Reviews

The Complete Works Of Shakespeare (Abridged)

By Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield. State Theatre Company of South Australia. Aug 1 – 3, 2013, and touring.

The Q, Queanbeyan Arts Centre. 24-27 August and touring Australia

Taming of the Shrew

By William Shakespeare. Hobart Repertory Theatre Society. Playhouse Theatre, Hobart. Directed by: Julie Waddington. 26 July – 10 August 2013

Many adaptations of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare have focussed on the romantic comedy aspect of this centuries-old play. The most recent version by Hobart Repertory Theatre Society, under the direction of Julie Waddington, has a slightly different take, focussing on gender politics with a twist. Baptista has two daughters: the elder, Kate the shrew, must be married off before sweet, agreeable Bianca can be wed.

Romeo and Juliet

By William Shakespeare. Impulse Theatre. King Street Theatre, South Newtown (NSW). July 31 – August 24, 2013.

Looking at my program- an image of two lovers on the beach against a backdrop of the Australian flag - I was excited to see this classic tale portrayed in the context of Sydney’s Cronulla riots. The result was a mixture, with some aspects resonating perfectly with this adaptation, while other parts operated outside the whole Cronulla thing. Those aspects of the production that reflected the racial tension evidenced in the riot were done so well that I was disappointed not to see more.

Miss Ophelia

By Ramses Graus, with Mirthe Klieverik, from Michael Ende’s book ‘Ophelia’s Shadow Theatre’. Translated into English from the original Dutch by David Colmer. Het Filiaal (Netherlands). Director: Ramses Graus. Set Designer: Joris van Oosterwijk. Musical Director & Sound. Designer Gábor Tarján
. Artistic Director & Direction Coach Monique Corvers. Fairfax Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne. 31 July – 4 August

If I told you a finger-puppet show about a quiet old lady, presented on a set made of cardboard shoeboxes and everyday items, was a hit with primary school children, I doubt you’d believe me. But here we have Miss Ophelia, an exquisite gift from The Netherlands, based on the book by Michael Ende (The Never Ending Story).

Ebenezer Scrooge

Musical adaptation by Liz Connor of Charles Dickens’ Novella A Christmas Carol. Huon Valley Theatre Group (Tas.). Huonville Town Hall. Director: Liz Connor. July 18 – August 3, 2013

Think of Christmas (even if it is celebrated in July) Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol. There have been many adaptations, in theatrical works and film versions, that have shaped how people celebrate Christmas. The Huon Valley Theatre production of Ebenezer Scrooge presents a new, reworked, slightly different slant on the traditional Christmas Carol story, showing more of the character of that archetypical grump, Scrooge.

The Lady of the House of Love

Adapted by Daniel Evans from a short story by Angela Carter, with music by Jake Diefenbach. Presented by Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council & Metro Arts. Sue Benner Theatre. 26 July – 3 Aug 2013

This is top-drawer art house entertainment.

Its target audience is fans of Vampire-Fantasy, and there were many in the intimate 90-seat theatre – perfect venue for a show like this, no artificial sound system needed.

Sandro Colarelli gives a virtuoso performance, playing the narrator; ‘the Lady’ of the title (a pre-World War I Countess); and her governess who cares for her as well as inveigling men to ‘the Lady’s’ decaying castle for her pleasure.

La Traviata

By Verdi. Opera Australia. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. July 30 – August 31, 2013

This one has all those clichés of opera – the fallen woman forced into moral redemption and a lingering consumptive death. It also has the most beautiful melodies and few moments of opera tedium.

A New Way to Pay Old Debts

By Philip Massinger. Brisbane Arts Theatre. 26 Jul – 24 Aug, 2013.

Massinger was a Jacobean playwright whose works slipped into archive recesses after successful productions. This social satire with an underdog-overcomes-oppressor theme resonates even today. Well done BAT and Ron Kelly for introducing Brisbane to it!

Massinger lightens his theme with comedy; director, Ron Kelly, and his cast spice it liberally with panache while retaining the archaic language. They play it in modern dress, even adding mobile phones and i-pads. I had trouble reconciling the five hundred year gap; might have been easier in a modernised version.

 

Persona

Based on a screenplay by Ingmar Bergman. A Fraught Outfit production. Belvoir Theatre, Sydney. Director: Adena Jacobs. 24 July – 18 August, 2013.

Adena Jacobs’ stage version of the Ingmar Bergman 1966 cinema masterwork comes to Sydney with considerable clout and interest. It won five of the eight available 2012 Melbourne Green Room Awards for Independent Theatre — best Production, Direction, Design, Lighting, Female Performer. And Ms Jacobs is not only the Artistic Director of Fraught Outfit, the company that devised this Persona, she’s recently been appointed as one of Belvoir’s two new Resident Directors.

Other Desert Cities

By Jon Robin Baitz. Directed by Kate Cherry. Black Swan State Theatre Company. Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA, Perth, WA. Jul 20-Aug 4, 2013.

As the lights rise on Other Desert Cities, the audience are greeted with one of the most sumptuous and expensive looking sets ever to grace the stage of a Perth based play. A stunning Palm Springs mansion, complete with floor to ceiling windows, beautiful and elegant flooring and a pool deck with pool (and water), Christina Smith's set design literally sets the scene for a high quality production. This is clearly a luxurious and beautiful home, an oasis in the surrounding desert - a dangerous and inhospitable surround.