Theatre Review 20 results

Wicked the Musical Theatre Review

Setting the timelines of Wicked before and after the events in the film was a masterstroke and opens up the storylines substantially. We discover that Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West played by Sheridan Adams didn’t start out so wicked and that Glinda the Good (Courtney Monsma) wasn’t always so good. Even the Great Oz is given more stick as being the fraud he is.   //   This Australian production of Wicked is immense. Eugene Lee’s set design is spectacular and ...

Black Box Theatre Review

. Driven to create this device by the lasting memory of a distant father who was killed in a plane crash, it became an industry standard and has helped hundreds of crash scene investigators discover the causes behind the incidents. Creating this device and then getting it to be accepted in a conservative environment was a huge challenge and became his life’s work.   //     Unique in its presentation, Black Box is actually a musical and uses wireless headphones ...

Chicago Theatre Review

Adding to the sense of occasion was a first night out together since a fur baby came into our lifes. Many adult beverages were consumed and the rowdy feeling off-stage was perfectly matched by all the action on-stage. The original play came out in the twenties and was based on two real-world court cases. The musical version came out in 1975.   //     The seventies in retrospect were a time for the expansion of many forms of popular culture and the representation ...

Rocky Horror Show Theatre Review

The casino setting at The Star Gold Coast somehow reinforces the outlier attitude of this show. This isn’t staid and safe theatre, it’s full of life and is loud and lurid. An outstanding cast is led by Laurence Olivier Award-winning American actor David Bedella as Frank ‘n’ Furter and his experience in the role shines as he is mesmerizing.   //   Having a live rock band blasting out the backing tracks reinforces the impact of the songs. As well does the actors ...

The Mystery Of The Valkyrie Theatre Review

All the gang is here, Holmes (Eugene Gilfedder), Watson (Anthony Gooley), Mycroft (Darcy Brown), Professor Moriarty (Bryan Probets), even the housekeeper Mrs Hudson (Helen Cassidy) makes an appearance. The plot revolves around Moriarty and his nefarious plans to create and use a biological weapon to control the social direction in regards to overthrowing the residing political party.   //   The set and staging are stellar and add a lot to the visual impact of the play. ...

The Mousetrap Theatre Review

Originally written by Agatha Christie as a present to Queen Mary, it was first broadcast on the wireless in 1947. At that time it was called Three Blind Mice. It eventually had its London Westend debut in 1952   //   The play is filled with your standard stage characters, the nasty upper-crust lady, the ditsy blonde, the arty type and the gumshoe to name a few. It’s to the written word’s worth that those well-known prototypes can still be fun to spend the night ...

Cinderella Theatre Review

The large cast cranks up the energy and the dance moves are impressive as are the lighting quick costume changes, it’s magic indeed. Production wise there are some problems, at times the amplified voices are too loud and shrill and the little ones will need to put their fingers in their ears to prevent damage, It’s easy to get lost in a story so familiar and just admire the craft. The stage design and costumes are impressive as well as the choreography and vocal arrangements (even ...

9 to 5 the Musical Theatre Review

The struggle women face in the current workplace is one still fraught with issues so the core topical nature illustrates how little progress has been made. This does little to lessen the celebratory nature of the work on stage. The main characters are told with broad strokes and the evil boss is even more cartoonish than before.   //   The play is filled out with Parton’s countrified contribution of songs and lyrics and those are mixed with vibrant dance numbers to ...

West Side Story Theatre Review

When the curtain arose, it was easy to get lost in the pure verve of the cast of West Side Story. The opening dance number was so energetic, it felt like they too were revelling in their ability to share such a communal experience. With a play so well known they had to bring their A-game and that they did. Most know the storyline already, so it was up to the creators to produce a unique approach. The mix of pure athleticism of the dance numbers and quality of voice on display gave this ...

The Neighbourhood Theatre Review

Different avenues to the same hopeful destination. Those paths are lined with obstacles of omission and the hurdles of acceptance. Sometimes it’s just an uncaring aside that cuts the deepest. Embracing a world view outside the easily known is often a step too far. Rattle the cage of easy avoidance. Each remembrance carries the weight of deeply felt emotion, sometimes through appalling apathy, sometimes amid armed conflagration or even the deep desire for anonymity. After giving our ...