Reviews

Henry V

By William Shakespeare. Henry V. Blak Yak. Directed by Paul Treasure. Shenton Park Community Centre.18 - 27 October, 2018

There can be no better day to see Henry V than St Crispin’s Day, the date of which is central to the action of Shakespeare’s play. Blak Yak celebrated the occasion with free crisps for their patrons, and there was a sense of celebration in watching the St Crispin’s Day speech on the 603rd anniversary of its inspiration.

Guru of Chai

By Jacob Rajan. Indian Ink Theatre Company. Oz Asia Festival. Space Theatre, Adelaide. October 25 – 27, 2018

Guru of Chai was story telling at its very best. One man, a simple stage, a story that twisted and turned, a few special effects, live music and sound effects, a little bit of magic and some shadow puppetry.

The result was more than a dozen characters and a story that tugged at our hearts, made us laugh and filled us with gratitude, both for being able to sit entranced for one and a half hours and for our own lives.

Lines

By Pamela Carter. Theatre Republic. Bakehouse Theatre. October 24-November 10th 2018

Theatre Republic is a company that has been created to provoke, to move and present fearless stories that are of our time and our complex world, and through the medium of courageous drama, to capture the essence and complexity of what it means to be human.

Giving Up the Ghost

Written and directed by Rivka Hartman. Pop Up Theatre Production at Limelight on Oxford, 231 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, 17 October to 3 November 2018

It is an exciting thing to attend an opening night, even more so a world premiere of an Australian comedy, in a brand-new venue. 

The ground level of Limelight on Oxford had a warm inviting feel, with tasteful but fun décor, including an upright piano.  This level serves food and drinks, and operates as a café during the day.  It is wheelchair accessible, with a wheelchair-accessible bathroom.

In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play

By Sarah Ruhl. Black Swan State Theatre. Directed by Jeffrey Jay Fowler. Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA. 20 Oct - 4 Nov, 2018

If it wasn’t for the subject matter of In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play, you might describe it as a “nice family drama”. It is funny, fresh and vibrant, and while dealing with quite serious issues, there are no “bad guys”, and although there are “hurts”, they are not intentional.

Chasing Smoke

Presented by Casus Circus and Cluster Arts in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse. Visy Theatre, 24 October – 3 November, 2018

Casus Circus is lifting the carpet under which white Australia’s swept the historically disgraceful treatment of first nation peoples. The country’s first and only indigenous contemporary circus ensemble is doing so in a mixed media performance that combines contemporary and indigenous dance, juggling, storytelling, acrobatics, sketch comedy, art, music and a gigantic lamington.

Julius Caesar

By William Shakespeare. Bell Shakespeare. Directed by James Evans. Sydney Opera House. October 23 - November 25, 2018

There are few plays that are as relentlessly modern as Julius Caesar. There are so many lines that have entered our language; the idea of bringing down an “ambitious” leader feels so very contemporary. With a diverse cast and some male roles - including Mark Antony - played by women, it feels even more so in this Bell Shakespeare production, now concluding a 28-venue national tour.

Circus Oz: Sidesault at the Melba

The Melba Spielgielent, Collingwood. October 18 – 21, 2018

Circus Oz’s Sidesault at this year’s Melba Festival has featured local and international companies that present experimental works that challenge and push the boundaries of contemporary circus. Three of the works are Jugg Life – Jugg Life Productions, Hell Is Other People by Jess Love (Love is the Drug) and Feed The Horse – Radish by Night - performed by carney infused talented individuals!

Degenerate Art

Written & Directed by Toby Schmitz. Red Line Productions. Old Fitz Theatre, Woolloomooloo. October 17 - November 4, 2018.

Toby Schmitz hits almost all marks as the writer of Degenerate Art, its director and also one of this impressive ensemble – he even plays Goebbels, that master of Nazi propaganda.   

Déjà Revue - The Wharf Revue 2018

Written and created by Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe. Sydney Theatre Company. The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre. 23 October – 3 November 2018

The insane pace of intrigue in Canberra of late is a mixed blessing for satirists. While, the material is bursting out of Parliament House on a daily basis, the current news cycle is so crazy that the writers of a show like The Wharf Revue need to sprint to keep up. This was the first show without composer Phil Scott, whose music was so much a part of the revue’s successful formula. And that was even before Drew Forsythe (both a major performer and half of the writing team) fell ill and had to withdraw from performing for six weeks.

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