Reviews

Australia only has a few them – theatrical royalty - performers whose dazzling talent has given them unique insights into the leading creatives of our times, after being handpicked to be in world premiere productions. 

Philip Quast is one of them. In a recent radio interview he revealed that his son was “christened” by Stephen Sondheim. (Well sort of.) The composer was holding his baby son and was so overcome by the beautiful sight, that a tear fell from his eye onto the child’s cheek.

Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, first performed in 1996, is the product of over 200 interviews with women of multiple ages, races and sexual orientation, about their vaginas. This production - vibrantly and poignantly presented by Lit Live for State of Play and the Fringe World Festival - is playing at two venues - Studio Underground, at the State Theatre Centre of WA, to be followed by a another short season at His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth.

Tale of Tales is a gorgeously presented, beautiful story from Bow and Dagger Theatre Company, playing as part of State of Play for the Fringe World Festival.

Based on a true story and set during World War II, Antionetta, a known communist flees Italy for the safety of Australia, where she and her two young sons are interned as ‘enemy aliens’. Antionetta's husband, Sante remains in Italy, as part of the Italian resistance. They remain linked through the stories Antionetta tells her sons - linking them spiritually - although they have no contact.

Do I Look Like I Care? is an offbeat medical comedy presented by bear hands co for State of Play at Fringe World. Set in 1982, immigrant nurse Florence tries to find her place in a Perth hospital.

Fast paced and vibrant, this is almost a series of vignettes as we follow Florence (known as Flo) through her first two years in Perth, through a series of odd experiences, several hospital wards and her home in nurses’ accommodation as we meet a collection of strange patients and staff.