Reviews

Following Julia Gillard’s meteoric rise to Deputy Prime Minister, her challenge for Kevin Rudd’s position as leader of the Government surprised a nation that, though we had heard rumblings of discontent about Mr Rudd’s behaviour beyond the media spotlight, hadn’t yet caught up with the backstory.  Her success in that challenge reflected the Labor Party’s maturation in recognising the ability of this woman with mannered self-restraint as well as intelligence to invite engagement, public and private, through her ability to consider alternative viewpoints car

According to happiness.com, a true friend – “prioritises spending time together, accepts you for who you are, offers you unwavering support, encourages you to be your best self, is honest and trustworthy and can always bring you some cheer and positivity.”

All of these qualities are explored in length in Blue Skies Theatre’s production of Di and Viv and Rose by Amelia Bullmore, a hit play from the West End of London. Bullmore is not only a playwright, but also an actress (Coronation Street and Scott & Bailey among others).

Zorba The Greek is a great classic novel written by Nikos Kazantzakis, first published in 1946. Set on the island of Crete, it tells the story of Alexis Zorba, a wild feisty man who is there to open a lignite mine. He meets a bookish young man and teaches him to break free and embrace life.

A dead man awaits his death rites to the other world, a one-woman chorus (Donna Dimovski-Kantarovski) conducts a ceremonial ritual to take him to his final resting place.

Adaptations only work in the hands of an exceptional and principled writer. Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith is both. Her adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s 1898 play Uncle Vanya is reverent to the style and intention of the famous Russian playwright, and the play’s enduring themes and ageless characters. This is an adaptation that really works.