Reviews

Eleanor’s Story: Home is the Stranger

By Ingrid Garner. Fringe World. Caso Mondo, Yagan Square, Perth. Feb 12-17, 2019

The continuation or sequel to Eleanor’s Story: An American Girl in Hitler’s Germany shows a teenaged Eleanor return to the United States to find that she doesn’t feel that she belongs.

Death of a Salesman

By Arthur Miller. Queensland Theatre. Director: Jason Klarwein. Playhouse, QPAC, 14 February 2019

Audiences have been recognising themselves in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman for the past 70 years. A Pulitzer Prize winner and widely regarded as one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, Willy Loman’s travelling salesman still resonates in the IT age in this wonderful production by Jason Klarwein.

Andrews Sisters Performed by the Swing Sisters With Oz Big Band

Fringe World. Downstairs at the Maj, His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth. Feb 12 -16, 2019

Andrews Sisters Performed by the Swing Sisters With Oz Big Band pairs two Perth Acts for a fabulously slick, great sounding show that is delighting its capacity crowds.

The Swing Sisters regularly perform songs in the style of The Andrews Sisters, and this show showcases them in the style of the original band, supported by a 16 piece big band, a pairing rarely seen.

Swing That Music

With Tom Burlinson and Emma Pask. Musical arrangements by Ed Wilson. QPAC Concert Hall, South Bank. Friday, February 8, 2019

Jazz sensation Emma Pask was five when Tom Burlinson rode into the heart of the nation in the 1982 movie The Man From Snowy River.

The launch of their singing careers was more closely aligned, with Burlinson debuting in 1990, and Pask being discovered by Jazz legend James Morrison in 1994.

At the QPAC Concert Hall on Friday night, the pair collaborated for only the second time on stage in Swing That Music, after recording an album and premiering it at Sydney’s State Theatre last year.

The Sapphires

Written and Directed by Tony Briggs. Presented by Christine Harris and HIT Productions. The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Crawford Street, Queanbeyan.13 – 18 February 2019 and touring

The Sapphires needs no introduction, thanks to the marvellous movie of the same name directed by Wayne Blair. This play is where it all began. Written by Tony Briggs and based loosely on the story of a group of four Indigenous soul singers who toured Vietnam to entertain troups during the war, one of whom was his mother, the story differs significantly from the movie, and this production is rawer than earlier versions. It is wonderful to see the breadth of First Nations talent on show here.

Ron and Isobel

By Anna Lall. La Mama Courthouse, Carlton VIC. 13 – 17 February 2019

On the way to the tram stop after the opening night of Ron and Isobel, we were stopped at traffic lights and joined by a couple of fellow audience members.  They were still smiling, and the woman said to us, ‘Wasn’t it good?’  They were La Mama first timers; they’d picked this show as a bit of an experiment, they’d had a great time and they’d be going back to La Mama for more.  And why not?  Although we did say – tentatively - that Ron and Isobel is not exactly your usual La Mama show… 

Marjorie Prime

Written by Jordan Harrison. Directed by Paul Marshall. Presented by Sunnybank Theatre Group (Qld). Sunnybank Theatre. 15 February – 2 March, 2019

Jordan Harrison poses many big questions in this tale of a near future in which lifelike human replicas of our loved ones can be purchased to provide company and solace to the bereaved. This thought-provoking and captivating play is perfect for modern society. We’re already living with Siri and Alexa, which will likely be seen historically as the early stages of AI robot companionship.

Life and Beth

By Alan Ayckbourn. Tea Tree Players (SA). February 13 –23, 2019.

Any play that boasts a maudlin alcoholic sister-in-law, a frisky vicar, a brow-beaten woman seeking liberation, an over bearing son with a seemingly mute chef girlfriend, and a suffocatingly controlling and overbearing ghost is bound to catch your attention. The Tea Tree Players’ current production of Life and Beth does that for all of the right reasons.

Bloody Murder

By Ed Sala. Castle Hill Players. Pavilion Theatre. Feb 8 – Mar 2, 2019

In Bloody Murder playwright Ed Sala sends up every drawing room murder mystery on stage or screen, every possible character stereotype, and every possible murderer’s modus operandi. Think Midsomer without the Barnabys, Death in Paradise without the palm trees and sunsets, Christie without Miss Marple

Barbara and The Camp Dogs

By Ursula Yovich and Alana Valentine. Songs by – Alana Valentine, Ursula Yovich and Adam Ventoura. Merlyn Theatre, Malthouse. 7 February to 3 March 2019

Disarming in its unpretentious frankness, Barbara and The Camp Dogs will make you laugh and have you cry.  It is bold, brassy, engagingly moving theatre with great songs.  It is just tremendous.

Having sold out in Sydney it is surely set to sell out in Melbourne.

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