Reviews

The Little Mermaid

Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman and John Musker and written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. Northern Light Theatre Company. Shedley Theatre, Elizabeth, SA. Oct 8-23, 2021

Northern Light Theatre Company’s production of The Little Mermaid transported me back to my childhood. I became a kid again, eagerly anticipating what would happen next and relishing the comedy and romance of this Disney classic!

First produced on Broadway in 2007, The Little Mermaid is based on the animated 1989 Disney film of the same name and the classic story by Hans Christian Anderson. On a side note, I have been told there is a Chinese fairy story almost identical except the little mermaid comes to a grizzly end.

Blithe Spirit

By Noël Coward. Hobart Repertory Theatre Society. Nicholas Lahey (Director) Nicholas Lahey and Ross Taylor (Composer/Sound Design). Matthew Andrewartha (Lighting Design). Treen French, Nicholas Lahey and Ross Taylor (Set). Deb Dean (dressmaker). The Playhouse. 8-23 October 2021

Coward’s dialogue remains as sparkling as Madame Arcati’s jewellery, 80 years after Blithe Spirit was written as a merry diversion from the woes of WW2. HRTS’s third production for the year was no tired drawing room comedy of manners. This was a fresh, intelligent, and witty reading of the text that delighted opening night audiences.

Anything Goes

Music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Original book by P.G. Wodehouse & Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse. New book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman. Stray Cats. Directed by Karen Francis. Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, WA. Oct 7-10, 2021

Stray Cats’ production of Anything Goes is a huge production, playing to receptive audiences at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre. Featuring a cast of 66, an orchestra of 17, a myriad of crew and creatives and a huge set, this is a production that delivers a lot. 

Animal Farm

By Van Badham. Black Swan State Theatre Company. Directed by Emily McLean. Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA, Perth Cultural Centre, WA. Oct 2-24, 2021

Black Swan State Theatre Company’s Animal Farm is a fresh modern examination of George Orwell’s classic 1944 novella, which blends the original themes of politics, power and corruption, with 2021 technology, social media and the 24 hour news cycle. Performed by just three superb performers, it will appeal to people familiar with the original story, as well as those new to this famous allegory.

Piers Lane & Ensemble Q String Quartet

Musica Viva. Queensland Conservatorium Theatre. 7 October, 2021

Image: Piers Lane. Photographer: Benjamin Ealovega

Priscilla, Queen of The Desert - The Musical

By Stephen Elliott and Allan Scott. Based on the Latent Image/Specific Films Motion Picture. North Queensland Opera and Music Theatre. Directed by Kevin Wright. Choreography by Kylie Ball. Music Direction Odette Baxter. Vocal Direction Tony Woodhouse. Townsville Civic Theatre. 6-16 October 2021.

THIS crazy, over-the-top musical comedy is exactly the kind of escapist entertainment that it seems we all crave today with all the COVID nonsense around us, and NQOMT’s energetic production is wild and wicked in many ways.

YUMMY: How to Make a Western

Devised by James Welsby & the Cast. Directed & choreographed by James Welsby. Monologues written by Sarah Ward. Cinematography by Chris Bennett. Editing by Welsby & Bennett. Lighting by Jacinda Anderson. Melbourne Fringe Festival Online. 30 September – 11 October 2021.

Using the familiar tropes of the ‘Western’ genre as a framework, How to Make a Western is a funny, ultra-glamorous, and totally professional drag show.  It takes those ‘western’ tropes and gently (maybe too gently?) undermines, questions, and sends them up.  Fans of the Western movie genre will pick up passing references all the way through.  But, after all, the myths of the ‘Western’ depend on the hyper-masculine ‘cowboy’, the fragile female bearers of ‘civilization’ into the wilderness, and the mu

Poopie Tum Tums

Created & Performed by Patrick Durnan Silva & Honour Wolff. Presented by Hot Department. Melbourne Fringe Festival online. 30 September – 17 October 2021.

Patrick Durnan Silva and Honour Wolff are clearly a talented duo; they bounce off each other with energy, skill, and great timing.  He is big and solid – a great contrast to the occasional delicacy of his work – and his ability to use silence and immobility.  She is cute as a button, bursting with vitality, and has a smile that adds acid to the jokes.  The childish title of the show suggests ‘naughty’ and ‘rude’ straight off – and, sure enough, there are plenty of ‘filthy’ and explicit numbers. 

Diana: The Musical

Music & Lyrics: David Bryan. Book and Lyrics: Joe DiPietro. Director: Christopher Ashley. Choreographer: Kelly Devine. Musical Director: Ian Eisendrath. Streaming now on Netflix

You would think there would be nothing left to say about Diana, Princess of Wales, and this by-the-numbers musical doesn’t offer us anything new. It simply rehashes what we already know: she was a shy 18-year-old nursery teacher’s assistant when she met Charles, although they married quickly and had two sons, he did not end his affair with Camilla, Diana became lonely and a committed humanitarian, a fashion icon, and died a prematurely young death at 36 in a Parisian tunnel being pursued by paparazzi.

Disney Moana Jr.

By Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, Mark Mancina, Susan Soon He Stanton and Ian Weinberger. Roleystone Theatre. Directed by Matt Arnold and Stephen Carr. Roleystone Hall, WA. Oct 1-10, 2021

Disney Moana Jr. is a beautifully presented ensemble production, performed by 12-18 year-olds as part of Roleystone Theatre’s Junior Workshop Program. It is being performed in conjunction with its “little sister” production Disney Lion King Kids. 

While based on the film of the same name, Moana as a stage show has a very different vibe, and is presented in a slightly presentational style, with lots of moments of physical theatre.

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