Reviews

For anyone who makes it to adulthood, the process of ‘growing up’ is a universal one, even if that of ‘learning to surf’ is not.

The young women behind this new stage adaptation of an iconic Australian story have been shrewd in concentrating their focus on situations from the text that can be most easily (and effectively) dramatized on a stage. Rather than the generally confrontational tactics of the recent television series, this script gets its points across with discretion and tact.

Rosemary Johns’ play about the final days of the Romanovs is no docu-drama.  As in the historical accounts, all the named characters are real people, and the Romanov family is confined to a single room in ‘the house of special purpose’, the Inpatiev House, the windows covered in newspaper.  As in history, the family is exposed to constant surveillance, inspections and insults from the Bolshevik guards. 

Having performed in a couple of productions, I was looking forward to The Production Company’s take on this old war-horse. It was very well done.

It started with leading lady Fiona running onto stage from the back of the auditorium, and singing, with the chorus, the opening number, which is usually just sung by the chorus. This made the words much easier to follow, which helped set the scene.

Barking Gecko Theatre Company’s presentation of Bambert’s Book of Lost Stories is magical, and so fittingly adapted for the stage by Dan Giovannoni and Luke Kerridge.  The production brings to life the exquisite illustrations of Reinhardt Jung’s book, the characters in the story are validated and the audience can step into a world of fantasy, into a time when storytelling and imagination were fundamental above everything else.