Reviews

The Irish Theatre Players presented this ensemble play by Frank McGuinness in the lovely community atmosphere of the Irish Club and some of the warmest front of house anywhere.

Set in County Donegal, the play tells of women at a shirt factory, whose jobs are under threat. The distinctive Donegal accents were well implemented by both Irish and Australian cast members - although tuning into the dialogue was a little difficult over noisy air conditioning and noise from the bar.

Burlesque by Force is a piece of ‘confessional theatre’. It is a deeply personal work, created by Brodie John and Marissa Bennett, dealing with John’s battle with acceptance after being raped in his first homosexual experience.

When asked to direct a season of The Merry Widow some years ago, I studied various unsatisfactory translations before opting for The Merry Widow of Bluegum Creek, set in the Australian embassy in Paris. It was very funny.

Opera Australia opted for a new translation prepared for Western Australian Opera by Justin Fleming, and it was also very funny. The Pontevedrians all had Australian accents and much of the humour had an Aussie feel, without any mention of kangaroos. It went down well with the opening night audience.

You’re in the grip of a compelling piece of Queensland theatre from the moment the bars start rattling under your feet, behind the curtain at your shoulder, and somewhere else - distant but determined.

Bogga, a new piece of theatre from Rob Pensalfini and historian Chris Dawson, is both drama and documentary.

It works because it doesn’t judge. It takes a series of indepth oral histories from prisoners and officers and with a cast of five turns their recollections into the story of Boggo Road Gaol in Dutton Park.