Book by Arthur Laurents. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour / Opera Australia. Director: Francesca Zambello. Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquaries Point, Sydney Harbour. 22 March – 21 April 2019
The rain started a couple of minutes before the opening bars of stirring music. It grew worse as the Jets and the Sharks circled each other menacingly, even worse as Maria met and fancied Tony, and bucketed down when Anita sang of the glories and follies of ‘America’. Among the audience there was much wiping of dripping glasses and struggling to put on the available $5 macs, but the cast sang and danced with sure-footed ease, a tribute to their non-slip footwear. The weather was expected: it’s Sydney in late March.
Music: Alan Menken. Lyrics: Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater. Book: Doug Wright. Pelican Productions. Arts Theatre, Adelaide. March 22nd – 24th, 2019
Pelican Productions continue their high standard of theatre entertainment with their first musical for 2019, The Little Mermaid Jnr. Adapted for a younger cast, it is based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.
Jen Firth and Kylie Green founded Pelican Productions in 2004 and have done wonders in nurturing young talent. With such a large number of students they still manage to find a role for everyone.
By Julia Hales with Finn O’Branagáin and Clare Watson. Black Swan, Perth Festival, Dadaa co-production. Directed by Clare Watson. Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA, Perth. March 20-31, 2019
Julia Hales is a dynamic, attractive, bright 38 year old actor, who lives on her own in a flat in Subiaco. She is single, but would prefer not to be, is a huge fan of Home and Away, has been acting for over twenty years, and has an extra 21st chromosome.
The Studio, Sydney Opera House. Mar 20 – Apr 7, 2019
A blast! A rage! A ball! Whatever idiomatic superlative you use, it probably isn’t enough to describe the vibe and energy of the nine cheeky, gifted English ‘lads’ who are The Choir of Man. Arunaway hit at the Edinburgh Festival in 2017, and fresh from the 2019 Adelaide Fringe festival, the boys have hit NSW running – and dancing and singing – in a rousing production that makes the spirit soar.
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by James Lapine. Bloom Productions. Directed by Jordan Vassallo. Musical Direction by Peter Hayward. Concourse Concert Hall, Chatswood. Mar 21 – 23, 2019
This was a spectacular debut for a new theatre company, using the unusual surroundings of a concert hall to present this musical with imagination.
From the ceiling dropped the forest, from the balcony dropped Rapunzel’s hair and beautiful use of shadows effected a most satisfying giant.
Balancing the sound of the fine orchestra on stage with the cast took a little time to settle in but was soon resolved.
Book, Music & Lyrics: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Anne Garefino, Scott Rudin, Important Musicals, John Frost Production. Director: Casey Nicholaw & Trey Parker. Music Director: David Young. Choreography: Casey Nicholaw. Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane. Opening Night 20 March 2019
After playing a year in Melbourne and a year in Sydney, The Book of Mormon is finally pushing Brisbane’s doorbell. One of the funniest musicals to come out of Broadway this century, the show is outrageous, blasphemous, rude, vulgar, and a heavenly slice of musical comedy that hilariously zips along for an exuberant two-hour ride.
The Australian Ballet with Orchestra Victoria. The Arts Centre, Melbourne. 19th – 28th March, 2019.
Melbourne ballet fans were ready for Graeme Murphy’s brand new ballet, an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince to open the Australian Ballet’s season this year. However, with only weeks to go, illness forced the postponement of this ballet until 2020. Instead, Melbourne gets the chance to see this fabulous version of Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella.
By Roy Clarke. KADS. Directed by Anita Bound. KADS Town Square Theatre, Kalamunda. March 8-23, 2019.
KADS’ Keeping Up Appearances was a sell out before it even opened, with this play, based on the popular TV series, proving very popular with local audiences.
By Laura Annawyn Shamas, based on the book by Joan Lindsay. Townsville Little Theatre. Directed by Alan Cooke. Dancenorth Theatre, cnr Stanley Street/Walker Street, Townsville. 20-23 March, 2019.
It is hard to believe that Peter Weir’s seminal film Picnic at Hanging Rock first came to our screens 44 years ago.
Now regarded as one of Australia’s classic films, it has gone on to be adapted for television, and was first adapted for stage only three years ago by Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre in an interesting production which had five female actors play all the roles – male and female.
Phillip Adams BalletLab. Dance Massive at Temperance Hall, South Melbourne. March 19 – 23, 2019
Phillip Adams Ballet Lab presents his new show Glory for Dance Massive at Temperance Hall in South Melbourne, involving a pastiche of dance, choreography and visual art that transcends into a uniquely aesthetically disruptive art performance. Adams is a pioneering Australian based conceptual performer, previously based in New York who has performed successfully across the globe, who established Ballet Lab in 1998.
