Reviews

About Remembering

Devised and directed by Lloyd Jones in close collaboration with O.T.H.A.N. Theatre Company Ensemble. La Mama EXPLORATIONS, 205 Faraday Street, 14, 15, & 16 December 2015.

Remembering can be a tricky exercise; selective memory, burying memories, preserving memories, provide insight into the psyche and daily activities around remembering can be both a source of frustration and immense joy. All of these themes are explored in this play by deliberately and playfully forgetting the basic rules of theatre. The boundaries between performer and spectator are explored in a new and interesting mode, and linear narrative, memorising lines, traditional staging, focal points and character development are all dispensed with and replaced with spontaneous improvisation.

Sweet Charity

Book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Directed by David Nelson. Limelight Theatre, Wanneroo (WA). Nov 28 - Dec 12, 2015

I was delighted to be able to catch the final matinee performance of this bright and sassy musical, presented by Wanneroo Repertory Club.

Director David Nelson chose an excellent leading lady in the form of Helen Kerr, who lights up the stage as quirky dance hall hostess Charity Hope Valentine. Her bright and energetic performance was key to the pace and success of the production.

Santa’s Magical Kingdom

Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park. December 12 - 24, 2015

The walk to and from the parking station to the Showground may seem a long way for little legs, but it’s quickly forgotten in the glitz and glitter of ‘snow’ falling in a short walkway of sparkling trees, white reindeer, polar bears and snow princesses. Add the constant (dare I say ‘blare’?) of Christmas music, the squeals emanating from the many rides and the buzz of families having fun, and you have the new addition to Sydney’s Christmas extravaganzas.

Treasure Island

Writers: Ryan Purdey/Erich Fordham. Directors: Christian Dell’Ollio/Ryan Purdey. Heidelberg Theatre Company. December 11 – 19, 2015.

The youth arm of Heidelberg Theatre Company performed this re-write of the Treasure Island story and it was an entertaining evening for the young. With a majority of female cast members, Jack Hawkins became Jill Hawkins, while there were quite a few female pirates.

Around The World in Eighty Days

From the novel by Jules Verne, adapted by Molly McPhee. Doublemask Youth Theatre Group.. Murwillumbah Civic Centre. December 11th – 12th, 2015.

The fifty-odd members (all aged 13 to 18) of Doublemask (under the supervision of Lachlan Glasby) have presented an interesting adaptation of the Jules Verne Novel for their final production for 2015.

Taking ownership of the production: they scripted, planned, and produced the entire show themselves.

Doublemask member Molly McPhee created the script and the emerging talents of the teenage members staged an interesting telling of the Verne story.

Quidam

Cirque du Soleil. Choreographed by Debra Brown. AIS Arena, Canberra. 10–20 December 2015, and touring

If you have seen Cirque du Soleil even on television, you know to expect something grand and memorable.  But there’s nothing like being there in the flesh.  And Quidam, a production nearly as old as the troupe itself, didn’t let us down.  Aiming not to take us into other worlds but to let us enter the world of its protagonist’s imagination, it nonetheless left us with an impression of having viewed everyday friends and strangers as though from the perspective of another realm.

Our House

Songs by Madness, book by Tim Firth. The Regional Institute of Performing Arts. Civic Playhouse, Newcastle. December 10-12, 2015.

THE songs of ska-pop group Madness generally fit well into this musical which was given a lively and enjoyable Australian premiere staging by the graduating Advanced Diploma in Arts (Acting) students at Hunter TAFE.

Tim Firth put together an unusual story, with the central character, Joe Casey, breaking into a new apartment building so that he can show the girl who is helping him celebrate his 16th birthday his family’s historic adjoining London suburban house.

A(f)fair Play

By Sam Floyd. Freshly Ground Theatre. The Mechanics Institute Brunswick. 9 – 19 December 2015

A bickering young couple, Trish and Craig (Lucy Norton and Remy Coll) prepares to welcome another young couple, Olivia and Sean (Anthea Greco and Sam Floyd) for dinner. Trish is snippy and brittle; Craig is jumpy and distracted.  Olivia and Sean arrive.  She’s shy and self-deprecating; he’s cocky and a little aggressive. The couples seem scarcely to know each other, but we quickly learn (spoiler alert) that Olivia and Craig are having an affair. 

Clancestry

Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Nov 30 – Dec 6, 2015.

Clancestry, A Celebration of Country, is back again at QPAC for a week of visual art, workshops, song, dance and market stalls, highlighting the continuation and dynamic evolution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in Australia.

Goblins

By Jeni Bezuidenhout & Cassandra-Elli Yiannacou, La Mama EXPLORATIONS, 205 Faraday Street 7, 8 & 9 December, 2015.

Panoptican Collective has extremely admirable goals that aim to increase social responsibility and raise awareness about social injustice. These objectives are fully fleshed out in this play. Six female stories trace the very long history of the abuse, oppression and marginalisation of women across of range of social and political contexts. Each story is inspired by literary and historical figures and told entirely from the perspective of the individual experience of persecution.

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