Reviews

This Is Our Youth

By Kenneth Lonergan. Student Society – University of Adelaide Theatre Guild. Little Theatre, University of Adelaide. 7-9 July 2022

‘Too often, when we see young people on a stage or screen, we get the impression that the writer doesn’t remember what it was like to be young,’ states director George Jankovic, ‘Lonergan does remember – all too clearly – and for better or worse, he has chosen to omit nothing, even the ugly parts…there is a lot of truth in the ugly parts.’ Whilst Jankovic’s conceit may be debateable, particularly writers not remembering ‘what it was like to be young’, nonetheless, he is correct in Kenneth Lonergan’s capturing the voice

La Traviata

By Giuseppe Verdi. Opera Australia. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. July 5 – 29, 2022

Opera Australia’s La Traviata returns to Sydney once again, playing to a captive audience at the magnificent Sydney Opera House. Upon entering the theatre, it is the first notes of the violins that set the tone for this much celebrated opera. La Traviata, meaning ‘The Fallen Woman’, is a tragic tale about a Parisian courtesan, Violetta, who yearns to leave her party-girl lifestyle behind her in favour of true love. But beneath her beautiful, vibrant exterior lies a dark secret.

Hachikō

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Fremantle, WA. Directed by Philip Mitchell. July 2-16, 2022

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s holiday offering is the emotive and beautiful Hachikō The Loyal Dog, a story from Japan about a dog whose loyalty to his owner knew no bounds.

Charitable Intent

Written by David Williamson. Gold Coast Little Theatre. Directed by Gael Ballantyne. 2-23 July, 2022

David Williamson is our most prolific playwright and (arguably) our most entertaining. Charitable Intent is part of a trilogy and basically covers a mediation conference between the staff and CEO of a leading charity. It’s rife with satirical quips, subtext, and even poignancy. Its downside is that it can be very static …just eight people on chairs in a conference room, and can sometimes end up as just “Talking heads” or a live radio play, so it needs a good director with fine sensibilities in both drama and comedy.

L’Amour

Sofia Troncoso and Alex Raineri. Brisbane Music Festival opening weekend. Salvation Army Temple. 2 July 2022

The fifth annual Brisbane Music Festival started on the weekend with four performances in the intimate space of the Salvation Army Brisbane City Temple. The opening gigs showcased the style of events that Artistic Director, Alex Raineri, has programmed for this year – new Australian works (the opening night featured a new composition by Alex Turley in a performance featuring Claire Edwardes on percussion and Alex on piano), early morning music, and late-night sessions in a number of intimate and surprising performance spaces across Brisbane.

Aladdin Jr.

Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Book adapted and additional lyrics by Jim Luigs. Music adapted and arranged by Brian Louiselle. Based on the screenplay by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio. Gosford Musical Society Jnrs. Laycock Street Community Theatre. July 5th - 9th, 2022

After two and a half years, Gosford Musical Society Juniors have exploded back onto the stage with the ever-popular Aladdin Jr. 

Oklahoma! - Youth Edition

By Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Primadonna Productions. Directed by Carole Dhu. Pinjarra Civic Centre, WA. July 1-2, 2022

Primadonna Productions youth edition of Oklahoma! is much more than OK - a great theatrical celebration and a showcase of emerging talent.

With minimal settings, the large cast fills the stage and is allowed to shine, looking lovely in “of the era” costumes, The show is sympathetically lit by Grace Crawford and Terry Peckover, and sound design is by Michael Rogers.

The Amateurs

By Jordan Harrison. Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, East St Kilda. 28 June – 24 July 2022

They march toward us out of the darkness, singing, flaming torches aloft - a ragged band of travelling players in cloaks and dirty costumes of faded red.  In death’s head masks they begin to perform as the Seven Deadly Sins, a play in rough, clunky couplets.  Suddenly, one of them dies… 

French Without Tears

By Terrence Rattigan. GRADS. Directed by Barry Park. Stirling Theatre, Morris Place, Innaloo, WA. Jul 1-16, 2022

GRADS’ French Without Tears is a good, old fashioned British comedy, albeit one set in France. In Monsieur Maingot’s French language school, a bevy of young, upper-class British lads have their studies interrupted as they jostle for the affections of the lovely Diana Lake. 

Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical

Created by Jordan Ross, Lindsay Rosin and Roger Kumble. Based on the movie by Roger Kumble. David Venn Enterprises. State Theatre Sydney from June 30, 2022, then Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra

This musical is set around the final year of High School, but those seeking a PG night of entertainment will be in for a shock, as Cruel Intentions features both thumping good 90s songs and risqué entertainment.

The 1999 movie of the same name is an adaptation of the classic novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, moving the sexual intrigue from aristocratic Paris to the upper echelons of New York.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.