Reviews

Tale of Tales is a gorgeously presented, beautiful story from Bow and Dagger Theatre Company, playing as part of State of Play for the Fringe World Festival.

Based on a true story and set during World War II, Antionetta, a known communist flees Italy for the safety of Australia, where she and her two young sons are interned as ‘enemy aliens’. Antionetta's husband, Sante remains in Italy, as part of the Italian resistance. They remain linked through the stories Antionetta tells her sons - linking them spiritually - although they have no contact.

Do I Look Like I Care? is an offbeat medical comedy presented by bear hands co for State of Play at Fringe World. Set in 1982, immigrant nurse Florence tries to find her place in a Perth hospital.

Fast paced and vibrant, this is almost a series of vignettes as we follow Florence (known as Flo) through her first two years in Perth, through a series of odd experiences, several hospital wards and her home in nurses’ accommodation as we meet a collection of strange patients and staff.

Dr Ahmed Kazmi has been a Fringe favourite for a few years, with sell-out cabaret shows telling about his experiences as a doctor, both in Australia and the UK. This show, just as dazzling, funny and insightful as its predecessors, has a change in focus as Dr Ahmed shares his experience of his own Greek - Pakistani - interfaith - interfaith - interracial - same sex wedding.

When Jonny Hawkins enters the stage and explains that older women are his heroes and this show is a homage to them, he takes a risk, setting himself up to possibly fail by causing offence or simply not doing them justice. But thanks to thoughtful characterisation and a huge amount of sensitivity and care, this one-woman show proves touching - and compelling throughout.