Reviews

This universal Shakespearean tale, generally classed as one of Shakespeare’s comedies, has a strong element of emotional seriousness that challenges acting ability every bit as much as its comedic moments do.  Light moments certainly exist in profusion; but jolly camaraderie between superior and inferior officers holds an uneasy truce with military requirements of obedience, and lovers’ suspension of disbelief in magic easily yields to mistaken jealousy and rash response.  The balance between levity and gravity is a challenge; adversity easily becomes melodr

Anyone who has had the misfortune—excuse me,  blessing—of having a baby will relate to this wry, funny and poignant cabaret about the sheer horror—sorry, joys, challenges and disillusions—of marriage and parenthood. It's possibly the world's worse kept secret that having kids sucks sometimes. Yet still we persist in procreating, and this is the subject of Amity Dry's  musical Mother, Wife and the Complicated Life. The story is familiar, and that’s because the experience is almost universal.

Jennifer Marcus (Tegan Jones) is 22, a scientific genius, an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder sufferer, an agoraphobic, Chinese born but adopted by an American couple and living in California.  She yearns to meet her biological mother, the mother whom she thinks must have rejected her.  But how can she find this mother when the woman is somewhere in China and Jennifer cannot leave the house – not even to take out the garbage?  Such is the dilemma which provides the narrative impetus for this family drama meets sci-fi play.  The play’s primary problem is that it

Some shows come with lots of hype – all sequins and glitz. Usually they fail to live up to the hype. Then there are the perfect little diamonds which you need to have pointed out or you will never see them. John & Jen is a diamond; bringing us two marvellous performers, directed with genuine love, a delicate sung through score full of poignancy, charm and wit. It’s a little show, but it packs a big punch, and continues to affect you long after you leave the theatre.