Reviews

Hunters Hill’s production of Australia Day waited patiently during two years of restrictions to make its funny and irreverent appearance in this 2022 season. Funny because of playwright Jonathan Biggins’ ability to satirise everyday characters and situations; irreverent because his satire is, in the words of director Jasper Kyle, “highly provocative” – as satire usually is! In the well-known Wharf Revue, Biggins and his co-writers Drew Forsythe and Phil Scott lampoon politics and politicians, local and international.

Musical Theatre fans could only be delighted with this presentation of Luke Di Somma’s well-crafted songs, delivered with Luke’s introductions and piano accompaniment by very competent and engaging singers.

For one cast member, the recent production of Mamma Mia! was their 12th show with the Musical Theatre Crew. This is the level of commitment and dedication which is brought to every musical presented by this training school/production company. Many of the cast take private singing or dancing lessons but what is most evident in performance is the sense of ease and assurance they bring to their craft. This is born from solid experience and sound direction.

In one of Neil Simon’s more serious plays, struggling Los Angeles based screenwriter Herb has an unexpected visit from his nineteen-year-old daughter, Libby. Herb hasn’t seen Libby for sixteen years, not since he walked out on the family. Libby has come all the way from New York to seek fame as a Hollywood actress and believes Herb can help her. What follows is a long, drawn-out debate cum arguments salted with humour, about the past and present, and which partly resolves itself with Herb having another attempt at fatherhood.