Edition) was the right vehicle for actors, dancers, and singers to work across all three disciplines.