Reviews

Rock of Ages

By Christopher D’Arienzo. Goldfields Repertory Club, Kalgoorlie, WA. Directed by Lauren Chapman-Holle. Jun 17 - Jul 23, 2022

Goldfields Repertory Club’s Rock of Ages has a live music venue vibe, more akin to a rock concert than a musical, with its audience drinking throughout, singing along, and responding to the show with great enthusiasm. 

Eclipse

National Institute of Circus Arts. Conceptualised and devised by: Sally Richardson and Performers. Directors: Meredith Kitchen and Benjamin Sheen. 10-18th June, 2022

A strong opening with a post-apocalyptic theme began a joyous performance of well-honed skills. The performance space was defined by a patchwork tent and circular mat. As the tent was lifted a short “outsider” narrative was played out on the Chinese pole with daring moments performed with cheeky assurance. Costumes added to the narrative of changes in the world with suggestions of burdens and excess.

Passing Strange

Book and Lyrics by Stew, music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, created in collaboration with Annie Dawson. Presented by Antipodes. Directed by Dean Drieberg, Meat Market Stables, 3 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne. June 24 - July 10, 2022.

Passing Strange is a semi-fictionalised musical account of the real-life story of American singer-songwriter and author Mark ‘Stew’ Stewart. This incredibly delightful production combines powerful music and performance to tell a moving story of self-discovery. The story is set across a variety of locations including Los Angeles, Paris and Berlin and charts the process of the central character’s journey to finding his musical sound. The approach is light-hearted and captures a subtle tone of irony and which emphasises a cheerful and fun-loving mood. 

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

By Anne Brontë. An adaptation by Emme Hoy. Sydney Theatre Company. Directed by Jessica Arthur. June 25 - July 17, 2021

First published in 1848, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall caused a sensation with its realistic depiction of domestic abuse and a capable talented woman taking control of her own life.

Unlike many novels set in the period where wealthy people – with no employment - wait around for someone to visit them, or spend their day brooding about the next party, here was a real story about alcoholism and debauchery.

Brilliant Traces

By Cindy Lou Johnson. Ad Astra, Brisbane. 16 June to 8 July, 2022

Cindy Lou Johnson’s Brilliant Traces is a poetic piece about two lost characters – and it will stay with you long after the one-act play has ended. That is many due, in this production by Brisbane’s indie Ad Astra, to two well-crafted performances by Vanessa Moltzen (as Rosannah) and Kyle McCallion (as Henry).

Talking to the Future

Written & directed by Darryl Emmerson. La Mama Courthouse. 22 June – 3 July 2022

Alfred Deakin was Prime Minister of the newly federated Commonwealth of Australia 1903 – 1904, 1905 – 1908, 1909 – 1910.  Some say Australia’s greatest prime minister.  Playwright Darryl Emmerson is clearly an admirer.  But let’s be clear: Talking to the Future is not a play; it’s a history lesson and a hagiographic one at that. 

Bernie Dieter’s Weimar Punk

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2022. The Banquet Room, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide June 24 & 25, 2022

An hour with Bernie Dieter is just not enough!!!

To present Bernie Dieter’s Weimar Punk the Adelaide Festival Theatre Banquet Room is transformed into a Berlin nightclub; sleezy, complete with a mirror ball, red neon “Berlin” sign, a dressing table and costume rack.

Songs My Mother Taught Me

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2022. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide. June 24 & 25, 2022

As Tina herself says, “Chi si volta, e chi si gira, sempre a casa va finire.” (No matter where you go or turn, you will always end up at home). For Songs My Mother Taught Me, the stage of Her Majesty’s Theatre is turned into a lounge room of sorts; over 30 lampshades hanging from the flies with string lights, a chair and table. This lounge room however, also has a 9-piece band and two backup singers!

M. Rock

By Lachlan Philpott. Australian Theatre for Young People. Director: Fraser Corfield. The Rebel Theatre. 24 June – 17 July, 2022

Valerie Bader brings Mabel Mudge, aka M. Rock, blasting back into the Sydney theatre scene in this happy, inter-generational play that is as inspirational today as it was in 2014. It’s a play about age and youth. About how often both are misunderstood, mislabelled. It’s a play about their dreams … and their right to dream them.

“It reminds us how vital it is for each of us to beat our own drums and let go and dance, however badly.” (Lachlan Philpotts, playwright).

Come Rain or Come Shine

Based on the story by Kazuo Ishiguro. Melbourne Theatre Company. Book by Carolyn Burns, lyrics by Tim Finn & Simon Phillips, music by Tim Finn, directed by Simon Phillips. Southbank Theatre, The Sumner, 140 Southbank Blvd. 20 June—23 July 2022

This musical version of the short story is a very unusual choice for an adaptation. The classical love triangle scenario is given unique treatment by Ishiguro. In a very straightforward and rather ordinary manner, the story actually confirms the enduring nature of the friendship between the three characters Emily (Gillian Cosgriff), Ray (Angus Grant), and Charlie (Chris Ryan). They meet at university and Emily and Ray share a passion for Great American Songbook music.

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