Reviews

Pah! Deaf Storytelling Night

Created by Sam Martin. Melbourne Fringe Digital – 12 – 17 October, 2021

We all seem to be fascinated by the marvellous expressive embodied language of Auslan.  It can be transfixing to watch the Auslan interpreters at live presentations whenever and wherever they occur. I have a feeling that the incorporation of an interpreter ups the attention span for most of us.

Streaming Seamen

The Digital Sea Shanty Spectacular. Melbourne Fringe Digital. 14 – 17 October – on demand.

Opening with a vibrant lively introduction of each individual by their first names, Streaming Seamen commences with the fabulous traditional song ‘What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor’.  Presented with such energy and irony – it’s enough to bring tears of delight to one’s eyes!  A product of lockdowns, it is just miraculous what can be achieved by ten awesome singers, with harmonizing voices, cleverly honed together from isolation.

Triple Bypass

Three Ten Minute Plays About Living for Death and Dying for Life, written by Deena M P Ronayne. Aberdeen Community Theatre. Melbourne Online Fringe. Sep 30 – Oct 17, 2021

All three plays are the brainchild of playwright Deena M.P. Ronayne. Dealing with hard to talk about topics can be challenging but most important. Theatre is a wonderful medium as it evokes thought and educates the audience. Ronayne is successful in doing both.

Using the talents of Aberdeen Community Theatre to cast the three plays was a bonus, as each instalment was filled with layered acting and tight production values.

Before Bed Ritual

Presented by Yoga Teacher Iliana Contos. Melbourne Fringe Online. October 7 – 14, 2021

Like many, at the moment, I am doing Zoom classes at home when I can.  So, this free event seemed the perfect opportunity to indulge in some guided relaxation before bed. 

What Rhymes with Orange?

Written and produced by Isabella Perversi. Directed by Alanah Guiry. Produced for the screen by Mad Hatter Films. Melbourne Fringe Festival. Digital Fringe. 8 -17 October 2021

What Rhymes with Orange? charts a relationship over years in fourteen scenes.

Songs for Nobodies

By Joanna Murray-Smith. Cairns Little Theatre. Directed by Kevin and Narelle Shorey. Sep 30 - Oct 2, 2021.

This is a beautifully performed and directed production that showcases the acting and singing talents of five multi-talented local actors.

The play tells the story of five famous female singers as told by five ‘ordinary’ people who had the privilege to meet them in their prime. One by one the actors tell their individual stories as well as singing some of the more well-known songs by the famous performers.

CarmenGetHER-A COVID INFUSED DISKUSTATION!

Created and performed and filmed by Dina Emry, in association with Brad Nelson. Melbourne Fringe Digital. October 8 – 17, 2021 on demand.

Dina Emry has created an extraordinary parody of one of those – ‘teetering on overwhelming’ bombastic women who is a ‘force of nature’ and totally full of … their own opinions and self-importance.  With never a dull or hesitant moment, Emry takes us on a brazenly wild ride with her fabulously over the top, ridiculously wealthy alter-ego Carmen a Cougar from Portsea. 

Holiday

By Raimondo Cortese. The Artillery and Quiet Riot. Melbourne Fringe Digital. October 9 – 17, 2021 on demand.

Holiday is an engaging piece of experimental theatre performed by Amesh Edireweera and Richard Pyros (director), written by Raimondo Cortese and presented by The Artillery and Quiet Riot for Fringe Digital.

4000 Miles

By Amy Herzog. University of Adelaide Theatre Guild. Little Theatre, Adelaide. Oct 9-23, 2021

Shakespeare, in As You Like It, wrote – ‘Sweet are the fruits of adversity’. This a very apt quote for Amy Herzog’s 2011 American family drama, which was nominated for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and has been performed numerous times throughout the world. Part of this play’s charm and appeal is its simplicity. Here we have no major socio-political ‘issue’ based play, but a pertinent and touching drama between a loving, elderly New York Jewish grandmother, Vera Joseph, and her troubled 21-year old grandson, Leo Joseph-Connell.

Billy’s Choice

Melbourne Fringe Festival online. October 7 – 17, 2021.

Billy’s Choice is an exploration of modern Indigenous Australia, set during Victoria’s lockdown in 2020. The writer, Brodie Murray, plays the titular character of Billy. He has written an honest dramatic portrayal of Koori people and the dilemmas they face when cultural boundaries blur. It is cleverly crafted by director Rachel Maza for Digital Fringe.

The entire team behind Billy’s Choice have developed a short, powerful piece of dramatic theatre. This production is simple in format and strong in content, revolving around video calls.

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