Reviews

Central Coast based Nate Butler’s studio has grown over the past five years - from a vocal coaching (specialising in musical theatre) to this year launching as a legit training facility for fully accredited Certificate IV and Diploma courses in Musical Theatre. Despite the youth of the students, the studio has compiled a formidable and challenging program of shows for the 2016 season, kicking off in April with Parade. The next production will be the Coast premiere of Avenue Q.

Lion Dancers and drummers greeted the opening night audience for Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle, presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company, in collaboration with the National Theatre of China. A play based on an ancient Chinese legend, retold by a German playwright and performed by Australian actors in a fusion of Brechtian and Chinese style, this international fusion made for a fascinating production.

As the curtain closed on Shirley Valentine, presented by KADS, a significant proportion of the audience remained in their seats, calling “Encore!” and “Shirley!” It was the first time that I had experienced that in Community Theatre in Perth, and is testament to the level of enjoyment experienced in the capacity audience.

Actress Jenny Howard McCann was a delightful choice to bring this iconic single hander to life. She makes a lovely Shirley, quickly establishing an easy rapport in this intimate theatre, giving Shirley warmth and familiarity.

On a bare stage, eight actors, dressed simply in white, skirts for the women, grey jackets for the men, play fourteen clearly demarcated characters.  With these apparently – but only apparently – simple means, director Tanya Gerstle brilliantly creates a contemporary interpretation of a much loved, classic 19th century novel.  We are in Lincolnshire, we are back in the 19th century at a mill on the (fictitious) River Floss.  A bright, curious, highly intelligent and adventurous nine-year-old, Maggie Tulliver (Maddie Nunn), reads vora