Reviews

The Hobart Repertory Theatre Societyproduction of The Elephant Man is a show to see with a mind cleansed of movie references, including special effects, so you can concentrate on the acting, language and intent of the clever play. Bernard Pomerance wrote this haunting drama based on the real life of Joseph Merrick (called John in the play), a hideously deformed man who was rescued from a dreadful life as a circus freak.

Into The Woods, Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine’s much beloved mashup of famous fairytale plots and characters, has Adelaide Youth Theatre’s usual uniformly first rate production values and is given reasonably polished, if possibly overly derivative treatment by the company.

With Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium, Puppetry Company Erth bring to life the prehistoric underworld, to the delight of many young eyes.

The audience is greeted by a large man in a bright yellow suit, who does very well to seat the audience and conjure up excitement for the show to follow. He, along with marine biologist Catherine, eagerly guide us through the history and fascinating ecological facts of an ancient time, introducing an enthralling educational element. Both hosts have a charming manner and are well received by the audience.

The University of Adelaide Theatre Guild showcases yet another fine contemporary Australian play, with a solid staging of Debra Oswald’s The Peach Season. This bittersweet coming of age story rehashes many familiar, timeworn conventions of the genre, but contains enough unexpected, idiosyncratic nuances to emerge as fresh and relevant to a modern audience. The intelligent handling of universal themes, combined with candid performances from the entire cast and finely detailed production design result in a deeply immersive theatre experience.