Reviews

At the last minute Amy Lehpamer, who was one of Defying Gravity’s leading ladies, had to pull out because of Covid, so her replacement, Opera Queensland allumna Irena Lysiuk had 48 hours to learn the whole show. A formidable feat, but she came through with flying colors and her vocals more than matched her esteemed co-stars Caroline O’Connor and Naomi Price.

A capacity house rose to the occasion giving thunderous support to the three divas who were obviously thrilled to be back on stage doing what they do best.

How do you describe Reuben Kaye? A cabaret MC extraordinaire dressed in a skimpy industrial-strength mini, with a black bin-liner cape and platform boots – get the picture? A diva alliance between the wink of Liza Minnelli's false eye lashes and the smirk of Rocky Horror's Frank-N-Furter. Clearer? The voice of rock royalty and street smarts of your favourite Jewish comedian?

1934. The Great Depression. Duluth, Minesotta, northern regional USA.

A bleak boarding house raises its spirits for one last Thanksgiving, as foreclosure and dispossession loom.

Certainly not escapist fare for the times if that’s what you’re looking for, but for a couple of years now I’ve been attracted to the idea of a musical theatre score drawn from the songs of Bob Dylan, part of the soundtrack of my youth. It made such sense to me, if done right.

360 Allstars hits the Playhouse at the right time to provide perfect for-all-the-family entertainment to break up the school holidays. This is a nifty showcase of what could be considered traditional circus skills that involve the 360 degrees circle of the group's title – juggling, spinning, aerobatics, acro dance, balancing – as well as good old-fashioned buffoonery. At exactly an hour long, it's just the thing to keep easily distracted children and teens enthralled and parents entertained too.