Reviews

If you seek a light-hearted romp, written with wit and intelligence, this proudly accessible version of Tartuffe should fit the bill – for most of its length, at least. On the other hand, despite a gallery of memorable and effective performances to be found in the ensemble, you may well be disappointed by Tartuffe himself, a figure who proves (at least for this reviewer) more effective when talked about – in admiration, anticipation, or revulsion - by others than when making his own presence felt ‘in the flesh’.

Helen and Fraser are a pretentious and privileged Sydney couple. Their relationship is hardly comfortable – attempts at intimacy are awkward – but their lives are turned upside down when they look after their friends’ dog. Sweet Phoebe runs away and they become desperate, doing increasingly strange things, in an attempt to find her.

Anti-Hamlet is a clever slick journey opening with Mark Wilson as Hamlet engaging the audience with fabulous sparkling heightened energy.  This energy is embraced by all actors and doesn’t let up as we are taken on a fast a wild ride and lengthy ride through a sort of Australian ‘boy’s own’ contemporary Australian Hamlet, which, mainly through their absence, highlights aspects of Shakespeare’s original. 

Sometimes it’s good to sit and watch a well-constructed comedy into which the actors can add generous slices of ham. Such is Ken Ludwig’s Leading Ladies, which in the experienced hands of Adelaide’s Therry Dramatic Society and the play’s Director Jude Hines is a hoot from go to whoa.