Reviews

Miss Peony

By Michelle Law. Belvoir Street Theatre, July 1 - 29, 2023; then touring to Arts Centre Melbourne, Aug 2 – 20; Canberra Theatre Centre, Aug 23 – 26; Wollongong, Aug 30 – Sep 2 and Geelong Arts Centre, Sep 6 – 9.

Glitzy, quirky, funny and searingly honest, Miss Peony is a fascinating glimpse into a world most Australians would not be familiar with, but immigrants from all nations can relate to. That is, when someone slips in between the worlds of the old country and the new country.

Lily (played originally by the playwright Michelle Law but at my performance by Stephanie Jack) is an assimilated Asian Australian who is confronted by the deathbed wish of her grandmother to follow a family tradition. 

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation

Created by Jonathan Rockefeller. TEG Life Like Touring and Rockefeller Productions, in association with Disney Theatrical Group. Brisbane Powerhouse 12 to 16 July 2023, then touring nationally

Brisbane Powerhouse saw the premiere of a new stage version of the classic tales by AA Milne, as elevated to iconic children’s favourite status by Walt Disney. This delightful adaptation featuring puppetry, colour and music is a good entry-level musical for very young kids to get them into the theatre. All their favourite characters are here – and most received audible ‘ooohs and aaaahs’ from the children in the audience as they made their entrances.

Romeo and Juliet

By William Shakespeare. Directed by Peter Evans. Presented by Bell Shakespeare. Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne. 14-29 July 2023.

This is a vibrant and vivacious staging of a classic tale. Peter Evans has given the production a very particular and cohesive mood, and this is consistently and often beautifully sustained throughout the entire performance. The collective talent in this production is impressive and each role is treated with great attention to detail. Shakespeare’s language is made vigorous through energetic performances and an interesting play with pace and intonation. The stage and set design are extremely sleek and accentuate the darkness that lurks behind this incredibly romantic story.

This is Living

By Ash Flanders. Malthouse Theatre, Southbank. 7 – 30 July 2023

In Ash Flanders’ play, when a character says, ‘This is Living’, it could mean that ‘this is really living’, referring to the luxurious Airbnb country house some friends have rented for three days.  Or it could mean, ‘This is our lives, and it’s as good as it’s gonna get.’

Reuben Kaye – Live and Intimidating

HOTA Gold Coast. Wed July 12th, 2023

Not content with already having two different shows in production this year, the powerhouse that is Reuben Kaye has added a third before heading off to the Edinburgh Festival and then to conquer Europe with his unparalleled wit.

The new show is called Live and Intimidating, but in truth there is nothing intimidating about Kaye…. he is confronting, yes, but ultimately the choice is yours. (Though one hapless male victim of a mock seduction was told “If you look away, you’re a Homophobe.” )

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Composer / lyricist Dave Malloy. Darlinghurst Theatre Company. Eternity Playhouse, Darlinghurst. July 7 – August 20, 2023

Inspired by a slim slice of Tolstoy’s epic War and Peace (the 70-page Part 8), immersive, quirky Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, dubbed an “electro-pop opera”, envelops the Eternity Playhouse and its audience.

One Act Season - Irish Theatre Players

By Edward Albee, Noel O’Neill, and David Tristram. Irish Theatre Players. Directed by Michael McCall, Noel O'Neill, and Christine Ellis. Irish Club of WA, Townshend Rd, Subiaco WA. July 12-16, 2023

The Irish Theatre Players One Act Season is a short run of three very different one act plays. Featuring Irish Theatre Players’ wonderful hospitality, the three shows offer great variety and are being well received by the audience.

The Tales of Hoffmann

Composed by Jacques Offenbach. Libretto by Jules Barbier. Opera Australia. Directed by Damiano Michieletto. Dame Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. July 11 – 22, 2023.

The arrival of this shared production of Opera Australia, Covent Garden and two of Europe’s biggest opera houses was a cause for celebration and relief.

Italian creatives commenced rehearsals via zoom from hotel quarantine in 2021, only to be sent packing back home when Sydney went into lockdown. You could feel the glee in the sinews of every member of the ample chorus, who milked so many comic moments with skill and relish.

We’ll Always Have Bali

By Lily Baitup. The Blue Room Theatre and Samantha Hortin. The Blue Room Theatre, Perth, WA. July 11 - 29, 2023

We’ll Always Have Bali Is a family drama with some bite currently playing at the Blue Room. Well-presented and acted with credence. This thoughtful slice of life drama has much to like.

Performing on one of the most realistic sets I've ever seen at the Blue Room, William Gammels’ attention to detail place us firmly in a home that could belong to many people that you know. Amber Lorenzi, currently in her final months at WAAPA, provides a lighting design that is both thoughtful and emotive.

Wolfgang's Magical Musical Circus

Circa. Riverside Theatre Parramatta. 10-12 July, 2023

What a great way to introduce kids to really clever circus – and classical music! The productions of Circa are renowned internationally not just for the talent and daring of the artists involved, but also for their theatricality and clever physical comedy. This production, aimed specifically at young audiences, combines each of those features performed with split second timing to classical musical pieces augmented by a piano accordion.

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