Reviews

Green Day’s American Idiot

Music by Green Day. Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong. Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. PACA Productions. Zenith Theatre Chatswood. September 27 - October 12, 2024.

This is a full throttled, gutsy presentation of a punk rock musical which leaves little to the imagination.

PACA productions pack a punch, featuring a hot thrashing band, passionate credible performances, and tight choreography from the ensemble, surrounded by a dynamic set piece.

Gilgamesh

Composed by Jack Symonds, librettist Louis Garrick and director Kip Williams. Presented by Opera Australia, Sydney Chamber Opera & Carriageworks. Bay 17, Carriageworks, Eveleigh. September 26 – October 5, 2024

They say it’s the world’s oldest written story, inscribed onto Babylonian clay tablets over three thousand years ago.  Gilgamesh is an ego-driven corrupt ruler who provokes the destruction of his city and forests from vengeful gods, but through love, loss and grief finds his humanity and redemption.

Now this picaresque tale through life and death, travelling between earth and spirits to the limits of the world, is an engrossing new Australian opera.

Jesus Christ Superstar

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics by Tim Rice. Elder Conservatorium of Music. Scott Theatre, Kintore Ave Adelaide. Sept 26 – 29, 2024

Jesus Christ Superstar, by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber and equally legendary Tim Rice, is a sung through rock opera. It was premiered in New York in 1971 and opened in the West End in 1972.

I was fortunate enough to see the original 1972 Australian cast featuring Trevor White as Jesus, the late and great Jon English as Judas, Marcia Hines as Mary and Reg Livermore as Herod at Memorial Drive and it has lived in my memory ever since!

Picnic at Hanging Rock

By Tom Wright (from the book by Joan Lindsay). Exit Left. Lily Ward (Direction). Suzen Parnell (Costume and Design). Exit Left Team and David Szoka (Lighting). The Playhouse Theatre, Hobart. 26-29 September 2024

Hobart has a perfectly wonderful theatre carved into a quarry.  Such a venue must have been the obvious choice for a play set in the shadow of a monolith. The Peacock Theatre was not used but instead the cavernous recess of the undressed stage of the The Playhouse is used to evoke those things that are just out of sight.

A Cheery Soul

By Patrick White. Presented by: Holden Street Theatres Inc. (SA). The Studio. Sept 24 - Oct 12 2024

Once again, Holden Street Theatres Inc. is presenting cutting edge theatre that few other companies would attempt. This is largely due the passion of director, Peter Goers and the indefatigable, brilliantly versatile Martha Lott, this time as the emotional bulldozer Miss Docker in Patrick White’s A Cheery Soul. They have put together an ensemble that the playwright has judiciously given juicy bits of dialogue, sometimes as pithy cameos, and at other times as sustained message bearers.

Queen Bette

Devised by Peter Mountford and Jeanette Cronin. Produced by G.bod Theatre. Directed by Peter Mountford. PIP Theatre. 24 September – 5 October 2024.

Queen Bette is a compelling one-woman show that delves into the extraordinary life and career of Hollywood legend Bette Davis. It explores her influences, setbacks and challenges and includes iconic dialogue from her illustrious career.

sitting, screaming

By Madelaine Nunn. New Ghosts Theatre Company at Old Fitz Theatre, Sydney. Directed by Lucy Clements. 22 September – 5 October, 2024

As part of the 2024 New Works Festival staged by Sydney’s Old Fitz Theatre, comes this excellent one-act play about the abuse of a teenage girl, written by Madelaine Nunn, convincing and powerfully played by Clare Hughes. 

The Boy and the Ball

By Stephen Noonan. Directed by Dave Brown. The Midair Room, State Theatre Centre of WA, Northbridge, WA. Sep 24-27, 2024

The Boy and the Ball is a gentle, wordless theatre piece, presented by Stephen Noonan in partnership with The Paper Boats as part of Perth’s Awesome Festival for Bright Young Things. Playing in the Middar Room, also known Rehearsal Room Two, this curtained space, is perfect for this intimate little piece of theatre. Aimed at 3- and 4-year-olds. It caters perfectly for this age group.

The Puzzle

By David Williamson. State Theatre Company of South Australia. The Playhouse, Festival Centre, Adelaide. 24 Sept to Oct 12, 2024

The State Theatre Company of South Australia have a winner on their hands with the world premiere of David Williamson’s The Puzzle!

Cruising has long been the go-to for the over fifties. As well as these sightseeing cruises, ‘lifestyle’ or swinger cruises have become popular with the younger set.

An Ambivalent Woman of 37

Starring Emma Sandall, with Yanghee Kim. Music by Elena Kats-Chernin. Sydney Fringe Festival. Flight Path Theatre. September 10 – 14, 2024

An award-winning ballet dancer, Emma here presents an excellent stage persona in this self-devised and performed autobiographical, multi-media, musical show – inspired and liberally quoting from Sheila Heti’s famous book: Motherhood.

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