Reviews

Talking to the Future

Written & directed by Darryl Emmerson. La Mama Courthouse. 22 June – 3 July 2022

Alfred Deakin was Prime Minister of the newly federated Commonwealth of Australia 1903 – 1904, 1905 – 1908, 1909 – 1910.  Some say Australia’s greatest prime minister.  Playwright Darryl Emmerson is clearly an admirer.  But let’s be clear: Talking to the Future is not a play; it’s a history lesson and a hagiographic one at that. 

Bernie Dieter’s Weimar Punk

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2022. The Banquet Room, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide June 24 & 25, 2022

An hour with Bernie Dieter is just not enough!!!

To present Bernie Dieter’s Weimar Punk the Adelaide Festival Theatre Banquet Room is transformed into a Berlin nightclub; sleezy, complete with a mirror ball, red neon “Berlin” sign, a dressing table and costume rack.

Songs My Mother Taught Me

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2022. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide. June 24 & 25, 2022

As Tina herself says, “Chi si volta, e chi si gira, sempre a casa va finire.” (No matter where you go or turn, you will always end up at home). For Songs My Mother Taught Me, the stage of Her Majesty’s Theatre is turned into a lounge room of sorts; over 30 lampshades hanging from the flies with string lights, a chair and table. This lounge room however, also has a 9-piece band and two backup singers!

M. Rock

By Lachlan Philpott. Australian Theatre for Young People. Director: Fraser Corfield. The Rebel Theatre. 24 June – 17 July, 2022

Valerie Bader brings Mabel Mudge, aka M. Rock, blasting back into the Sydney theatre scene in this happy, inter-generational play that is as inspirational today as it was in 2014. It’s a play about age and youth. About how often both are misunderstood, mislabelled. It’s a play about their dreams … and their right to dream them.

“It reminds us how vital it is for each of us to beat our own drums and let go and dance, however badly.” (Lachlan Philpotts, playwright).

Come Rain or Come Shine

Based on the story by Kazuo Ishiguro. Melbourne Theatre Company. Book by Carolyn Burns, lyrics by Tim Finn & Simon Phillips, music by Tim Finn, directed by Simon Phillips. Southbank Theatre, The Sumner, 140 Southbank Blvd. 20 June—23 July 2022

This musical version of the short story is a very unusual choice for an adaptation. The classical love triangle scenario is given unique treatment by Ishiguro. In a very straightforward and rather ordinary manner, the story actually confirms the enduring nature of the friendship between the three characters Emily (Gillian Cosgriff), Ray (Angus Grant), and Charlie (Chris Ryan). They meet at university and Emily and Ray share a passion for Great American Songbook music.

Penn & Teller

QPAC Concert Hall. 22nd June-3rd July, 2022

Acknowledged as the best comedy magicians in the world, Penn and Teller have “owned” Las Vegas stages for 40 years, had their show on Broadway, had thirteen Emmy nominations for their first TV show … and are about to embark on Season 10 of their TV show “Fool Us”, having been friends and partners for half a century. And yet, this their first tour of Australia.

And Then You Go - The Vali Myers Project

Adelaide Cabaret Festival. The Space Theatre, Adelaide. Fri 24th and Sat 25th Jun 2022

Victoria Falconer is a powerhouse composer, performer, musical director, and multi-instrumentalist who has conquered cabaret scenes in Australia and the UK plus multiple Fringe circuits, larger-scale productions including Darlinghurst Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of Once the Musical and Slingsby’s The Boy Who Talked To Dogs.  She has co-created and performed in award-winning Adelaide Fringe shows Fringe Wives Club’s Glittery Clittery and Smashed: The Brunch Party, and there are many more sparkling credits to her name.

Pull The Pin

By Rebecca Fingher. Just Friends Theatre Company. Directed By Sian Murphy. The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, WA. Jun 17- Jul 2, 2022

Pull The Pin, presented by Just Friends Theatre Company and the Blue Room, is a warm feel-good play about friendship and ten pin bowling. Nicely structured and acted with warmth and conviction, this is a show that leaves its audience smiling.

She Wrote the Letter

By Kieran Carroll. La Mama HQ, Carlton. 22 June – 3 July 2022

Two pen friends write to each other, beginning as teenagers and ending as mature women.  They exchange news of the trials of growing up, of falling in love, of their good and bad choices, pop music, careers, boyfriends, marriage, children, hopes, dreams, and their yearning to meet face-to-face.  Kieran Carroll’s play is based on the real letters New Zealander Tania McNaughton wrote to her friend Ute Dahlke in the DDR, and the letters Ute wrote to her.  The real Tania and Ute, the program tells us, have now been friends for forty-three years.

Harlequinade

The Australia Ballet with Orchestra Victoria. Arts Centre, Melbourne. June 17 – 25.. Live stream June 24.

Hot on the heels of the groundbreaking Kunstkamer comes more traditional fare from the Australian Ballet. This is a ballet for the family, with an easy to follow narrative, loads of colour and laughs, and glittering costumes.

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