Reviews

It seems absurd to think that women needed to fight for their right to an education, but there is no fiction here, only a true story of a woman’s fight for greater learning in the late 1800s. Whilst many may say we have come a long way since then, the truth is, as the world struggles with a pandemic, that women are still battling to have their voices heard.

A Slightly Isolated Dog are back at The Q this week with another piece of frenetic brilliance.  The team (Leo Gene Peters, Meg Rollandi, Debbie Fish, Blair Gody and Sam Clavis) take turns at playing Mr Hyde, essentially represented by an evil wig, whose crimes become increasingly flamboyant and ridiculous, coming to a hilarious come-uppance. The casual silliness of it all belies how much skill has gone into building the show. Their physical comedy sequences are beautifully timed involving incredible co-ordination between the team and their sound operator.

Spotlight Theatre’s second hit musical to be staged this year, Beautiful, is a fantastic production in every sense of the word!

The story follows the life and creative genius of the incredibly talented musician Carole King.

As Carole, Gabriella Flowers gives a powerhouse performance with Todd Jesson as her lyric writing husband Gerry Goffin, and her friends and song writing rivals Cynthia Weil (Rachel Love) and Barry Mann (Bryn Jenke). The supporting cast all have their opportunity to present their various “songs” with style.

The title is suggestive. The publicist’s words even more so …“A devised, lo-fi science fiction, dark comedy about how our sense of worth, wellbeing, and meaning-making in a technological world cater to anxiety, doubt, and existential dread.”