Reviews

The Naked Magicians

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2018. Cornucopia at Gluttony. Feb 16 - Mar 4, 2018

There is an old saying in theatre that says ‘less is more’. That is certainly the case with The Naked Magicians -less clothes and even more talent.

I didn’t really know what to expect, apart from the obvious magic and nudity, so I wasn’t quite prepared for what awaited me. On arriving, the audience is immersed in the experience, music blaring at full volume with bright blue and pink lights illuminating a stage, a hanging box, a table and a chair with an inflatable naked lady sitting astride.

Years to the Day

By Allen Barton. Adelaide Fringe. South Australian Playwrights Theatre. Noel Lothian Hall - Adelaide Botanic Gardens. February 20 - March 4, 2018

It is exactly four Years to the Day since Jeff and Dan last met face to face. They have a history that stretches back twenty-five years to their first day at College and in the last four years a lot of things have changed.

A Modern Guide to Heroism and Sidekickery

Fringe World. Directed by Michelle Zahner. The Gold Digger, Fringe Central, Northbridge, WA. Feb 16-25, 2018

A Modern Guide to Heroism and Sidekickeryis a gorgeously told story about an accidental super hero, the side kick who makes her famous and a narrator called Michelle - who as the creator of this show, is a bit of a super hero herself.

The Show Goes On

By Bernadette Robinson and Richard Carroll. Director: Richard Carroll. Musical Director/Arranger: Martine Wengrow. Arts Centre, Melbourne, Fairfax Studio. Feb 15 - Mar 11, 2018

I have been aware of Bernadette Robinson’s one woman shows for a number of years, but had not encountered them until now. I was not disappointed.

For almost an hour and a half, Ms. Robinson enthralled her audience by presenting many of the iconic female singers of the last century. She effectively combined her acting and musical skills to portray each character. The standing ovation at the end was richly deserved.

Alcestis

By Euripides. Adelaide Fringe 2018. Scramble Prince Theatre Company. Bakehouse Theatre. 19-24 February 2018

Euripides’ Alcestis was first performed in Athens in 438 BCE and is arguably the first ‘tragicomedy’ in world drama. It has always been regarded as a ‘problem play’ because of its combination of tragic and comic elements; it doesn’t easily fit into any clearly defined category in that its complexity raises as many questions as it addresses.

One Long Night in the Land of Nod

By Duncan Graham. Adelaide Fringe. Presented by The Cabbages and Kings Collective. Noel Lothian Hall, Adelaide Botanic Garden; 16-25 Feb, 2018. The Pocket, Stirling; 7-8 Mar, 2018.

This is a tale of the world of two brothers, one named Kane. Yes, One Long Night in the Land of Nod is a show unafraid of making grand allusions – but does it live up to them?

30 Minute Macbeth

Fringe World. Directed by Patrick Hercamp. The Ramp, The Ice Cream Factory, Northbridge, WA. Feb 19-25, 2018

30 Minute Macbeth is exactly what it says in the title - Shakespeare’s blackest tragedy, told in (under) half an hour. It is a highly charged, super-energised romp through this darkest of tales.

Cabaret Consultations

Fringe World. Directed by Ahmed Kazmi. The Gold Digger, Fringe Central, Perth, WA. Feb 19-24, 2018

Two years ago at Fringe World, I had the pleasure of attending a new medical comedy show. More than just stand-up, it included song and dance and told of (then) local GP Ahmed Kazmi’s experiences as a medical professional. It was absolutely delightful, but rough around the edges, and it was clear that this talented young man was new to performing. Since then the good doctor has performed his show around the world, and his reputation as a performer has soared.

A Little Bit of Pain Never Hurt Anyone

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2018. Periscope Productions. Holden Street Theatres/The Arch. 15th Feb - 4th March, 2018

Part of what makes the Adelaide Fringe Festival so exciting is that it provides a vehicle for showcasing new writing within theatre.

In A Little Bit of Pain Never Hurt Anyone Melbourne-based playwright Brendan McDougall has produced a very personal play about what shapes us, as he puts our childhoods under the microscope, however painful that may be.

What is pre-determined in who we are? Are we destined to become our parents? Not all influences we experience as children are positive; they can have the power to instil fear and anxiety.

The Children

By Lucy Kirkwood. Melbourne Theatre Company. Southbank Theatre, The Sumner. Feb 3 - Mar 10, 2018

A challenging and rewarding work, The Children unfolds naturalistically in real time. 

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