Reviews

Glamazonia

Written and Directed by Rhonda Burchmore. HOTA Gold Coast. April 1, 2022, and touring (dates below).

There’s every chance that if you look up entertainment in the dictionary, you will find Rhonda Burchmore’s name in the definition.

Celebrating 40 years as a STAwaRt of our industry, Rhonda was never going to let a little thing like a pandemic get in her way. Like most born entertainers, she needs to connect with an audience. It’s her very reason for living, her life’s blood, and she does it brilliantly. So, if the big shows aren’t happening for her, Rhonda simply creates her own.

Heathers: The Musical

Book, Music and Lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe. Based on the film written by Daniel Waters. Millennial Productions (Qld). Director: Kade O’Rourke. Choreographer: Lauren Bensted. Musical Director: Caitlin Wall. Ron Hurley Theatre. April 1 – 10, 2022

It was clear from the number of raised eyebrows, dropped jaws and thunderous applause after the opening number, that Millennial Productions hit their debut musical out of the park!

Side Show

By Bill Russell, Henry Krieger and Bill Condon. WAAPA Third Year Music Theatre. Directed by Michael McCall. Geoff Gibbs Theatre, WAAPA, Edith Cowan University, Mt Lawley, WA. April 1-7, 2022

Side Show, not seen in Perth for over a decade, is a gritty and emotive musical, expertly presented by WAAPA’s Third Year Music Theatre students, and designed built and crewed by WAAPA Production and Design students.

Constellations

By Nick Payne. STARC Productions. The Bakehouse Theatre, SA. March 30th – April 9th, 2022

The Bakehouse Theatre has become an iconic cornerstone of Adelaide theatre history, and tributes are flooding in, both lamenting the loss of this unique black box theatre space, and reminiscing about the often ground breaking productions that have become treasured pieces of not just local theatre culture.

Stage Kiss

By Sarah Ruhl. Galleon Theatre Group. Domain Theatre, Marion Cultural Centre. March 31 - April 9, 2022

Established in 1967, originally located in an unimposing hall in Seacombe Gardens, Galleon Theatre Group is a proud and well established community theatre group. Now housed in Marion Council’s new Domain Theatre, it is a well-regarded and recognized Adelaide theatre group. Having multiple theatre awards and nominations, it holds an important place as a group that has consistently welcomed people who love theatre, valuing their enthusiasm, and often providing mentoring and opportunities for less experienced actors and production teams alike.

Heroes of the Fourth Turning

By Will Arbery. Outhouse Theatre Company. Directed by Craig Baldwin. Seymour Centre, Sydney. 31 March – 23 April, 2022

This is an exceptional production of an important modern play and it's unclear why the Sydney Theatre Company hasn’t claimed it for itself. Chekhovian in its comic view of the blighted lives of its characters, it reveals what’s going on in the minds of the followers of that damned modern hero – Donald Trump.

Will Arbery’s thrilling new American play has been nailed by director Craig Baldwin in this quietly absorbing production that is not to be missed.

GlamourPussy and The Hip Replacements

Goodwood Theatre and Studios, SA - 2 April 2022. Chapel off Chapel, Vic – 30 April, 2022

She's a spicy mix of glamour & decay.  Young at heart…and slightly older in other places.  GlamourPussy declares herself with honesty, verve, style, and glittering sardonic repartee.  By way of her presence and talent she owns the stage from start to riveting and poignant finish and unhesitatingly claims the spotlight on behalf of all females of a particular life stage. 

Tartuffe

By Moliere. Directed by Trent Baker. WAAPA Third Year Acting. The Roundhouse Theatre, WAAPA, Edith Cowan University, Mt Lawley, WA. Mar 31- Apr 6, 2022

Tartuffe, presented by WAAPA Third Year Acting students, and designed, built and crewed by WAAPA Production and Design students, is a fun vibrant and highly energetic incarnation of this more than 300-year-old play. Larger and brighter than life, the concept is bright and bold.

A is For Apple

Written and produced by Jessica Bellamy. Directed by Scarlet McGlynn. Griffin Lookout Season. SBW Stables Theatre. March 29 - April 9, 2022.

Comedies about Jewish coming of age have long been fodder for writers – think of 13 the musical and the movie 66, where the World Cup upstages a British boy’s big day.

Joining this club is the sassy and hilarious comedy A for Apple, which  is so good I could imagine it being staged in a little theatre off Broadway.

Kelly

By Matthew Ryan. Directed by Subra Velayutham and Kylie Gral. La Mama HQ, 205 Faraday St, Carlton VIC. 29 March – 3 Apr 2022.

The details of the last days and hours of Ned Kelly's (Subra Velayutham) battles with local authorities and his own conscience are fully explored in this intricate play. The text cleverly exploits the rumours that Dan Kelly (Sean Paisley Collins) did, in fact, survive the last stand at Glenrowan. It imagines a clandestine encounter between the two brothers shortly before Ned's execution. Dan, supposedly disguised as an Irish priest, seeks to reconcile with his brother.

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