Reviews

Desdemona

Text by Toni Morrison; music & lyrics by Rokia Traoré. Southbank Theatre, The Sumner. Melbourne Festival 16 – 19 October 2015.

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Desdemona is virtually a functional character: she is in the play to transgress by marrying a ‘Moor’ (i.e.

The Bacchae

Conceived by Adena Jacobs and Aaron Orzech. Melbourne Festival, St Martins, Fraught Outfit and Theatre Works Theatre Works. 8 – 24 October 2015

A strong sense of danger and menace lurks in this courageous contemporary interpretation of The Bacchae.  It is a vital production, performed in raw and natural way, without artifice, by girls and young women from St Martins Youth Arts Centre. It is apparently the culmination of the results of these young performers being empowered and supported to self-devise around the ‘adult themes’ of The Bacchae

Company

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by George Furth. Everyman Theatre. Directed by Jordan Best. The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. 16-24 October 2015

What a gem this production is! With Jordan Best’s reliably slick comic direction and a cohort of some of the ACT region’s best triple threat performers, Everyman Theatre’s production of Company promised to be good and it doesn’t disappoint.

A Rabbit for Kim Jong-il

By Kit Brookman. Griffin Theatre Company. Director: Lee Lewis SBW Stables Theatre. Oct 17 - Nov 21, 2015

Word leaked out from the rehearsal floor that this play was a barrel of laughs  (or maybe a burrow) and the rumour was on the money.  The premise was preposterous and just a little true. German rabbit breeder Johann Wertheim has attracted the attention of the “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il \, who  dispatches his agent to bring back a prized a giant rabbit, no matter what the cost.

1984

Adapted and directed by Robert Icke and Duncan MacMillan. From the book by George Orwell, Playhouse Theatre. Arts Centre Melbourne. Melbourne Festival. 16th-25th October, 2015.

For many, George Orwell’s surreal nightmare of society, 1984, ceased to have relevance on Jan 1st 1985. In the years that followed, Big Brother wasn’t watching us, (except in a contrived TV reality show), Doublethink was twice unthinkable (unless you were a social media addict) and Newspeak hadn’t become the reality of mobile phones (though textspeak is more horrific than anything Orwell could have imagined).  Could…or would…anyone’s life and identity be deleted at the press of a button?

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.UMMTA. Director. Amy Bryans. Musical Director: Taylen Furness. Choreographer: Catherine Spanti.. Union Theatre, University of Melbourne. October 16 – 24, 2015

Funny Thing is one of my favourite comic musicals, a delightful romp, so the prospect of a performance by University students was mouth-watering. It did not disappoint.

Apart from the energy of the performers, there were different twists I had not encountered before. After Pseudolus’s initial introduction the stage opened on a scene from the film of Les Miserables with galley slaves being whipped, before he repeated “Tragedy Tomorrow!” and the curtains closed again.

Oliver!

Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart. Directed by Barbara Hughes. OSMaD (Vic) Scotch College. 15th-24th October, 2015

A  marvellous 22 piece orchestra under the expert direction of John Ferguson; a superb ensemble of children with stand-out performances from the two leads; two absolute stars in Fagin and Nancy; and the timeless collaboration of Lionel Bart and Charles Dickens; all combine to make this production an absolute triumph for OSMaD.

Beauty and the Beast

Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Book by Linda Woolverton. Strathfield Musical Society. Directed by Kathryn Meekings. Musical Direction by Brian Hughes. Choreography Melissa Stewart. The Latvian Theatre, Strathfield. October 9 – 17, 2015.

The biggest stars of the show were not around to take a bow. Set designer and maker Bob Peet and costume maker James Worner deserved an ovation for the visual splendour they brought to this production.

Most delightful were the candles for Lumiere which ignited always on cue, the grand French chest of drawers for Madam De La Grande Bouche and the wind up clock for Cogsworth.

My Zinc Bed

By David Hare. Ensemble Theatre, Sydney. Director: Mark Kilmurry. 8 October – 22 November, 2015.

This oddly titled play is about addiction, mainly to alcohol, but also sexual addiction to the boss’s wife. Exclude addiction from your life, it warns, and you might also exclude real intensity and passion. Directed with particular passion by Mark Kilmurry, this three-hander by David Hare delivers a handsome and unexpected punch.

Patience

By Gilbert and Sullivan. Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria. Director: Frank McCarty. Musical Director: Greg Hannan. Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre. Oct 15 – 17, 2015

With the potential closure of the Alexander Theatre at Monash University, the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria moved to the Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre for this production. A long way from their home base, the theatre is a similar size to the Alex, and, moving toward the back for the second half, I had no problems hearing everything. Unfortunately the audience was relatively small and I hope this will pick up.

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