Reviews

NIUSIA

By Beth Paterson. Adelaide Fringe. Main Theatre at Goodwood Theatre and Studios. 23 February - 9 March 2025

Beth Paterson opens the show, sitting at a table, surrounded by archive boxes. There are dozens of books piled up on and around the table – the spines suggest history, culture, philosophy – and Barry Humphries.

Paterson tells us of her Saturday morning visits to see her Nana, bribed with a hot chocolate, and aged 14, watching the clock so she’d know when it was time to leave. She didn’t want to be there – her Nana, Niusia, might have been a holocaust survivor, a concentration camp hero, but to teenager Beth, she was a bitch.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Text by John Cameron Mitchell / Music and lyrics by Stephen Trask. Adelaide Festival 2025. Presented by GWB Entertainment, Andrew Henry Presents and Adelaide Festival. Queen’s Theatre. February 18th – March 15th, 2025

On a balmy night in Adelaide, the opening night audience was abuzz with excitement. I, like many others, had heard the hype about this wild musical but make no mistake this is musical theatre with a rock concert atmosphere. The crowd is very vocal and encouraged to be. It is a celebration of differences that culminate in acceptance, unity, and love.

Matriarchs, Mystery and Mayhem

By Bob Charteris, Nick Hall and Yvette Wall. Stirling Players. Directed by Bob Charteris, Janet Braidwood and Megan Lilley. Stirling Theatre, Innaloo, WA. Feb 13 -22, 2024

Stirling Players licked off their 2025 Season with three one act plays under the banner Matriarchs, Mystery and Mayhem. The three plays were loosely associated by a theme of matrimony, with the first featuring a widow keen for remarriage, the second a silver wedding anniversary and the final play being set on the day of a wedding. The three plays were very different in style, but all were clever comedies.

Primal

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025. The Octagon at Gluttony, Rymill Park, Adelaide. Feb 20 – March 23, 2025

Rouge has always been a favourite of the Fringe and a feast of talent. Their new show Primal is no exception!

Inspired by the raw energy of the animal kingdom and the complexities of human relationships, this nonstop spectacle explores identity, sexuality, and perception. It features a small cast who rocket along at the speed of light leaving the audience no time to breathe, just to gasp, cheer and applaud.

Shark

By Lucy Wong. Lazy Yarns. Directed by Mitchell Whelan. The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, WA. Feb 11-15, 2025

Presented by Lazy Yarns, Shark is a behind the scenes look at a low budget Sharkageddon film, where the young actress at the centre of the story and the ‘Shark’ both dream of stardom.

Campy, schlocky and most certainly not taking itself seriously, Shark was written by actor Lucy Wong, in collaboration with fellow actor/designer/devisors Clea Purvis (who plays Girl) and Delaney Burke (Shark).

Celebrate!

Presented by Southern Cross Soloists and QPAC. QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane. February 23, 2025

To celebrate their 30th anniversary, and with an informative and ingratiating verbal introduction from Co-Artistic Director and clarinetist Ashley Smith, SXS chamber group decided to present this concert primarily with a Viennese flavour, except for an opening item entitled 'Wayfinding', dedicated to the recent catastrophic LA fires.

Looped

By Matthew Lombardo. Old Mill Theatre. Directed by Jacqui Warner. Old Mill Theatre, South Perth, WA. Feb 21 - Mar 8, 2025

Looped, a story set on one afternoon, is based on a true story, and tells of a “loop’ recording for actress Tallulah Bankhead’s final film. Presented by Old Mill Theatre, this quality production deserves better audiences.

Bonding

Adelaide Fringe. The Bally at Gluttony. 21 February - 2 March 2025

‘My name is Lewis. Stephen Lewis,’ says the man in a tux on stage. After performing the famous strut and pose of James Bond firing his gun down the barrel of the camera, the audience is fired up with a quick popularity contest of which actor was the best at the iconic British spy. In the end, it’s a shout-off between Connery and Craig, with the Scotsman pulling through.

She Kills Monsters

By Qui Nguyen. Darlington Theatre Players. Directed by Connie Wetherilt. Marloo Theatre, Greenmount, WA. Feb 7-22, 2025

One of the most frequently performed plays in the United States, Darlington Theatre Players’ production of She Kills Monsters appears to be a Western Australian premiere. Cleverly directed and nicely performed, this was a great way to kick off 2025 at Marloo.

‘Ordinary’ Agnes Evans delves into the world of Dungeons and Dragons, in an attempt to understand her late sister. A lovely blend of reality and fantasy She Kills Monsters, was a joy for Role Players, but very accessible for everyone.

Charley’s Aunt

By Brandon Thomas. Adapted by Paul Thain. Directed by Kevin Shorey. Cairns Little Theatre. February 21st- March 1st, 2025

First produced in 1892, this adapted version of Charley’s Aunt is still classic comedy.

Set in an Edwardian Boys College, the play involves college lads Jack Chesney and Charley Wyckham in their endeavour to court the young ladies, Kitty and Amy respectively, despite not having a chaperone. Charley’s aunt from Brazil is supposed to be the chaperone, but she is delayed. So, Jack and Charley persuade their fellow college mate, Fancourt Babberly, an amateur actor, to dress as Charley’s aunt. The confusion then begins.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.