Reviews

The Wider Earth

Queensland Theatre / Dead Puppet Society / Sydney Festival. Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. January 17 - 27, 2018.

Queensland Theatre and the Dead Puppet Society have created a luminous boys’ own adventure about the voyage of young Charles Darwin on the Beagle.

Charles is running from a future in the Church but, ironically, the Beagle is really off to covert heathens in Tierra del Fuego, and use Charles to prove a then popular geological theory which would underline God’s purpose. 

The Rocky Horror Show

Book, Music & Lyrics: Richard O'Brian. Howard Panter, John Frost, GWB Entertainment. Director: Christopher Luscombe. Musical Director: Dave Skelton. Choreographer: Nathan M. Wright. Concert Hall, QPAC, Brisbane. 19 January - 11 February, 2018

It’s been four years almost to the day since we did the “Time Warp” in Brisbane and if last night’s overwhelming reception was any indication it couldn’t have come sooner. The Rocky Horror Show is back again in all its glory with its excess of sequins, glitter and raunchy dialogue.

Toyer

By Gardner McKay. Leading Line Productions and Tony Knight Productions. Bakehouse Theatre, Adelaide. January 17-27, 2018 at 8pm.

Toyer - n. 1. One who toys; one who is full of trifling tricks. The Toyer in Gardner McKay’s 1983 play is a serial attacker. He toys with his victims emotionally and sexually before leaving them in a vegetated state by lobotomising them.

Directed by Tony Knight (former head of acting at NIDA), Toyer is the first collaboration between local Adelaide production companies Leading Line Productions and Tony Knight Productions. The two-hander stars Stephanie Ross (Extremities, Company) and Marc Clement (Reservoir Dogs, Dateless.com).

Seize the Day

Pelican Productions. Music Theatre Camp 2018. Michael Murray Centre, Westminster College. January 18th-21st, 2018

Pelican Productions have been hosting the Music Theatre Camp for the past 14 years, an idea born out of the desire to nurture young, up and coming talent from the Adelaide region. The camp is held in the January school holidays and is an intensive two-week workshop, with training in singing, dancing and acting.

Lucky: Songs by Kylie

Written and Directed by Dean Byrant, Musical Director James Simpson. fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 17- 21 January 2018.

Michael Griffiths is renowned for bringing the music of female pop icons to life. His interpretations of Madonna and Annie Lennox established a successful formula with writer/director Dean Bryant. They have now turned their sardonic attention to Kylie. The arrangement and presentation of some of Kylie’s most memorable songs produce a performance that can be enjoyed immensely, regardless of whether you are a big fan. 

La Vie Dans Une Marionette (Life in a Puppet)

White Face Crew / Arts Centre Melbourne. Fairfax Theatre – Arts Centre Melbourne. January 16 – 20, 2018

This delightful show is most appropriate for children who are eight years and over and quite a delight for adults.  However children younger than eight find hilarity throughout due to the incorporated comic repetition.

The show opens well before metaphorical curtain with the very personable and charming Jarod Rawiri chatting to the audience in the foyer, and getting up to some wacky ginks in the auditorium.  By Rawiri, as a witty white-faced clown, children are engaged and encouraged, to respond naturally and spontaneously. 

 

#romeoandjuliet

Devised by Kimberley Twiner, Lily Fish & Giovanni Fusetti. Performed by Twiner and Fish. Outside Eye/Rehearsal Director Steph Kehoe. La Mama Theatre, Carlton VIC. 16-21 January 2018

#romeoandjuliet begins as circus – a very, very small circus, kept alive by the boundless delusions, ego and conceit of its ‘star’, Veronique (Kimberley Twiner).

Cell, Block Tango: Showtunes on Modern Dating

By Louise Baxter. The Butterfly Club, Melbourne. Jan 16 – 21, 2018

Cell, Block Tango was a clever premise for a cabaret show. Based on the song from Chicago, which features a number of women in a prison cell block awaiting trial for killing their partners, this had the performers blocking people from their cell phone, after a bad first date.

Twelfth Night

By William Shakespeare. Essential Theatre. Shakespeare in the Vines. Various Wineries across Australia. Dec 29, 2017 to May 5, 2018.

What a treat; a delightful tight and fast paced production of Twelfth Night with all its surprises and vagaries.

Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to experience a truly unique relaxing evening with a group of friends and friendly acquaintances, in a vineyard with a picnic, some fine wine being entertained by a troupe of energetic and captivation actors.  Essential Theatre productions are worth searching out.  And this year’s offering is no exception.

Limbo Unhinged

Strut & Fret. Director: Scott Maidment. The Studio, Sydney Opera House. January 4 to March 3, 2018

Grown-up circus makes a sexy return to the heart of Sydney in Limbo Unhinged, as cabaret styled circus again leads off proceedings at the Opera House Studio for the year.

This year’s offering is tantalisingly sensual, in contrast to the more overtly sexual offerings of recent years, eschewing nudity and potty-mouthed comic hosts for the non-stop circus talent of this splendid muilti-skilled international troupe, with the mostly physical comedy embedded in the acts.

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