Reviews

There have been many versions and interpretations of the folklore the famous German Grimm Brothers published in the 19th century, having compiled hundreds of stories and edited them in various ways to make them more palatable for the general reader. So many adaptations have surfaced over the years in theatre, film, animation, opera, ballet, you name it, but this version by the illustrious Shake & Stir Theatre Company is quite unlike anything I've ever seen before.

Nora: A Doll’s House has been described as “a radical reinterpretation” of Ibsen’s original play. Performed by WAAPA Third Year Acting Students, and designed, built and crewed by WAAPA Production and Design Students, this version features a much larger cast than the West End Production, whose 2020 run was unfortunately cut short by the Covid Pandemic.

It’s 1967, and three families, whose only connection is their relationship to the local school, meet after the performance of the school’s Christmas play.  Roy (Jim Adamik), the school’s principal, makes his end-of-year speech and wishes all a happy Christmas before greeting individual family members.  Roy’s embarrassingly aloof and strange wife, Coral (Andrea Close), floats unsociably in the background, attracting unfavourable comments.

KADS’ Dead Man’s Cell Phone is a cosy little drama with a difference, playing at Kalamunda. Directed with thought by Phil Bedworth, it features a talented cast and was well received by the opening night audience, who were invariably describing it as “surprising” and “different”.