Reviews

Once

Book by Enda Walsh. Music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Based on the film by John Carney Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Sydney. Director: Richard Carroll. 24 June – 14 August, 2022

For a musical it seems odd to have a male lead who is depressive and uncharismatic.

Guy (Toby Francis) sings (beautifully) about his lost love on the streets of Dublin: he’s also about to dump his guitar and throw in all music ambitions.

But what Guy lacks in charisma and optimism he certainly makes up in authenticity. It obviously draws in a Czech passerby, simply called The Girl, who then spends the show building his confidence, getting him back to the pub band, into the studio, and even to retrieving his lost love.

Madama Butterfly

Music by Giacomo Puccini. Librettists: Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Opera Australia. Directed by Graeme Murphy. Conducted by Carlo Montanaro. June 29 - July 30, 2022

This is a visually stunning production which takes the classic opera to a place that is a world away from some of the dusty traditions of the artform.

Surrounding the stage are long AV screens, projecting images ranging from striking flags of the United States to exotic modern art.

Here We Are Amongst You

Devised & performed by the Rawcus Ensemble: Clem Baade, Michael Buxton, Harriet Devlin-Dunbar, Rachel Edward, Nilgun Guven, Joshua Lynzaat, Paul Matley, Mike McEvoy, Ryan New, Kerryn Poke, Louise Riisik, Prue Stevenson & Danielle der Borsch. Arts House, North Melbourne. 29 June – 10 July 2022

Voom!  The lights go up from black and the members of the Rawcus Ensemble reveal themselves one at a time in movement - by running across the playing space to a definite percussive beat.  Then they’re coming from all directions, criss-crossing, turning, leaving…

My Fair Lady

By Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Alexandra Theatre. Directed by Natalee Graveson. The Regal Theatre Subiaco, WA. Jun 29 - Jul 2, 2022

Alexandra Theatre have gone big and bold with their production of My Fair Lady, with a huge set, a cast of 38, an orchestra of 22 and literally hundreds of costumes. There are some excellent performances, and the audience are clearly drawn into the story.

And Then There Were None

By Agatha Christie. Directed by Robrecht Herfkens. Roxy Lane Theatre, Maylands WA. June 17- July 3, 2022

Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None is a well-structured, nicely twisted murder mystery, without a detective. With ten characters stranded on an island, an unknown killer is picking them off one by one.

Carnival of the Animals

By C!RCA. Playhouse Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brisbane. 29 June to 2 July 2022

Brisbane’s C!RCA ensemble’s Carnival of the Animals is an energetic and fun show for children and the young at heart of all ages. It showcases an incredible array of human talents – from juggling to jumping, tumbling and human towers to trapeze tricks – and introduces us ingeniously to a range of animal characters: favourites of all types, including kangaroos, elephants, dinosaurs, dogs – and even the dog’s fleas!

Thai-riffic

By Nathan Luff, adapted from the novel by Oliver Phommavanh. Director: Lisa Freshwater. Riverside Theatre. 28-29 June, 2022

Clutching their signed copy of Thai-riffic, excited children streamed into the Riverside theatre to see Nathan Luff’s adaptation of book about … well … identity. family, belonging, adjusting and accepting. All are there in this heart-warming story that begins as Lengy takes his first tentative but determined steps into Year 7.

Rock of Ages

By Christopher D’Arienzo. Goldfields Repertory Club, Kalgoorlie, WA. Directed by Lauren Chapman-Holle. Jun 17 - Jul 23, 2022

Goldfields Repertory Club’s Rock of Ages has a live music venue vibe, more akin to a rock concert than a musical, with its audience drinking throughout, singing along, and responding to the show with great enthusiasm. 

Eclipse

National Institute of Circus Arts. Conceptualised and devised by: Sally Richardson and Performers. Directors: Meredith Kitchen and Benjamin Sheen. 10-18th June, 2022

A strong opening with a post-apocalyptic theme began a joyous performance of well-honed skills. The performance space was defined by a patchwork tent and circular mat. As the tent was lifted a short “outsider” narrative was played out on the Chinese pole with daring moments performed with cheeky assurance. Costumes added to the narrative of changes in the world with suggestions of burdens and excess.

Passing Strange

Book and Lyrics by Stew, music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, created in collaboration with Annie Dawson. Presented by Antipodes. Directed by Dean Drieberg, Meat Market Stables, 3 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne. June 24 - July 10, 2022.

Passing Strange is a semi-fictionalised musical account of the real-life story of American singer-songwriter and author Mark ‘Stew’ Stewart. This incredibly delightful production combines powerful music and performance to tell a moving story of self-discovery. The story is set across a variety of locations including Los Angeles, Paris and Berlin and charts the process of the central character’s journey to finding his musical sound. The approach is light-hearted and captures a subtle tone of irony and which emphasises a cheerful and fun-loving mood. 

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