Reviews

Following a cold and cloudy winter’s day in Adelaide the stars were out at last, both in the sky and on the Festival Theatre stage, as old chums and new ‘came to the Cabaret’ to celebrate the start of 2016’s June 10-25 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

It’s hard to under-estimate the challenge; the world premiere of a new play in a professional theatre, where carriage of the drama rested almost solely on teenagers and a child. Throw into the mix the need to re-create the atmosphere of a futuristic world dominated by dust storms, fighting over scarce resources and a Police state with only one set to play with on a small stage.

The Therry Dramatic Society’s latest production is an enchanting fable that explores many deep and thought provoking themes - ageing, mortality, generation gaps, the quest for identity, the sacrifices required to ensure that love endures, the conflict between history versus mythology and the value of storytelling – thorough the prism of a fantastical hero’s journey that joyously illuminates the absurdities of life. Big Fish is arguably the most accomplished work of musical theatre to have been staged in Adelaide during the last five years.

American raised Playwright Carol Dance has joined forces with the Indian Australian Association of South Australia to bring to the stage her cross-cultural play Indian Embrace, a tale of connection with family and country. Dance aims to teach us life lessons and traditions, but with mixed results.

The action takes place in a guesthouse located in Varanasi, India. Location is established with projections on the back wall and a distinctive Indian soundtrack.