Reviews

Notorious Strumpet and Dangerous Girl

Fringe World. Directed by Jess Love. Circus Palace, Elizabeth Quay, The Esplanade, Perth WA. Feb 14-17, 2018

Jess Love begins Notorious Strumpet and Dangerous Girl by making sure that all of her audience are comfortable and offers everyone tea, coffee and biscuits. We soon realise this is because we have stumbled on an Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting…. if an AA meeting had hula hoops, trapeze work and a bizarre game of bingo.

We Will Rock You

Music and lyrics by Queen. Story and script by Ben Elton. Woftam Productions. NSW Amateur Premiere. Town Hall Theatre, Campbelltown. February 2 - 17, 2018.

Woftam’s (World of Fine Theatre and Music) production of the Ben Elton / Queen Rock musical was a thoroughly entertaining premiere of one of the newest musicals to hit the amateur theatre circuit. The hilarious script by Elton had the audience in stitches the whole night, while clapping and foot tapping along to many of the Queen’s Rock classics.

This production was full of colour, from the bright and bold costumes worn by all cast, to the lighting and the small amount of set pieces that took us on the show’s journey.

The Fabulous Singlettes

Memo Music Hall. 90 Acland Street, St Kilda, VIC. February 13 - 17, 2018

The Fabulous Singlettes are Naomi Eyers, Melissa Langton and Diane Dixon - each gifted with awesome vocal talent that is showcased both individually and in close harmonies as they channel the girl groups of the 60’s, the hits of the 70’s and beyond.

The Wedding Singer

Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy. Lyrics by Chad Begulin and music by Matthew Sklar. Based on the New Line Cinema film written by Tim Herlihy. Directed by Pam Cooper with Musical Direction by Sean Fagan. Presented by Sunnybank Theatre Group (Qld). Sunnybank Theatre. 9 - 17 February, 2018

There are a lot of things to be impressed about when you see Sunnybank Theatre Group’s production of The Wedding Singer. The first notable positive is the substantial size of the ensemble cast including an eight-person-strong live band. Everyone on stage (and one can also assume offstage in the band pit) has enthusiasm and a cheerfully infectious joy. The cast are well-rehearsed, never appearing to miss a line or a beat. The show also benefits from great choreography by Jacquie Cullen to support the plentiful songs throughout.

Who We Were

By Jayden Masciulli, Caitlyn Staples, and Tiana Hogben. Hit By a Blimp (Vic). The Improv Conspiracy Theatre, Melbourne. February 2 - 23, 2018

In this homage to the most cringeworthy of the 1990s and the 2000s, I counted 23 era-specific references. I missed others.

The show opens with a dial-up modem screeching as it connects to the Internet. Three high school friends, Max (Jayden Masciulli), Katie (Tiana Hogben), and Amanda (Caitlyn Staples) indulge in some online chat infatuation.

From there, it's a fast-moving romp through the relics of the coming-of-age years of the comedy troupe.

Livvy and Pete: The Songs of Olivia Newton John and Peter Allen

Fringe World. De Parel Spiegeltent, The Pleasure Garden, Russell Square, Northbridge, WA. Feb 5-12, 2018

Livvy and Pete celebrates the songs of two of Australia’s most iconic singing exports, in a fun and vibrant show that has the audience thoroughly involved.

Performers Michael Griffiths and Amelia Ryan have excellent chemistry, have a gorgeously laconic and self-deprecating delivery and have an obvious passion for Olivia Newton John and Peter Allen. They both sing superbly and have charm in bucket-loads. 

MOLT: The Museum of Lost Things

Fringe World, Peaks and Never Alone Theatre Company. Directed by Alana Hoggart. Paper Mountain, William St, Northbridge, WA. Feb 12-17, 2018

The story of a museum, and its ­­­­curator, caught somewhere between "any possible anywhere. MOLT: The Museum of Lost Things is a one man show that sits on the edge of reality. Presented by Fringe World, Peaks and Never Alone Theatre Company, it is playing in the beautifully intimate common room at Paper Mountain.

Solo performer Rian Howlett welcomes you to the Museum of Lost Things, which is a repository of things lost, from the mundane, to the obtuse, from keys and iPhones through to a well-known politician’s humanity.

The View Upstairs

By Max Vernon. Invisible Wall Productions and Sugary Rum Productions in association with 
Hayes Theatre Co. Directed by Shaun Rennie. Hayes Theatre, Sydney. February 8 - March 11, 2018

Bars have long been central to gay life. In communities that were hidden for many years, they were often the only place to meet friends or a partner. But they’re much less pivotal than they were: in today’s world, where same-sex marriage is legal, and gay men meet online, the need for a gathering place based around sexuality has much diminished.

So has the community that went with it.

Metamorphoses

By Mary Zimmerman. Red Line Productions, in association with Apocalypse Theatre Company and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Old Fitz Theatre. Feb 8 - Mar 10, 2018

Ovid compiled his famous collection of Greek legends two millennia ago, which Mary Zimmerman adapted for the American stage two decades ago.  True to the fashion of the 1990’s, she centred her theatre ofMetamorphoses around a pool of water.

Barmaids

By Katherine Thomson. Gold Coast Little Theatre, Southport. Director: Michael Sutton. Feb 10 - March 10, 2018

The language was ripe! No topic off limits! And the coarseness of everyday life was front and foremost!

Michael Sutton has recreated the bar of yesteryear with everything (so I’m told) that made the hub of the suburbs such a necessary part of life.

The Barmaids: Kate McNair – Nancy and Tara Page – Val, are both Gold Coast Area Palm Award winners for their leading actress performances in past shows.

These two “beer pullers” are the entire cast; except for some “dumb” pub patrons and some unsuspecting audience members.

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