Reviews

Brasscapades 7

Townsville Brass, presented by the Townsville Community Music Centre. Carlton Theatre, Carlyle Gardens. Sunday 16 Jun 2024

FROM Neil Diamond to The Beatles, the Beach Boys to Percy Grainger, Billie Eilish and a major work by Peter Meechan - such was a varied program of music from Townsville Brass.

Continuing its mission to promote the breadth of musical styles and talent in our community with a series of Sunday afternoon performances, Townsville Music Centre presented the 33-piece band which is the flagship of the Townsville Citizens Band Association.

The Phantom of the Opera

By Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. Presented by Curtain Bounce. Laycock Street Community Theatre. June 15 – 21, 2024.

Smash Hit. Show of the year. Audiences are raving.

One Act Season

By Van Badman, Anton Chekhov and Yvette Wall. Irish Theatre Players. Directed by Fiona Cahill, Michael McCall and Seán Byrne. Irish Club of WA, Townshend St, Subiaco, WA. Jun 16-22, 2024

The Irish Theatre Players are presenting three one act plays, Kitchen, The Bear and Ashes to Dust, for a very short season. Featuring one of the most catching promotions posters this year, the three plays are very diverse, making for some interesting viewing.

All three plays share the same simple but effective lights and sound design, from Fiona Reid, and empty simple sets, to allow for quick transition.

My Fair Lady

Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Music by Frederick Loewe. Presented by Queensland Musical Theatre. Director: Deian Ping. Musical Director: Julie Whiting. Choreographer: Bec Swain. Twelfth Night Theatre. June 14 – 23, 2024.

Queensland Musical Theatre's 40th anniversary production of My Fair Lady at Twelfth Night Theatre was a triumph of classic musical theatre, delighting the audience with its timeless charm and outstanding performances. Under the expert direction of Deian Ping, with musical direction by Julie Whiting and choreography by Bec Swain, this rendition of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved musical soared.

Between the Covers

Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Banquet Room, Festival Centre. 16 June 2024

The Great Gatsby was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published to initially lukewarm reception in 1925 – eventually finding its place as a contender for the ‘Great American Novel’ after World War II, and today, still receives considerable attention from scholars of all ages.

Samuel Beckett & The Rainbow Girl

By Steve Carey. Bloomsday in Melbourne. St Martins Theatre, South Yarra. 13 – 23 June 2024

There are complex and intriguing elements underlying Samuel Beckett & The Rainbow Girl.  The poster for the show tells us that it is a story of ‘Genius, Madness, Sex & Violence in 1920s Paris’.  ‘Genius’ is James Joyce, struggling with what will be Finnegan’s Wake, and the young incipient genius Samuel Beckett struggling with what sort of writer he wants to be.

Young Frankenstein

By Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan. Darlington Theatre Players. Directed by Terence Smith. Marloo Theatre, Greenmount, WA. Jun 14 -29, 2024

The Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein comes to life in this broad stroke, campy and very polished production from Darlington Theatre Players. Top notch production values and a stellar cast make this one of Perth's top community theatre productions of 2024.

A Doll’s House Pt 2

By Lucas Hnath. Directed by Emily McLean. The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, WA. Jun 11-29, 2024

A Doll’s House Pt 2 is a sequel to Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play, A Doll’s House, extremely controversial in its time, in which sweet little “doll wife” Nora, leaves her husband Torvald, and their children. This play, set fifteen years after Nora’s departure, explores what happens, when after fifteen years of no contact, Nora returns. Presented by Red Ryder Productions, this well-directed play with a talented, tight-knit cast of four, makes for fascinating viewing.

Famous

NICA third-year student ensemble performance. In collaboration with fashion design and makeup students from Melbourne Polytechnic. Director: Carita Farrer Spencer. Costume Design: Savannah Wegman. Set Design: Tim Rutty. Composition/Sound Design: Darius Kedros. Lighting Design: Spencer Herd. 14-22 June 2024

The clown is the classic outsider and his attempts to ascend to the heights of fame using charm and trickery are used to anchor the narrative and expose the alure and detrimental effects of fame. The chorus of paparazzi and fans throw light on the tensions and dizzying demands of endless attention which fall on celebrities,

Skinny - Michelle Pearson

Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Space Theatre. 15-16 June, 2024

I have watched the career of Michelle Pearson with great interest and admiration. I have seen her in musical theatre and in her Comfort Food Cabaret shows and have always been totally blown away by her magnificent voice - a belt to die for and the ability to adapt across a wide range of genres.

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