Reviews

The Laramie Project

By Moisés Kaufman and Tectonic Theatre Project. Red Phoenix Theatre Company. Holden Street Theatres. Oct 21-30, 2021

The Laramie Project is a 2000 play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project  about the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie Wyoming. Developed by members of that company, it has become a modern classic and is an example of verbatim theatre, based on the news reports, journals, diaries and interviews conducted, lovingly and powerfully documented to create this powerful, three act play.

Emily

By Stephen Metcalfe. Galleon Theatre. Domain Theatre, Marion Cultural Centre, SA. October 21-30, 2021

‘I am often of the opinion that love is not such a big deal,’says Emily, without much conviction. She is a Wall Street stockbroker who mixes it up with the boys: cynical, ruthless and manipulative, she lives alone, frightening off her dates when they threaten to get serious. That is, until she meets a nice guy with no money, who sees through her, challenges her, and makes her re-consider her entire way of life.

White Pearl

By Anchuli Felicia King. Sydney Theatre Company and Riverside's National Theatre of Parramatta. OzAsia Festival. Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre. October 20-23, 2021

White Pearl was first developed by Playwriting Australia through its National New Play Development Program and the National Play Festival in 2018 and has been staged professionally in Sydney, Brisbane, London, and Washington DC prior to this OzAsia showing.  The darkly comic production is co-presented by Sydney Theatre Company and the National Theatre of Parramatta.

Return to the Dirt

Written by Steve Pirie. Directed by Lee Lewis. Presented by Queensland Theatre and supported by the Queensland Government. Billie Brown Theatre. 16 October – 6 November, 2021

Death is a funny thing; at least it is in Steve Pirie’s Return to the Dirt. The play follows the journey of Steve and his fiancé Claire who are returning to their hometown of Toowoomba to save money for their wedding. Having lived in Brisbane for some time, the trek back to their roots involves new jobs for both. In Steve’s case, he lands a role in the local funeral home where he meets some quirky characters and learns a lot about himself, life, and death along the way.

Dots+Loops

Featuring Connor D’Netto, Kieran Welch and Flora Wong. Presented by Restrung Productions and Metro Arts, Restrung Festival, New Benner Theatre, 15 October 2021

Dots+Loops’ passion for sharing their unique style of contemporary post genre music is palpable. While they ardently embrace contemporary compositions at the core of the performance, this feels like something more, like a piece of modern art. Yet the performers, Connor D’Netto, Kieran Welch and Flora Wong lack the pretentiousness that sometimes accompanies the personalities who produce Art with a capital A.

The Gospel According to Paul

Written and performed by Jonathan Biggins. Playhouse Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Brisbane. 20 to 24 October 2021

Jonathan Biggins is back as Paul Keating in his self-penned showcase of political wit and wisdom: The Gospel According to Paul. And the laughs are very welcome indeed, after sold-out shows in Sydney, and several pesky postponements in Brisbane. Biggins presents his evening with Keating as not so much a dinner speech but rather a private salon with the man himself: yes, there are plenty of laughs, but he gives the character heart and soul as well.

Bite the Hand

By Chris Isaacs. The Last Great Hunt. Directed by Matt Edgerton. Subiaco Arts Centre, WA. Oct 12-23, 2021

Bite the Hand is a fascinating play, presented by The Last Great Hunt to full houses at the Subiaco Arts Centre.

When Alice the dog is given human consciousness, it is an exciting time for her owners Sam and Dale, helping to lift Dale’s long-term depression; but as Alice learns and develops, exceeding the expectations of instructor Wes and surpassing the abilities of his dog Rex, she begins to question her place in the world.

David Bentley Trio with Shenzo & Danielle

Restrung Festival. New Benner Theatre, Metro Arts, Brisbane. 16 October 2021

The Metro Arts Restrung Festival 2021 featured seasoned and emerging talent from Brisbane's classical and electronic music scenes, blended in a vibrant three days of theatre performances, pop-up gigs, free rehearsals and visual arts. The David Bentley Trio, well known on Brisbane's jazz circuit, these days features the Brisbane-born but internationally renowned Bentley on keys, with fellow Brisbane luminaries Andrew Shaw on double bass and Nathan Goldman on drums. Goldman is a brilliant drummer, keeping time no matter what the style, and Shaw's bass was on groove throughout.

Twelfth Night or What You Will

By William Shakespeare. ShakesBeer. Directed by the cast. Townshend Theatre, Irish Club of WA. Oct 15-16, 2021

ShakesBeer is a lively company of Shakespeare aficionados. Their productions aim to more closely resemble the performance conditions of Shakespeare’s time. The experienced troupe of performers are given minimal rehearsal time and work without stage lighting and sets. Like some companies of the time, who performed in inns and taverns, this production is performed cabaret style, and the bar remains open throughout the performance, allowing audience members to avail themselves of an ale.

Bespoke

Queensland Ballet. Paul Boyd – Caravanserai. Natalie Weir – Fallen. Jack Lister – Mind Your Head. Rani Luther – From.To.Here. Gardens Theatre, 8-17 Oct 2021

What an exhilarating afternoon of dance Bespoke was. As Li Cunxin said in his program note, ‘there’s always a sense of excitement in the air around Bespoke time,’ Queensland Ballet’s annual contemporary dance season, and this year was no exception. I don’t know whether it’s because this is the first time in two years they’ve staged a Bespoke season, or we were all celebrating that it was good to have it back.

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