Reviews

Marvin’s Room is a weirdly surreal, sometimes soapish drama: it’s about rebelling against your family history, but also about gracefully accepting the cards you’ve been dealt. One commentator called its style “absurdism shot through with compassion”. It is colourful, sad, but mostly funny. On its surface is a human drama (albeit black comedy), but its subconscious themes of caring, complicated family love, and unfulfilled potential will resonate – and don’t be surprised if the play creeps up on you the next day.

Israeli Avi Avital, must have been looking forward to reconnecting with his colleague and friend, Italian Giovanni Sollima. The occasion was the much anticipated concert of mandolin and cello at the Hobart Town Hall on the evening of September 19th. Instead, Avital spent the morning in rehearsal with acclaimed local concert pianist, Jennifer Marten-Smith.

Over the past decade I have reviewed this unique musical five times. I’m not complaining. It’s a truly brilliant show and easily in my list of Top 10 Musicals of ALL time.

However, it’s fair to say that a show about a family being torn apart by the mother’s mental illness - 16 years bi-polar - is not your average fare. This is a very personal show that is confronting by reminding us that we are all human. It’s special in all aspects, as its four Tony Awards (from 11 nominations), a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and various other awards testify.

Pack of Lies is a well-constructed telling of a true story, and Wanneroo Repertory’s production, is very strong, so it is a shame that the Opening Night crowd was not as full as I would expect at the Limelight Theatre. Hopefully word of mouth will convince audiences to flock to later shows, as this is an impressively acted, well-produced show.