Reviews

Annie

Book by Thomas Meehan. Music by Charles Strouse. Lyrics by Martin Charnin. John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia. Capitol Theatre, Sydney. Opening Night April 3, 2025. Touring to Melbourne and Brisbane.

Little Orphan Annie has been given a sparkling refresh thanks to excellent casting, a few flourishes of digital scenery and some new choreography which has attracted global attention.

After the media call, I uploaded to Instagram  a one-minute clip of Debora Krizak, Keanu Gonzalez and Mackenzie Dunn stepping, twirling, somersaulting and kicking their way through the song “Easy Street” as choreographed by Mitchell Woodcock.

Rose Callaghan: I’m not a girlboss, not yet a womanboss

Written & performed by Rose Callaghan. Melbourne International Comedy Festival. TIC Swanston (The Nicholas Building). 27 March – 13 April 2025

Rose Callaghan’s show is about making a living – or, to be blunt, survival.  She’s small, perky, charming, energetic, but also a little cynical and a little grumpy.  Not so much complaining as exasperated.  Why is it all so hard?  Why isn’t she a girlboss? 

Mum’s Gift

By Phil Olsen. Therry Theatre. The Arts Theatre Adelaide. April 2nd – 12th, 2025

Therry, like several other community theatre groups, has been the launch pad for the careers of many celebrated theatre and television luminaries. It also continues to provide opportunities for graduates of excellent theatre programmes, including Flinders Drama graduates, and Jessica Corrie who skilfully steers Mum’s Gift, is an excellent example of one of those highly skilled graduates.

Wondered

Written and Directed by Elodie Boal. Presented by Mira Ball Productions. Ron Hurley Theatre, 5 - 6 April 2025

Wondered is an original work by local writer/director/producer Elodie Boal. This one act play has been a festival circuit phenomenon since its first iteration hit the stage 10 years ago. In that time, it has won over 40 awards, including Best New Australian Script. The work has evolved somewhat, with Boal disclosing to Stage Whispers that she was still adding some fresh scenes in the weeks prior to this staging. Still present in this recent production is Boal’s clever linguistic playfulness and wit, which is a delight for the word nerds in the audience to behold.

The Wizard of Oz

By Frank L Baum, adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company. With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. Background Music by Herbert Stothart. Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard. Orchestration by Larry Wilcox. North Shore Theatre Company. Director Luke Brattoni. Zenith Theatre, Chatswood. April 4 – 12, 2025

Thirty performers take the audience along the yellow brick road in this production where it’s wonderful to see experienced performers working in harmony with some very young Munchkins and Winkies. It is 125 Years since L. Frank Baum’s book was first published, yet the musical version of his story of Dorothy’s dream journey to the emerald city still thrills audiences all over the world.

Gutenberg: The Musical

By Anthony King and Scott Brown. Dare Collective. Director: Matt Taylor Music Director: Kellie Cutler. Properties: Matt Taylor and Jackson Kelder. Australian Italian Club, Prospect, Tas. 4-12 April 2025

Gutenberg: The Musical is an unusual piece of theatre. Authors Brown and King have written together since high school and are best known for the lyrical content of Beetlejuice: The Musical. Anticipate the same clever word play, terrible puns, the occasional groan.

Bloom

Music by Katie Weston and Lyrics by Tom Gleisner. Book by Tom Gleisner. Sydney Theatre Company presenting a Melbourne Theatre Company production. Directed by Dean Bryant. Ros Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay. March 29 - May 11, 2025

What a rare treasure – an Australian musical with a completely original score and story – which sold out at its first outing, and now has a second production.

Bloom – originally produced by the Melbourne Theatre Company – is the latest success from the team which produced the movie The Castle

Working Dog Productions carefully nurtured the musical - written by Tom Gleisner -through its development process, arriving fully formed as a charming, entertaining and thoughtful work.

 

Antilton

Written & directed by Oscar O’Brien. Melbourne International Comedy Festival. From Theatre Works FRESH WORKS program. Theatre Works Explosive Factory. 2 – 12 April 2025

A frustrated theatre maker, Artist (Kyle McCallion) is blocked and unhappy – his talent is assumed - but then is caught by the idea that he can write and produce and direct a sort of version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit rap musical Hamilton.  But he will change all the characters to ants and their names to ant names – thus Hamilton becomes Antilton and so on.  Why he thinks this is a good idea, or that it’s funny, or has any point at all, is never quite clear. 

Come From Away

By Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The Show Company, Director: Allan Jeffries. Music Directors: Andrew Castles and Petr Diviš. Lighting: Gareth Kays. Choreography: Leiz Moore. Costumes and Properties: Helen Cronin. The Theatre Royal, Hobart. 2-12 April 2025

Come From Away is a joyous and life-affirming piece of theatre, a timely reminder of generosity and kindness in the world.

It is also a beautifully constructed piece of theatre. The exposition is long, introducing dozens of characters, but it never flags or confuses. Sixteen performers playing several roles each are clearly delineated. Whilst it is true that “You'll probably understand about half of what we say”, the individual quirks add to the charm.

Labour of Love

By James Graham. St Jude’s Players. St Jude’s Hall, Brighton, SA. April 3rd to 12th 2025

Kym Clayton has selected a very timely piece with Labour of Love, given that Australia is in the thick of pre-election mode. Spanning the years 1990 to 2017 in the United Kingdom, author James Graham, through the eyes of politician David Lyons, explores the machinations of politics, elections, belonging and political expedience.

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