Reviews

John Barrowman in Concert

Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), 21 September 2019.

Sometimes the stars align and a magical night ensues. John Barrowman’s exclusive one-night-only performance in Brisbane at QPAC coincided with Brisbane Pride and the Oz Comic-Con. This made for an extra special audience mix who, as Barrowman said, simply ‘get it’ – or, to misquote Tim Rice, ‘they know him so well’.

The Nutcracker

Peter Wright. The Australian Ballet, with Orchestra Victoria. Arts Centre Melbourne. 17th – 28th September 2019, then 8 – 12 October (Adelaide) and 30 November – 8 December (Sydney)

Opening night was the 118th performance of Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker and there really is nothing new here. Having said that, it’s a must see whenever it comes to town because The Nutcracker is a delightful narrative ballet telling the story of a young ballet students, Clara and her Christmas eve journey to wonderous lands where she will eventually be transformed into the Sugar Plum Fairy.

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Cooking For

Stage Mom theatre collective. Melbourne Fringe. September 19 – 28, 2019.

Jamie Oliver is the quintessential charismatic chef, a true master of the thirty minute no fuss meal, and for over a decade he has changed the way we cook and think about our food. And so has every other television celebrity chef, who owns restaurants and publishes signature cookbooks.

The Diary of Anne Frank

By Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. Castle Hill Players. The Pavilion Theatre, Castle Hill. September 20 to October 12, 2019

Few World War II stories are more touching than schoolgirl Anne Frank’s naïve description of the three years she and her family spent hiding with others from Nazi occupation above her father’s factory in Amsterdam.

Her guileless words tell the story of eight people crowded together in a makeshift hideout, keeping silent by day lest the factory hands grow suspicious. How they shared meagre rations scrounged on the black market by two trusted friends. How they lived in fear every moment of being informed upon by ruthless Nazi sympathisers.

This Is Our Pilot

Created & performed by Annie Lumsden & Lena Moon. Melbourne Fringe Festival. Coopers Inn, Exhibition Street. 20 – 27 September 2019

Here’s the set-up: Annie and Lena have (somehow) secured an interview to pitch some ideas for new television shows to Mr Big TV Man (unseen).  The motive is more mercenary than artistic.  Thus their show has the opportunity to reference – and send up – a variety of television show genres: the ‘reality’ show, the quiz show, the Playschool type show, and so on. 

Spencer

By Katy Warner. Lab Kelpie. Directed by Sharon Davis. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre NSW. 19-21 September, 2019, and touring

It’s always incredible and maybe even a bit disconcerting to watch a piece with personalities that you feel you really know. The characters in Spencer are so keenly written that they felt immediately recognisable, especially if, like me, you come from a family of Aussie bogan sports nuts.

Kelly

By Matthew Ryan. Spotlight Theatre, Benowa, Gold Coast. Director: Cilla Scott. 20th September – 5th October, 2019

Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly (December 1854 – 11th November 1880) was an Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader and convicted police murderer. By far our most famous bushranger, he is best remembered for wearing a suit of bulletproof armour during his final shootout with police, which resulted in his capture. Originally interred in an unmarked grave, his remains were reburied in the cemetery at Greta, Victoria on 20thJanuary 2013.

Class of 2019 Musical Theatre Showcase

Batchelor of Musical Theatre Students from the Performing Arts Department of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Piano: Heidi Loveland. Choreographer: Joseph Simons. Burke Street Studio, Wooloongabba, Brisbane. 18-21 September 2019

This year’s third-year student showcase was extremely well-co-ordinated, with the segues from one item to another handled with melodic invention, making it one of the best showcases of recent times. Singing mainly contemporary musical theatre pieces from the past 20 years (a lot of Jason Robert Brown and Justin Paul and Benj Pasek), the hour quickly disappeared as the cast showed off their considerable talents.

The Wharf Revue 2019: Unr-dact-d

By Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phil Scott. Sydney Theatre Company. Riverside Theatre Parramatta. September 18 – 21, 2019 and touring.

2019 has given the Wharf Revue creators – Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phil Scott – a wealth of material with which to work. Their sharp eyes and mischievous minds have crafted a revue that maintains the trademark of their brand: cutting satire interspersed with a few serious moments. Politics and parity loom large this year – and nothing is redacted!

The Briefing

Created and performed by Melissa McGlensey. Directed by Adam Hembree. Melbourne Fringe. Universal Restaurant, 141 Lygon St, Carlton. 19-24 September, 2019.

This performance highlights the strange and troubled times that we face in the current global political landscape. The show imagines the former White House Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, on tour in Australia and wreaking havoc. McGlensey cleverly structures the comedy routine as a press briefing where the audience stands in as the members of the press.

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