Reviews

This theatre company is quickly developing a reputation for presenting thought provoking, challenging plays from off the beaten track. This is another good example. Set in Paris, it tells the story of the ageing Andre, who is suffering from dementia which worsens to affect him in many ways. This brings conflict between him and his family and friends as he tries to maintain the life he knows, also dealing with the many who attempt to exploit his condition. With our ageing population, it brings to life the real possibility of having to face the harsh reality of dementia in the family.

Speaking in Tongues is two hours on the edge of your seat, unravelling a tangled skein wherein might lie your own relationship. The plot, driven by coincidence and connection and is riveting right until the last moment. The tension is augmented by an aching cello and a soundscape that thrums in the heat.

This is a welcome revival of Sir David McVicar’s magnificently dramatized and designed 2015 production for Opera Australia.

Many of the original, international cast superbly reprise their roles, notably Ukraine’s Andrei Bondarenko as the autocratic and lustful Count, Russia’s Ekaterina Sadovnikova as his anguished wife and Italian bass Paolo Bordogna as his scheming servant Figaro.

Willoughby’s Fiddler on the Roof is all life, joy and heart. There’s a zest and warmth in this show that makes it feel fresh and engaging, instead of the respected museum piece it’s usually treated as. After years of watching (enduring?) too many Fiddlers I prepared myself for a plodding ordeal. How wrong I was. The Willoughby Fiddler had me wanting to move to a Russian village and become Jewish.