Reviews

All Sorts

Henry Lawson Theatre, Werrington. 8th, 5th and 22nd July, 2023

All Sorts is as colourful and varied as the name suggests. It’s a collection of seven short pieces, some written by members of the company, all with a different take on some aspect of life – and some with a bit of a twist.

Last Time

Written & directed by Lily Hensby. Hensby & Beckett Productions. The Motley Bauhaus, Black Box, 118 Elgin Street Carlton. 8 – 15 July 2023

Lucas (Mark Yeates) has been away for a spell; he says in London, but do we believe him?  Jesse (Lottie Beckett) has noticed he’s back in town and gets in touch.  By the end of the play, we understand why.  They hooked up maybe a year ago – a one night stand.  Of course, each remembers it differently…

Anything Goes (Youth Edition)

Music and lyrics by Cole Porter. New book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. Bel Canto. Directed by Blake Jenkins. Old Mill Theatre, South Perth, WA. July 7-15, 2023

Bel Canto’s youth production of Anything Goes is one of the best productions you will see of this classic musical - despite being a slightly shortened version and the cast all being 18 years of age or under. A beautifully polished, well sung and superbly danced musical with outstanding production values, this is a treat to watch for audiences of all ages.

JUST (tricking, annoying, stupid, crazy, disgusting, shocking, doomed) LIVE ON STAGE!

By Robin Goldsworthy. Adapted from the JUST book series written by Andy Griffiths and illustrated by Terry Denton. Red Line Productions / Arts On Tour. Sydney Coliseum, West HQ. July 4, 2023, then touring.

From the moment JUST (tricking, annoying, stupid, crazy, disgusting, shocking, doomed) LIVE ON STAGE! begins, the audience is in for an unforgettable ride. 

Playwright Robin Goldsworthy has expertly adapted the wildly popular book series by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton for the stage, capturing the essence of the books, packing in humour, chaos, and a touch of zaniness. The result is an absolute joy for audiences of all ages.

ADA

Written by: Dora Abraham. Directed by: Laurence Strangio. La Mama Courthouse. 349 Drummond St., Carlton. 5-16 July, 2023

A tsunami of change is upon us with the development of artificial intelligence and this play presents some possible impacts on the entities we are creating at breakneck speed and on human relationships and emotional wellbeing.

Werewolves

Creator: Nicholas Phillips. Bondi Festival. Bondi Pavilion. July 6 – 9, 2023

The audience warning stated that this performance features “mild gruesome descriptions of deaths by werewolves”, and that children under ten should stay away.

The venue for the bloodbath is the sparkling new renovated Bondi Pavilion that is well worth a look around. The performance is in the aptly named high tide room at the back of the courtyard, that has been made dark and brooding with a curtain and spooky classical music. Members of the audience are cosily sat down into a row of chairs facing each other.

Breakfast of Champions

Written by Robert Egan, adapted from the novel by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Theatre Guild Student Society. Little Theatre, Adelaide. 5-8 July 2023

A man sits at a manual typewriter, more in thought than hitting the keys, though the occasional tat-tat-tattat-tat punctuates our pre-show conversations. It’s a smart device to draw us into the world we’re about to experience on stage, which is then pierced when the lights go down and the man addresses us directly.

The York Realist

By Peter Gill. Directed by Barry Park. Garrick Theatre, Guildford, WA. July 6-22, 2023

The York Realist is a character driven romantic drama, set in rural Yorkshire. Winner of the Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play in 2002, it comes to WA for the first time under the direction of Barry Park, in a good looking and well-acted production at Garrick Theatre.

Blueback

Adapted by Peta Murray from the book by Tim Winton. Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. Directed by Phillip Mitchell. Ellie Eaton Theatre, Claremont Showground, WA. July 1-15, 2023

One of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s most loved shows returns to the stage these school holidays – playing at the Ellie Eaton Theatre, at Claremont Showground. This generously sized theatre allows for bigger audiences – and Spare Parts use the adjoining pavilion for activities before and after each show.

Mary Poppins

Book by Julian Fellowes, adapted from the stories by PL Travers and the original Disney film. Music and lyrics by Richard M. & Robert B. Sherman, additional music and lyrics by George Stiles & Anthony Drew. Adelaide Festival Theatre, 1 July to 27 August, 2023

It seems impossible to write about Mary Poppins without using the phrase ‘Practically Perfect’. It’s prominent in every promotion for the musical that’s resident on the Festival Theatre stage for almost two months, and is a well-known song that introduces the flying nanny in this production.

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