Reviews

Limbo Unhinged

Strut & Fret. Director: Scott Maidment. The Studio, Sydney Opera House. January 4 to March 3, 2018

Grown-up circus makes a sexy return to the heart of Sydney in Limbo Unhinged, as cabaret styled circus again leads off proceedings at the Opera House Studio for the year.

This year’s offering is tantalisingly sensual, in contrast to the more overtly sexual offerings of recent years, eschewing nudity and potty-mouthed comic hosts for the non-stop circus talent of this splendid muilti-skilled international troupe, with the mostly physical comedy embedded in the acts.

The Little Mermaid

Book: Doug Wright, Music: Alan Menken, Lyrics: Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. Ballina Players. Director: Jacquie McCalman. Jan 12th - 20th, 2018

For a refreshing change from the summer heat, Ballina’s underwater adventure The Little Mermaid is a COOL hit!

The Players annual youth production, once again, is riding on “the crest of the wave”. With a cast of approximately 50, Director Jaquie McCalman, together with Musical Director Max Foggon and Choreographer Tim Roberts, has delivered a fabulous family friendly show.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

By Simon Stephens, based on the novel by Mark Haddon. National Theatre (UK). Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse. 11 January – 25 February 2018

The Curious Incident tells its curious story from the point of view of Christopher Boone (Joshua Jenkins), an autistic teenager, a maths genius, living in Swindon in England with his Dad, Ed (David Michaels), who’s told him that his mother, Judy, is dead.  One night, Christopher discovers their neighbour’s dog dead on her front lawn, impaled on a garden fork.  (The chalk line around the corpse – the classic murder scene – remains as a reminder to the end of the play.)  His determination to find the dog’s killer kick starts the plot.

American Idiot

Music by Green Day. Lyric by Billie Joe Armstrong. Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. Directed by Craig Ilott. shake’n’stir / QPAC production. Sydney Opera House 11 – 14 Jan 2018 then other Capital Cities

American Idiot is a wild high-energy ride, full of passion, power, and heart. This is the show Rent wants to be when it grows up.

When The Rain Stops Falling

By Andrew Bovell. Music by Tom Baynton, Javeenbah Theatre, Nerang, Gold Coast. Director: Kaela Gray. Jan 12 – 27, 2018

Javeenbah Theatre Company’s production of Andrew Bovell’s award winning play When The Rain Stops Falling receives the devilish treatment from director Kaela Gray that play needs.

The fantastic cast includes Clay Carlaw as Gabriel Law, Adrian Carr as Gabriel York, Tracy Carroll as Elizabeth Law (older), Gillian Crow as Gabrielle York (older), Tallen Hall as Andrew Price, Kelly Holden as Gabrielle York (younger), Trevor Love as Henry Law, Thian Sykes as Joe Ryan and Naomi Thompson as Elizabeth Law (younger).

Once Upon A Mattress

Music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer, and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. Primadonna Productions. Directed by Carole Dhu. Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, WA. Jan 11-14, 2018

Once Upon A Mattress kicks off Western Australia’s Community Theatre year with a joyful, celebratory, production with great colour, good laughs and a lovely energy, from Primadonna Productions.

A cast of twenty-five (it feels like more), work well as an ensemble to tell the ‘true’ story of The Princess and the Pea. They are supported by a four-piece band. The group numbers sound great under the musical direction of Bruce Angus.

Roald Dahl’s The Twits

Directed by Michael Barlow. Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Fremantle, WA. Jan 8-27, 2018

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s World Premiere of Roald Dahl’s The Twits is exactly what you would hope for in an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s work; a fun filled, silly but clever romp, with lots of laughs.

Co-created by Michael Barlow and Humphrey Barlow, it takes the essence of the novel and creates a fun puppet led production. Suitable for children from about 5 upwards, it is a wonderful introduction to the novel and will be enjoyed by Roald Dahl fans of any age.

The Taming of the Shrew

By William Shakespeare. Butterfly Theatre – Shakespeare at the Pub. The Wheatsheaf Hotel (SA). January 9 – 17, 2018

Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew is today regarded by some as a ‘problem play’. This is primarily due to the influence of contemporary ‘feminism’ concerning the overt misogyny in the play. The play has been re-interpreted in numerous ways, and even though it may not be performed as often as in previous times, nonetheless, it still has the ability to enthrall and entertain. This is very apparent with Butterfly Theatre’s current delightful production.

Alice in Wonderland

Adapted & directed by Penny Farrow, based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Rapidfire International, Inc. in association with Boyd Productions. Athenaeum Theatre, Collins Street, Melbourne. 9 – 10 January 2018

Alice on stage?  But, no, its not a musical.  Executive Producer Ethan Walker believes, ‘the original book is so delicious and remarkable that… the words would be lost if we were to make this production a musical’. So, here is an exuberant, pacey compression (just one hour) of Carroll’s work with additional material chosen by adapter/director Penny Farrow from Alice Through the Looking-Glass, The Hunting of the Snark and a volume of Carroll’s poetry, Rhyme? And Reason?

Darlinghurst Nights

Book by Katherine Thomson. Music by Max Lambert. Based on the book Darlinghurst Nights by Kenneth Slessor and an original concept by Andrew James. Directed by Lee Lewis. Musical Director Max Lambert. Hayes Theatre Co. Jan 4 to Feb 3, 2018.

This musical gem beautifully evokes the ghosts of those who once walked the streets of Darlinghurst and Kings Cross just outside the Hayes Theatre itself.  Drawing on Kenneth Slessor’s collection of poems from the 1920-30’s, it’s also another welcome time travel –  reviving as it does an Australian musical successfully premiered 30 years ago.

We’re reminded again about the power onstage of our own Australian voices, the locals which came before us and familiar places which made us both.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.