Reviews

Jersey Boys

Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice. Music by Bob Gaudio. Lyrics by Bob Crewe. Therry Theatre. Arts Theatre, Adelaide. August 8th – 17th, 2024

If you think you know the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, then think again. This jukebox musical does more than highlight the group’s back catalogue of hits. It delves into the origins of the band, relationships, family, personal tragedy, and the hoops they had to jump through to make it in the music industry. It is a human story about four talented lads from Jersey, who left petty crime behind to land on the world stage – and boy did the world listen!

Steel Magnolias

By Robert Harling. Directed by Lynne Devenish. Garrick Theatre, Guildford, WA. Aug 1-17, 2025

Steel Magnolias, Robert Harling’s dramatic tribute to the strength of women in the Southern United States, is somewhat of a modern classic. Garrick Theatre’s latest production is a warm, feel-good production, with a lovely ensemble cast.

The Cherry Orchard

By Gary Owen. Secret House. Director Anthony Skuse. Old Fitz Theatre. Aug 8 – 24, 2024

Welsh playwright Gary Owen sets his compelling version of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard in his homeland, in a crumbling family home and orchard looking out over the Atlantic.  It’s 1982 and back in London Margaret Thatcher’s neo-liberal government is riding high on the nationalistic fervour of snatching back the Falklands.

Dracula: A Comedy of Terror

By Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen. Directed by Christopher Alvaro. Koorliny Arts Centre, Kwinana, WA. Aug 9-17, 2024

A late addition to Koorliny Arts Centre’s season, with a short run, and a young director, it would be forgivable if Dracula: A Comedy of Terror was an average show. Instead, this wacky, campy little comedy is one of the best surprise packages (and maybe best kept secrets) of 2024.

Sister Act

Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner. John Frost for Crossroads Live in association with Jamie Wilson. Capitol Theatre, Sydney. Opening Night: August 11, 2025

Sister Act, currently playing at The Capitol Theatre, is a heavenly hit that promises an evening of uplifting entertainment and delivers. Sister Act is nun-stop entertainment!

Piper

Created by Frenzy Theatre Company, co-creator Dora Abraham. Theatre Works, St Kilda. 8 – 24 August 2024

Frenzy Theatre Company presents an all-singing-all-dancing, parodic, satiric retelling – or ‘reimagining’ - of the ‘classic’ 13th century fairytale, The Pied Piper of Hamelin.  It has been devised, concocted and assembled by the breath-taking, amazingly all-shapes-and-sizes female and non-binary cast of twenty-four (too many to name here – check the program).  There are acrobats, comedians, musicians, singers, dancers (or combinations of all these), and they are by necessity quick-change artists too.

The Addams Family

Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Based on characters created by Charles Addams. Ballina Players. June 7 – 23, 2024

The Addams Family musical offers a blend of quirky charm and familiar macabre humour that will likely appeal to fans of the original s\eries and cartoons. While the show has its strengths, it also has areas that might leave some audience members wanting more.

The musical score by Andrew Lippa is a key highlight. The songs are catchy and varied, ranging from lively ensemble numbers like "When You're an Addams" to more introspective pieces like "Happy/Sad." However, while some tunes are memorable, others may not leave a lasting impression.

Postcards

Brisbane Music Festival. FourthWall Arts, Brisbane. 10 August 2024.

This year’s Brisbane Music Festival (BMF) is a journey in three parts – its season extending from 23 to 25 August, 25 to 27 October, and finally 13 to 15 December, packing in more than 10 world premiere pieces and a similar number of Australian premieres, featuring Brisbane-based and international artists, some making their Queensland debuts.

Murder for Two

Book Kellen Blair and Joe Kinosian. Music Joe Kinosian. Director Richard Carroll. Riverside Theatre Parramatta. 9-10 Aug, 2024

When Peter Novakovich reviewed this production for Stage Whispers in 2023 he wrote: “The Hayes Theatre Company production of Murder for Two is clever, witty, elegant, sophisticated, laugh-out-loud brilliant! My face hurt from laughing too much”. He followed that with a “clever, witty, elegant” review of this ingenious piece of theatre, covering the multiple theatre genres, musical theatre styles and the very talented actors and director who brought it to such sparkling life.

Apologia

By Nicola Gunn. Malthouse, The Beckett. 6 – 18 August 2024

An ‘apologia’ is not an apology.  On the contrary, it is a defence (written, spoken, passionate, logical, whatever) of one’s actions or beliefs.  So what is Nicola Gunn defending here?  It is the ambiguity of something is translated, transformed, recreated, replicated, copied, or incorporated into something else.  What then is the nature or essential essence of the ur-thing that is translated, transformed and so on?  What is its authenticity?  (Some may recall the Abbas Kiarostami movie Certified Copy.)

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