Reviews

Barbara and The Camp Dogs

By Ursula Yovich & Alana Valentine. Belvoir Street Theatre and Vicki Gordon Music Productions Pty Ltd. December 2 – 23, 2017.

Backed by a take-no-prisoners girl band called The Camp Dogs, the action of this rock-gig musical unfolds in front, across the cheap carpet, tables and lounges which have transformed Belvoir Theatre into a typical pub. It's a muso takeover, with designer Stephen Curtis also having a hand.

Ursula Yovich’s indigenous rough girl Barbara fights and banters with her saucy sister and fellow singer, Renee, in an outrageous script which bristles with Aboriginal strut and comic attack. 

Opera by the Lake

Presented by Glen Ewin Estate. December 3, 2017

A winery and opera in the beautiful surroundings of Glen Ewin Estate on a Sunday afternoon. Who could ask for more?

This event was pitched perfectly. It was simply staged with great acoustics, professional sound and lighting and with pianist Penelope Cashman providing superb accompaniment for the singers.

Menopause the Musical - Women on Fire

By Jeanie Linders. Directed by Alli Pope-Bailey. Crown Theatre, Perth, WA. Dec 5-10, 2017

Stage Whispers joined over 1000 women ‘of a certain age’, and a handful of slightly befuddled gentlemen, for the first night of Menopause the Musical’s short Perth season.

Nearing the end of a tour of single night appearances, mostly in NSW, Perth is the only “sit down” section of the tour and must be a break for the cast from the whistle stop pace of the run. This section ends on December 16, but the show resumes touring in March, including a return to WA.

La Boheme

By Giocomo Puccini. Produced by Co-Opera. Directed by Mario Bellanova. Musical Direction by Brian Chatterton. Various venues. December 1 - 10, 2017

A winery and an opera, now that sounds like too good an offer to pass up. Serafino Winery hosted the latest offering from Co-Opera in their courtyard area. La Boheme seemed to be a perfect choice, as it is mainly set in a small attic room with little furniture.

I have been to several Co-Opera productions and was looking forward to seeing this one, but unfortunately Mario Bellanova’s direction and his lack of attention to the details made this evening less than satisfactory.

Love and Mistletoe

By Raymond Hopkins. Stirling Players. Directed by Carole Wilson. Stirling Theatre, Innaloo, WA. Nov 24 - Dec 9, 2017

Stirling Players are celebrating the festive season with the Australian premiere of Raymond Hopkins’ Love and Mistletoe.

The curtains opened to applause for Carole and Ian Wilson’s beautifully designed, constructed and decorated set - which immediately gave a Christmas feel.

This relatively new play centres on the Millards, a couple whose marriage has seen better days. This Christmas Eve, Sue has decided to invite three single ladies to dinner, in order to find a new partner for her father.

The Railway Children

By Edith Nesbit, adapted by Mike Kenny. Harbour Theatre Directed by Jane Sherwood. Camelot Theatre, Mosman Park, WA. Dec 1-10, 2017

Edith Nesbit’s The Railway Children, as adapted by Mike Kenny, is a family friendly classic brought lovingly to the stage by Harbour Theatre.

The White Mouse

Camerata. QPAC. Sunday 3 December, 2017

Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra – combines music and drama to tell the story of Nancy Wake, infamous WWII journalist and spy. The Gestapo’s most wanted, Wake was named the ‘White Mouse’ because of her ability to scurry across countries and evade capture.

Mort

By Terry Pratchett, adapted by Stephen Briggs. Roleystone Theatre, WA. Directed by Bradley Towton. Nov 25 - Dec 2, 2017

Terry Pratchett fans flocked to Roleystone Theatre’s Mort - with sell-out houses at every performance.

Director Brad Towton is a clear fan of the Discworld series of books, and clearly has a passion for the story.

Me and My Shadow

Written and performed by Tim Maddren. The Basement – as part of Sideshow. Arts Centre, Gold Coast. Dec 1st and 2nd, 2017, then Touring.

Like so many of our great stage performers, Tim Maddren trained at WAAPA and honed his skills in Musical Theatre (he’s just finished a run in Me and My Girl at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney after string of other shows). Unlike so many others, Maddren has a legitimate claim to fame – as any pre-teen will tell you. He is a multi award nominated member of the kids’ television musical group Hi-5.

Dog Show

Created & directed by Cassandra Fumi. Co-created & performed by Simone French, Tom Halls and Alex Roe. Co-created & dramaturgy by Alice Fitzgerald. La Mama Explorations. La Mama Courthouse, Carlton VIC. 21 - 3 December 2017

It’s difficult to say much about this show without spoiling its delightful surprises, or creating the impression that it couldn’t possibly work.  But it does. 

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