Reviews

Come From Away

Book, music and lyrics by David Hein and Irene Sankoff. Produced in Australia by Junkyard Dog Productions and Rodney Rigby. Comedy Theatre, Melbourne. Opening Night – July 20, 2019.

This extraordinary new musical is based on the real-life experience of the inhabitants of the tiny Newfoundland town of Gander.  Home to a once-massively-busy airport used for refuelling planes crossing the Atlantic, the townsfolk of Gander's "ordinary" day in the number "Welcome to the Rock!" (where we meet the mayor, the local policeman, the head of the local school and various other town stalwarts engaged in their daily morning ritual) in the first scene is thrown into chaos with the impending arrival of plane after plane diverted there after an "acciden

Pomona

By Alistair McDowall. Directed by Gary Abrahams. Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, East St Kilda. 6 July – 11 August 2019

Pomona goes deep into a nether world that may or may not be real (and you’re never quite sure) but it is nightmarish enough.  A world of pain from which there seems to be no escape.  A world which young, naïve Ollie (Mona Mina Leon) tentatively enters, searching for her missing twin sister.  Slimy, reptilian Zeppo (a rigorously maintained persona by Dion Mills) warns her not to get ‘involved’.  He owns most the property around there, but he asks no questions, applies no standards; he will not get involved.  The concept of getting

A View from the Bridge

By Arthur Miller. Ensemble Theatre, Sydney. Director: Iain Sinclair. 18 July – 24 August 2019

Imagine all the trappings of theatrical reality gone: the desk, the sofa, the pictures on the walls – everything. Here is a production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge stripped to the very bone, with a setting that consists of a black wall, one chair, a light switch and a wooden floor. There’s no complex lighting or sound plot, and the cast have one costume apiece. Believe me, it works a treat. 

The Young King

Written by Oscar Wilde, adapted for the stage By Nicki Bloom. Directed by Andy Packer. Produced by Slingsby Theatre Company. Presented by QPAC. Cremorne Theatre, 23 – 27 July, 2019

Immersive theatre, it’s so hot right now. The Young King brings Oscar Wilde’s delightfully anti-establishment fairy tale to life for the audience in an imaginative and unique way.

The 39 Steps

Adapted by Patrick Barlow. Townsville Little Theatre. PIMPAC, Townsville. 24 - 27 July, 2019.

ANY resemblance to John Buchan’s 1915 novel, the Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 spy drama - or any of the subsequent film versions - is purely coincidental. Simply put, it turns the entire thriller genre on its head.

Last Words

Written, devised and performed by Joseph Sherman. Directed and devised by John Bolton. La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street Carlton. 24 July – 4 August, 2019.

Joseph Sherman shares a deeply personal experience and transforms his fascinating and tragic family history into an engaging theatre piece. The story of his parents’ escape from the Soviet era of Jewish persecution and making their way to Australia is brilliantly brought to life with the aid of vibrant and very telling family photos.

This Wide Night

By Chloë Moss. Green Light Theatre. The Burrow, Fitzroy. 17 – 28 July 2019

Marie’s been out of gaol a while, got herself a job – or says she has – and a one room flat.  And then bloody Lorraine shows up.  Marie sort of knew she would once she was out, and sort of knew that once Lorraine was back with her, it’d be bloody hard to get rid of her…

Henry IV - Part One

By William Shakespeare. New Farm Nash Theatre. Directed by Jason Nash. July 12 – August 3, 2019

Of all Shakespeare’s many plays, the historical ones of the English Kings are probably least known and understood by the modern audience – they are never taught in schools. Thus, this was a very welcome chance to see one such play. Set in the early fifteenth century when the king of England often came to the throne by means other than hereditary, conflict is an underlying feature but not necessarily the centrepiece of the action.

Shakespeare in Love

Adapted from the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard by Lee Hall. Melbourne Theatre Company. Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse. 15 July – 14 August 2019

The story of a young Shakespeare with writer’s block; he falls in love and comes up with Romeo and Juliet.  If you saw – and probably loved – the much awarded 1999 movie, the plot is about the same – and this sumptuous, no-expense-spared production moves about as fast.  It’s anything for a gag as the aim here is fun – with many jokes, especially theatrical in-jokes, plain old jokes and slapstick – satire and a touch of romance.

Much Ado About Nothing

By William Shakespeare. Bell Shakespeare. Directed by James Evans. Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne. July 17 – 27, 2019 and touring.

Perfectly timed and tuned to lift us out of our relentless grey Melbourne winter doldrums – Bell Shakespeare’s - Much Ado About Nothing is a must see production.  Sadly the Arts Centre season is a very short stop off in the early stages of a National Tour.  So if you want to see it in Melbourne you will need to be quick.

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