Theatre Review 20 results

From Darkness Theatre Review

Anger and fear have created a divide that becomes filled with selfish outbursts and recriminating discourse. The love that exists is challenged and through the white noise of profanity and unchecked rage, beacons of light begin to burst through. This emerging flame of illumination emits from the spiritual centre that all humans possess but one that is slowly extinguished by a separation of one’s spiritual self. In this case it takes the distraction free focus of the young to empower ...

L’Appartement Theatre Review

The fish this time are Aussie couple, Rooster (Andrew Buchanan) and Meg (Liz Buchanan) and the pond is the city of love, Paris. They sublet a fancy Parisian apartment from a sophisticated French couple, Serge (Pacharo Mzembe) and Lea (Melanie Zanetti).   //   Once their vacation begins, the cracks in their relationship begin to appear. They have unresolved differences and are having to contend with a new addition to the family, the arrival of twin daughters, one with ...

School Of Rock Theatre Review

Would this clash between the inclusive and earthy power of rock and the frivolous glitz of Broadway type theatre work? Would the fourteen new Lloyd Webber songs rock or talk? The songs actually end up being quite a mixed bag. Many of the ALW songs drag a bit are they are generally too long and don’t fit comfortably with a rock ethos. The songs from the movie are a different thing altogether and they really save the day. They help to elevate the proceedings substantially and the audience ...

Romeo and Juliet Theatre Review

The two leads are young and exciting and the veteran actors on stage are generous with both their presence and acting skills. The play features a very clever stage set up that appears very simple at first only to surprise with a depth of application. The use of stage props is excellent throughout as well. There are interludes of song that buttress the work with a fresh approach. Dressing the cast in skinny jeans and Chuck Taylors and doing away with the trappings of time and opulence ...

The Dinner Party Theatre Review

A single spotlight illuminates a party guest as he stands atop a table and attempts to control the festivities. Bowed instruments deliver a toe tapping groove as the party gets underway. The collision of intents from the guests mirror the now avantgarde sounds being produced just off stage. There are politics both sexual and personal at play here.   //   Dance as an artistic medium reminds us that there is both grace and turmoil that can be enacted purely by body ...

Single Asian Female Theatre Review

The laughter it generates makes one look inside to the prejudices that must be overcome in all their absurdity and backwardness. It plays with the acceptance of stereotypes with a wit about itself that puts humour first to make the message more effective. Nobody really learns from shouting. Rapid fire dialogue peppered with current jargon and the occasional f-bomb gives momentum while a clever set design reinforces visual purpose. The story revolves around family and fortune, some good, ...

The King And I: from the Palladium Review

Rendered in high definition and featuring the best seats in the house, the presentation is almost faultless. Kelli O’Hara as Anna is strong of voice and her expressive stage craft is outstanding. Seeing Ruthie Ann Miles return to stage as Lady Thiang is very inspiring after the tragedies she’s had to endure and Ken Watanabe puts in a workman like take on the King of Siam. The songs are as memorable as ever and the young cast are uniformly cute.   //   The multi-award ...

The Mathematics of Longing Theatre Review

The Mathematics of Longing tackles this conundrum head on with the kind of flourish that round out a multi-media rampage as only live theatre can. Lights and motion and sound sometimes coming at you from multiple sources all at once. The cacophony of five voices battling for your attention and that one loan power chord to argument the truth. There are many equations that equal results that charge the mind with as much force as some of our baser instincts charge the body.   // ...

Briefs Close Encounters Theatre Review

Dreams of acceptance on their own terms with a blasting away of the traditional sense. The sense of burlesque being just for girls or the circus with all its tricks being defined by just one thing.   //   Their mix of physical endeavour, both high risk and high entertainment was driven by high volume sounds that were perfect to help get your grind on. The show was light on commentary but the few words were chosen well and were both funny and forceful. If you can’t ...

Twelfth Night Theatre Review

The staging and set design was a star of the night with a rotating floor that gave the audience an almost voyeuristic view of the proceedings and the incorporation of modern pop songs, compliments of Tim Finn (Split Enz and Crowded House) gave the play an accessibility more in line with a modern audience’s level of appreciation. The work’s comic take on mistaken identity and misguided love was given with a high energy intensity and more than a nod and wink to the audience. Break down ...