Reviews

The Season

By Nathan Maynard. Tasmania Performs. Riverside Theatres Parramatta. September 20 – 22, 2018, Seymour Centre, September 25 - 29.

“I have always had such a sense of pride in our community and wanted to create a story that not only our mob could see themselves in …”. Nathan Maynard has certainly achieved that in this very natural and moving play about the importance of family, traditions, trust and the strength that comes from belonging.

Casting Off.

Created and Performed by Debra Batton, Sharon Gruenert and Spenser Inwood. Dramaturg: Alexandra Harrison. A Good Catch / Melbourne Fringe Festival. The Melba – Spiegeltent, 35 Johnston St Collingwood. 20 – 23 September 2018.

This is a fantastic opportunity to watch three generations of amazing Australian circus talent in one show. Urban knitting functions as both set and costume design and clearly indicates the show’s political edge. The daring, dangerous and awe-inspiring acrobatics are performed with amazing skill and are also accompanied by a sensational delivery of lists, poems, conversations, melodies, arguments and biographies. This discourse is hilarious, profound and touching and the naturalness with which it is simultaneously delivered with the physical feats is truly astonishing.

Jurassica.

By Dan Giovannoni. Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre and Critical Stages. Directed by Bridget Balodis. The Q, Queanbeyan, 19–22 September 2018.

Depicting three generations of an Italian-Australian family, Jurassica weaves backward and forward to unravel the estrangements between grandfather, father, and son, using English and Italian dialogue to great effect.  The play is not entirely realistic: individual speech and action substitutes, in places, tropes for substantial content, and old / middle-aged / teen stereotypical characteristics for individual character traits, resulting in anachronisms of character.  And severa

The Comedy of Errors

By William Shakespeare. A TheatreiNQ production directed by Terri Brabon. Queens Gardens, Townsville. 18 – 30 September 2018.

What a rousin’ riproarin’ production this was – and for a Shakespearean comedy that is not often performed, TheatreiNQ’s latest outdoor Shakespeare The Comedy of Errors has got to be the definitive version in my mind.

Anya Anastasia: The Executioners

Written and composed by Anya Anastasia and Gareth Chin. Melbourne Fringe. Gasworks Arts Park. September 18 – 29, 2018.

Buckle yourselves in for a speedy and fiercely individualistic comedy cabaret show that rocks the boat in every dimension. Anya Anastasia stumbles on to the stage, mobile in hand in selfie-self-absorption. Her right hand man, musician and multi – instrumentalist Gareth Chin rolls his eyes and shakes his head in disbelief.

Creatures of The Deep

Picked Last For Sport / Melbourne Fringe. The Butterfly Club, Melbourne. September 17 – 23, 2018

Creatures of The Deep is an all age friendly hybrid show; promoting environmental awareness while adventuring beneath the sea to meet the plethora of wild sea creatures on the brink of extinction.

A satirical rendition of the French marine conservationist Jacques Cousteau (Ryan Smith) sits on the side of the stage; he MC’s and narrates an hilarious, comical phantasmagorical marine exploration with his motley team of interns Jean, Claude, Van, Damme and Tina.

Evita

Lyrics by Tim Rice. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Opera Australia and John Frost in association with David Ian Productions. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, from September 18 to November 5, 2018, then Arts Centre Melbourne from December 5

Just as Eva Peron was a deeply polarising political figure, so too is the latest production based on her life. On one hand some members of the audience rose to their feet at the end of the musical to salute the brilliant individual performances and spectacle. On the other hand, I spoke to a couple as they were walking out at interval, frustrated at the lack of pace in the first act.

Dog Show

Directed by Cassandra Fumi, with dramaturgy by Alice Fitzgerald. Melbourne Fringe. Melbourne Festival Fringe Hub - Warehouse Space, North Melbourne Town Hall. September 14 – 22, 2018

Who let the dogs out ? Woof ! Woof !

Dog Showis  wild, bestial and riotous satirical theatre.

Pure devotion and dedication to one’s canine can go no further than this hyper- puerile exploration of dog show phenomena. Apparently it began in London at The Kennel Club in 1873, and has since taken the world by storm, branching out into many tawdry suburban outlets.

Strictly Ballroom

Music & Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper, Robert Hyman, Harry Vanda, John Paul Young, Osvaldo Farres, Joe Davis, David Foster, Sia Furler, Isaac Hasson, Bernie Herms, Baz Luhrmann, Mozella, Theron Feemster, Craig Pearce, Eddie Perfect, Linda Thompson, Elliott Wheeler. Book: Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce, adapted by Terry Johnson. Ipswich Musical Theatre Company. Director: Cienda McNamara. Musical Director: Robert Clark. September 14 – 23, 2018

The world of ballroom dancing has never been more accurately or lovingly portrayed as in the iconic Aussie movie Strictly Ballroom, with its splashy routines, larger-than-life characters, and endless sequined costumes.

#VAL: a glittery ode to queer men and their mums

Directed by Shaun Rennie. Downstairs at the Maj, His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth, WA. 13-15 Sep, 2018

Australia’s John O’Hara has a strong following Downstairs at the Maj, as this musical theatre performer, shortly to appear in School of Rock, also has quite a penchant for cabaret. His newest show debuted to capacity crowds and a very warm reception for this home-grown favourite.

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