Reviews

Silly Cow

By Ben Elton. Arena Theatre Productions. Directed by Simon James. City of Gosnells Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Thornlie, WA. Oct 4-12, 2024

This week sees a mini–Ben Elton Festival playing in Perth and Peel, with two of his works - Silly Cow and We Will Rock You playing concurrent seasons and allowing a keen fan to see both in one day. Silly Cow is being presented by Arena Theatre Productions, and while there was not a huge crowd at its second performance (a Saturday matinee) it was very warmly received.

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Book: Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins. TEG Dainty. Director: Phyllida Lloyd. Musical Supervisor: Nicholas Skilbeck. Choreographer: Anthony Van Laast. Set and Costume Designer: Mark Thompson. Sound Designer: Nevin Steinberg. Lighting Designer: Bruno Post. Projection Designer: Jeff Sugg. Princess Theatre, Melbourne. 3 October 2024 – 26 January, 2025

Tina celebrates the life and work of Tina Turner, a legend of Rock and Roll who won 12 Grammy Awards. Really, really celebrates! The singing, music and choreography are phenomenal, the costumes, lighting and staging are extravagant, and the acting is nuanced, engaging and moving. Surprisingly, for a musical celebrating a legendary live performer, the acting turned out to be central.

The Boy from Oz

Music and Lyrics by Peter Allen. Book by Nick Enright. Presented by Free-Rain Theatre / Anne Somes. Directed by Kristy Griffin. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. 1 – 20 October 2024

As one of our most beloved home-grown musicals, any production of The Boy from Oz automatically invites comparisons with the original production with Todd McKenney, the hacked-script New York version starring Hugh Jackman, and of course with Peter Allen himself. A local amateur company could not be expected to have the sheer breadth of talent of the 1990s original, or the sheer breadth of cash of the Broadway do-over.  What Free Rain have pulled off here is fun, poignant and full of verve, capturing the vibrance and resilience of Peter Allen himself.

Three Sisters

By Anton Chekhov, adapted by the company. Tempest Theatre. Directed by Susie Conte. The Studio, Subiaco Arts Centre, WA. Oct 2-5, 2024

Tempest Theatre’s one hour adaptation strips Chekhov’s original Three Sisters to its essence. A visually beautiful, quite poetic production, it looks at the women’s lack of choice, and how they are trapped by circumstances, giving us a much more sympathetic and relatable tale that resonates more strongly with the audience.

Ruins أطلال

Created and Directed by Emily Ayoub and Madeline Baghurst. ClockfireTheatre Company. Belvoir Street Theatre, Downstairs. October 1 – 20, 2024

This beautiful story of an Australian mum visiting her ancestral home in Lebanon and digging in ancient ruins for her roots is so artfully told, it leaves you wanting more.

Ruins lasts just 40 minutes.

Kiss Me, Kate

By Cole Porter, Sam and Bella Spewack. The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of WA. Directed by Natalee Husk. The Dolphin Theatre, University of Western Australia. Oct 2-13, 2024

The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of WA is branching out, with their first non-G&S major production in many years, presenting the Cole Porter classic Kiss Me, Kate.

Performing with a quality 15-piece band, under the baton of pianist, conductor, musical director Micheal Brett, the principal actors are miked - unusual for G&S. The singing, as we would expect, is of a high standard.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Book by Peter Parnell. Based on the Victor Hugo Novel and songs from the Disney film. Northern Light Theatre Company. Shedley Theatre, Elizabeth, SA. Oct 4 – 19, 2024

Northern Light Theatre Company’s production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame has set the amateur musical theatre bar to Olympic standards and as Mary Poppins says – it’s “Practically perfect in every way!”

Originally a book by Victor Hugo, published in 1831, Lon Chaney immortalised the title role in the 1923 silent film. With the advent of the talkies, Charles Laughton (also well known for playing Henry VIII) made the role his own in 1939.

Sail Boat Home

Company Bad, AFK and WAAPA / Awesome Festival. Geography Room, State Library of WA, Perth, WA. Sep 24-25, 2024

Sail Boat Home was performed by Company Bad, AFK and WAAPA as part of the Awesome Festival for Bright Young Things, in a completely transformed Geography Room at the State Library.

A completely interactive, workshop style production, children and their accompanying adults sat on the floor in the middle of the room as the action unfurled around them. The young participants became part of the show as they played musical instruments and operated puppets to further the story.

Ensemble Q and William Barton

Musica Viva Australia. Adelaide Town Hall, King William St, Adelaide. Oct 3, 2024 (also touring Perth, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, and Brisbane)

Ensemble Q and William Barton, featuring some of Australia’s finest musicians have crafted a smorgasbord of music including works by William Barton and Paul Dean alongside hand-picked masterpieces by Brahms and Ligeti, which promise to wrap audiences in a multi-layered experience of sound. It is the perfect fusion of western and first nation musical legacies with a World Premiere included and who doesn’t love a World Premiere?

The Shifting Heart

By Richard Benyon. Stirling Players. Directed by Tim Riessen. Stirling Theatre, Morris Place, Innaloo, WA. Sep 13-28, 2024

This classic Australian play was presented by Stirling Players. A contemporary of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, previously presented by director Tim Riessen at this theatre, it looks at Australian culture and prejudice against “New Australians” in the post-war period.

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