Reviews | Stage Whispers

Tao Dance Theater

Asia TOPA. Choreographer – Tao Ye. Arts Centre Melbourne – Playhouse .22 – 24 January 2017

Melbournians are so privileged to have this new tri-annual Asian Performance Arts Festival in Melbourne; ‘A festival celebrating Australia’s connections with contemporary Asia’.

From China we are honored to experience Tao Dance Theater’s works ‘6’ and ‘8’, performed for us by a marvelous troupe of young Chinese dancers.

As a truly exceptional and unusual experience, hopefully all Melbourne’s young dancers and choreographers will be/have been able to catch a performance.

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Away

By Michael Gow.Sydney Theatre Company/Malthouse Theatre Directed by Matthew Lutton/ Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre. Feb 18 – Mar 25, 2017

Brilliantly acted, with a spectacular set change, but lacking the emotional connection of smaller productions. That was one view which emerged in the foyer of the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre after watching this seminal Australian play, 31 years after it opened at the much cosier Griffin Theatre.

Director Matthew Lutton had the large stage to play with and steered the production more towards its Shakespearean allusions.

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All This Living

Written and performed by Camilla Blunden. The Butterfly Club, Melbourne. February 22 – 26, 2017

All this Living is a complex rich work that touches on the difficult subject of aging. It is particularly relevant to the older woman. Full marks to Camilla Blunden for engaging with focus groups of older women to bring their experience and voices out into the light through this very personal medium of a one-woman performance. All this Living is a fabulous vehicle to open up the subject area and broaden awareness with divergent audiences. It is nothing if not worthy.

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Fringe World 2017 Reviews

The 2017 Fringe World Festival playes at venues throughout Perth from January 20 to February 19, 2017.

Kimberly Shaw was out and about reviewing the festival.

Click on the links below to read reviews of individual productions.

Image - Amy Housewine - Back to Crack.

The Reviews

Amy Housewine - Back to Crack

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Adelaide Fringe 2017 Reviews

Below are links to all of our 2017 Adelaide Fringe reviews - please click on the links to read each individual review.

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We Live by the Sea

Patch of Blue & Greenwich Theatre. Adelaide Fringe. 16th Feb – 19th March, 2017

What I love most about the Adelaide Fringe is its diversity. Not all shows need elaborate sets and costumes; sometimes all that is needed are characters you care about and a story that will leave you speechless.

With We Live by the Sea, striking images projected on a white sail at the back of the stage are enough to transport an audience to the ocean. Theatre that provokes thought and raw emotion is when you know you are witnessing something very special.

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Chamber Pot Opera

Presented by Bontom. Adelaide Fringe. Ladies Powder Room Piccadilly Cinemas. 21st Feb – 5th March, 2017.

Piccadilly Cinemas is one of the great Art Deco buildings in Adelaide, with a big foyer, a winding staircase and a spacious Ladies powder room. This makes it the perfect setting for this site specific Opera. Set in a public bathroom, it explores the interactions and relationships of women in a traditionally safe space.

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Blanc de Blanc

Strut & Fret. Magic Mirror Spiegeltent. Adelaide Fringe. 17th Feb – 17th March, 2017

If you are looking for a show to awaken all the senses, then look no further than Blanc de Blanc. It’s a titillating romp with a French flavour that will leave you begging for more.

Beautiful bodies draped in sequins, lace and corsets set the stage alight, creating an erotic vibe. French arias, mixed with techno beats, pump from the speakers. You have no choice but to sit back and enjoy the ride.

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John

By Annie Barker. Melbourne Theatre Company. Art Centre Melbourne - Fairfax Studio. 10 February – 25 March 2017

The Fairfax Studio opens out to embrace the audience and bring them into the intimate workings of four complex individuals. It is a great venue for this fascinating, intriguing and enigmatic work.

The domestic setting by designer Elizabeth Gadsby, of an all-purpose living room for guests, is busy with clashing yet strangely simpatico décor. Like a fifth idiosyncratic character, the set is acutely integral to the unfolding of the story. At times it is also used to add dashes of magic realism.

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Movin’ Melvin Brown: A Man, a Magic, a Music!

Adelaide Fringe Festival. Royal Croquet Club. 19 Februray-19 March, 2017.

The sound of pure soulful beauty rings out from behind a black curtain – then the source of that magical voice emerges in a bright, fiery suit, bringing the music of Sam Cooke to life…

Melvin Brown is on a mission of positivity, drawing on a multitude of musical and artistic facets to fight a winning battle against the spectre of racial prejudice – and as far as this reviewer is concerned, Melvin’s victory is assured, simply by way of his being as talented, as generous, as friendly a performer as you’re likely to see at this entire Fringe festival.

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