Reviews

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.

Flop

Performed by: Arthur Hull. Fruitful Productions. Melbourne Fringe Festival. Trades Hall. October 2 – 13, 2024

You may know Arthur Hull from his stints on The Voice, working with Guy Sebastian and Adam Lambert. His impressive bio includes winning First Place and the People’s Choice Award at the Australian National Busking Championships. He is a 2023 graduate of the famous Flying Fruit Fly Circus and recently performed with them at the Sydney Opera House and the Wanderer Festival.

Seventeen

By Matthew Whittet. WildThingProduction and Seymour Centre. Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre. September 27 – October 19, 2024

Matthew Whittet insists that his play about teenagers getting trashed after their last day at school should use only older actors; and certainly, this lot are much closer to 70 than 17. 

Armed with precious saved-up grog, these aging teenagers gather in the playground of their local park; life – or something – is all ahead, but this night they obviously have lots of fears and secrets still unresolved.  Gradually and predictably, through games (truth or dare), furious dancing, booze and chundering, each of their secrets are revealed to their peers.

Poe: Dreams of Madness

By Elissa Haynes. Teens at Garrick. Directed by Paris Romano Jenner and Gail Lusted, Garrick Theatre, Guildford, WA. Sep 27 - Oct 12, 2024

Teens at Garrick, a group within Garrick Theatre Club, are currently presenting the “eccentric mystery” Poe: Dreams of Madness. Set in Poe’s study and in his mind, the play touches on many of Poe’s better-known works.

Mary Poppins

Original music & lyrics by Richard M. & Robert B. Sherman, with new songs by George Stiles & Anthony Drewe. Book: Julian Fellowes. Presented by the Warrnambool Theatre Company. Director: Rachel Pitt-Lancaster assisted by Millicent Lee. Musical Director: Dean Mulholland assisted by Maria Carras-Kerr. Choreographer: Eloise Simpson. Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool. September 28 - October 5, 2024.

Based on the 1964 film and the much-loved book series by Australian born P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins is considered Walt Disney's crowning achievement and was the only Disney film to earn a Best Picture nomination during his lifetime. Julie Andrews' Oscar winning portrayal of Mary and Dick Van Dyke's magnetic charm as Bert, have made them household names among children of all ages for over sixty years.

The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race

By Melanie Tait. Directed by Alan Cooke. Townsville Little Theatre. Denise Glasgow Performing Arts Centre, Pimlico State High School, Townsville. 25-28 September 2024.

IT IS ALWAYS encouraging to see community theatre groups mount contemporary Australian work, and this play is ideal for this kind of platform.

Written in 2019, this is the second play for playwright and journalist Melanie Tait and it was originally developed and performed by the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney before national touring and a film which was released last year.

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