Reviews

The Testament Of Mary is a cheerless, emotionally demanding monologue centred on the world’s most iconic woman, Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. Mary has always been a loaded figure, contrived to propagate The Church’s impossible model of The Ideal Woman. Here Coln Toibin reimages Mary, brilliantly rendered by Pamela Rabe, throwing all prior assumptions under the proverbial bus.

This is a snappy, fun show with direction that has led to wholehearted participation from everyone involved. From the principal roles to each member of the chorus, each performer has their own part to act and sing and is dedicated to it.

The gamblers start the show with Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Ben Wilson), Benny Southwest (Tristan Foon) and Rusty Charlie (Joe Moores) setting the scene on Broadway with fine harmonies and good characterisation.

Tugun Theatre Company is a small but adventurous group on the southern end of the Gold Coast and their latest offering is something quite confronting.

The Naked Truth explores the trials and tribulations in the lives of five prospective pole dancers. The girls: Rebecca Kenny-Sumiga, Samantha McClurg, Rianna Hartley-Smith, Cecile Campbell and Kate Armon are very raw recruits but under the tutelage of Peta Simeon they blossom into quite an entertaining ensemble.

Along the way we are privy to the pressures of their lives away from the poles.

When the pair of performers to open a show (the consistently excellent Jarrod Chave and Annie Gladdis) have timing, energy, chemistry – plus impressive enunciation – it’s a good sign you’re in for a winner. As more and more of this large cast file in and fill the stage, the fun increases, and the experience evolves into a warm, gentle, amusing look at the way that families – American or otherwise - often behave at Christmas time.