Reviews

One Man, Two Guv’nors

By Richard Bean. Directed by Angus Evans. New Theatre, Newtown, NSW. 22 Mar – 15 April, 2023

Richard Bean’s whacky adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s 1746 commedia dell’arte play, Servant of Two Masters, has been doing the rounds since 2011. And no wonder! It’s funny, suggestive and gives contemporary commedia buffs a chance to do their zany stuff – pratfalls, acrobatics, chases, falls, poses, banter and some judicious over-acting!

Way

Written and performed by Sally McKenzie. La Mama Courthouse, Carlton. 22 March – 2 April 2023

Way is a play driven by passion and shaped by theatrical skill honed by years of experience, a play in which Sally McKenzie plays all four of her characters.  As a play, it could easily have tipped over into agit-prop or political pamphlet.  It doesn’t - due to two factors that demonstrate the professionalism and ingenuity of its creator.  

Mother and Son

By Geoffrey Atherden. Ipswich Musical Theatre. Mar 24 – Apr 1, 2023

There is no stronger bond than one forged within a family. They are there through thick and thin, and that love can be tested as the years roll on. This is highlighted in Ipswich Musical Theatre Company’s production Mother and Son.

Disney's Aladdin Jr.

Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice. Book adapted & additional lyrics by Jim Luigs. Music adapted and arranged by Brian Louiselle. North Shore Theatre Company. The Zenith Theatre, Chatswood. Mar 24 – Apr 1, 2023

Get your tickets for a magical carpet ride to Agrabah ,where North Shore Theatre Company’s Aladdin JR is guaranteed to have you laughing, singing, and cheering along. The one-hour Disney adaptation is the story you know about a “diamond in the rough” street rat who learns his worth is within.  

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical

Words and Music by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Book by Douglas McGrath/ Directed by Johanna Allen. Star Casino Gold Coast. 11th March – 9th April, 2023

There can’t be anyone in the Western World who doesn’t know a Carole King song, even if they don’t know that Carole King wrote it. Songs like “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, “You’ve Got A Friend” and “It Might As Well Rain Until September” were the soundtrack of our lives from the end of the 1950s through to the late 70s and are now considered standards. The music was fabulous, even if its creator wasn’t half as interesting. King’s major ambition was to have children and live in the suburbs.

Madama Butterfly

Composed by Giacomo Puccini. Libretttists Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Handa on Sydney Harbour. Opera Australia. March / April 2023.

The forecast was for rain, and last year was almost washed out, so the opening night audience was delighted to drink in a balmy clear night where Sydney beamed.

Madama Butterfly is most suited to the outdoor setting of Handa on Sydney Harbour, as the first act has a wedding, and the second act is dominated by the leading lady waiting for the ship of her husband to arrive.

The Tempest

By William Shakespeare. University of Adelaide Theatre Guild. 24 March - 1 April 2023

Director Bronwyn Palmer has set UATG’s The Tempest on an ‘island of garbage’, referencing The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (known also as the Pacific trash vortex) that spans waters from the West Coast of America to Japan. With detritus fringing the sand-coloured/turquoise bordered Little Theatre stage or netting, garbage bags and other junk hanging from the mezzanine and elsewhere, the clever set is certainly evocative of abandonment and remoteness.

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

By Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane. Adaptor / Director: Jay James-Moody. Squabbalogic Independent Music Theatre. Seymour Centre. 17 March – 15 April, 2023

This cleverly adapted and skilfully directed production zooms along at a tightly controlled pace. It takes the ideas of the original 1960s musical fantasy and brings them cunningly into the 21st century without losing the any of the romantic whimsy and music of the original book and score or the 1970s movie.

Into The Woods

Book by James Lapine. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Co-produced by Belvoir and Hayes Theatre Co. Belvoir Street Upstairs Theatre. March 18 – April 30, 2023.

Since Stephen Sondheim conjured this mad entwining of Grimm’s Fairy Tales back in 1987, hundreds of big stars in musical theatre and screen have redrawn our memories of these iconic characters.  

Eamon Flack’s production for Belvoir’s corner stage may be a smaller, more ensemble affair than others, but his impeccable casting ensures a true and intimate experience as we follow these characters into the woods. 

Coming Out

Written by Scott Taylor. Music by Robert Taylor. Chapel Off Chapel. Midsumma Festival. 9 – 19 February, 2023.

Part of the fun of reviewing a show is knowing nothing about it going in. But when I arrived at Chapel Off Chapel and collected the programme for Coming Out, I had a fair idea of what to expect: another one of these coming out monologues (sometimes funny, sometimes set to music, sometimes both).

My expectations were wrong. Very wrong.