Reviews

This is a monster of a musical based on the myth and legend of one monster that was to be feared. That monster was an ogre and Shrek is such a monster.  Exiled as a youngster, he has been living alone in his swamp until he is invaded by a group of fairytale characters who have been exiled by the evil Lord Farquaad. Shrek goes to get things back to normal and makes friends with Donkey and meets Princess Fiona.  From then on through song mainly, Shrek teaches traits such acceptance, trust, love and belief which are so relevant to the modern audience.

It’s official. The Gold Coast has been conquered by the show with the weird name. How good is Come from Away, you ask? Well, imagine not one, not two or three, but FOUR standing ovations at the end of the opening night. And this was not a usual first night. Covid ravaged the cast, and the official opening had to be cancelled and moved to Saturday. Media and dignitaries had to be squeezed in with the Saturday night audience. We didn’t care. By the end of the evening, we all felt that we wanted to hug each other.

Here is a sensitive – and skilful – adaptation of this famous and much-loved 1847 novel.  Christine Davey has selected events, but more importantly, the emotions of this story of Jane Eyre – and turned them into theatre.  The novel is a first-person account of Jane’s life - from harassed and bullied orphan to romantic heroine and finally mother of her own children – and so in this adaptation, our heroine Jane (Tess Parker) herself is our narrator. 

Opera Australia’s La Traviata returns to Sydney once again, playing to a captive audience at the magnificent Sydney Opera House. Upon entering the theatre, it is the first notes of the violins that set the tone for this much celebrated opera. La Traviata, meaning ‘The Fallen Woman’, is a tragic tale about a Parisian courtesan, Violetta, who yearns to leave her party-girl lifestyle behind her in favour of true love. But beneath her beautiful, vibrant exterior lies a dark secret.