Reviews

Emotions were in full flood at QSO's latest concert program with a choice combination of two famous and well-regarded works, Elgar's Cello Concerto and Mahler's First Symphony, music creations inviting you to dig deep into the soul amidst contemplation and discovery. Both composers were at a point in their lives either historically or personally when music was the perfect avenue of expression, and what better vehicle at hand is the yearning passion of a solo cello or the infinite possibilites in composing for a large orchestra.

Three powerhouses of Australian musical theatre have collaborated again to deliver a brilliantly funny, authentic foray into the lives of musical theatre performers. They cover a range of experiences one might have in this industry – the good, the bad and the ugly.

I came away from Friday night’s performance of Clue on Stage at Ballina Players Theatre with mixed emotions. I was elated at having seen a really funny piece of theatre. But I was also struck with an immense feeling of pride. This cast and crew have had to overcome so many hurdles to get to Opening Night. Covid, the loss of homes, livelihoods and loved ones. I know these folk. Many of them intimately. I know their struggles. And yet they banded together to provide entertainment for us, the audience.

And how they entertained us!

Jennifer Willison finds all the fun as well as the ‘bite’ in her production of Joanna Murray-Smith’s satire on “celebrity feminists”. She keeps the pace fast – from the opening monologue it’s clear Willison is going to make the audience sit up and be entertained.

Catherine Potter delivers that monologue succinctly, introducing Margot Mason as strong, in command, but suffering writer’s block as she attempts to begin yet another dissertation on breaking the ‘feminine mystique’.