As a stage play in 2026, it still works as it sets out on a humble path, just to entertain. It steers way clear of any overt political statement and instead focuses solely on the trials and tribulations of a group of Southern gals. There is a tragic element to the story, but it happens mostly off-stage and adds more colour to the story, which becomes the central theme. In this way, it keeps the activities from becoming too dark or less appealing.

Into the environment of the modern audience, it has a humble plan to provide just pure entertainment, and in these troubled times, that is more than welcome. The outstanding cast get the nuances just right, and as each character becomes defined, they flesh them out with appealing human traits. It’s also great to see an all-female cast riff off each other with such ease and grace. The inherent humour in the writing comes across with a gentle approach that feels unforced and natural. This makes it more than relatable.

The play is directed by Lee Lewis with a screenplay by original writer Robert Harling and stars a cast led by Lisa McCune. The cast also features Belinda Giblin, Debra Lawrance, Mandy Bishop, Jessica Redmayne and Lotte Beckett. The play’s limited Brisbane run will finish on Sunday, May 10th.
Rob Hudson

Steel Magnolias
Brisbane – 30 April – 10 May 2026, Playhouse Theatre QPAC
Sydney – 13-30 May 2026, Theatre Royal
Wollongong – 3-11 June 2026, IMB Theatre IPAC
Canberra – 17-21 June 2026, Canberra Theatre
Perth – 7-18 July 2026, His Majesty’s Theatre
Melbourne – 23 July – 9 August 2026, Athenaeum Theatre
www.steelmagnoliasplay.com/

Setting aside the dubious ethics behind the premise and the absolutely outdated idea that a woman needs validation from a man to be accepted by the world, Pretty Woman The Musical raises the question: Is it still possible to have fun hanging out with a singing billionaire and a lady of the night? Well, the answer to that question is, sort of.

The redemption of this musical comes via the excellent singing voices of the cast and the staging and blocking of the large ensemble. The energy level was high, as was the physical prowess of the dancers. The sound was augmented by the impact of a live band located at a higher audience level than sequestered down in a pit.

The pedigree of the creative minds behind the production is also stellar, with two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell providing creative direction and Grammy winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance providing the musical score. The cast, which includes Samantha Jade, Ben Hall, Michelle Brasier, Tim Omaji and Douglas Hansell, also contributes with fine voices and strong stage presence.

Regardless of the highly questionable ethos of the nineties era rom coms and films of that period in general, adapting the Pretty Woman story to the stage is handled with a modicum of taste and a downplay of the tawdry aspects that could derail things for a modern audience. See it and enjoy it for what it is and can provide, a slick time out on the town.

Pretty Woman: The Musical is currently playing at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane until 23 November 2025!
Rob Hudson
www.prettywomanthemusical.com.au

Defying the thought that the theatre can occasionally lack vim and vigor, The 39 Steps blasts that adage to bits. The almost manic level of energy on stage keeps the audience on their toes and fully engaged with plentiful amounts of laughter. 

Based oh so loosely on the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, this production features just four cast members, who between them play a dizzying number of roles. Sometimes these characters are delivered in such quick succession you have to really hustle to keep up.

The cast features TV stars Lisa McCune (Blue Heelers) and Ian Stenlake (Stingers) and those masters of vocal and physical comedy The Umbilical Brothers – David Collins and Shane Dundas. Together the create a maelstrom of humorist energy. This would be one tired cast at the show’s conclusion.

Feeling very British in its comedic ethos and timing as well as dipping into that countries penchant for sound effects hilarity, The 39 Steps crackles with comic intensity. The play is currently on at the QPAC Playhouse for a limited run until the 19th October.
Rob Hudson

The 39 Steps
7-19 October 2025
Playhouse, QPAC
www.qpac.com.au

There is something that feels festive about being under a big top tent. With LASSÙ the festivities include amazing physical feats, burlesque stage ware and ribald interludes. There was also a looseness that was in contrast to the slick presentation of other events of this ilk.

The lights came down to show an illuminated set that mimicked a cowboy bar from the future. One that served delights that resided in the dark recesses of your mind. The displays of human strength showed true dedication to the craft and much time spent in the gym. It was all filtered through a bawdy mindset.

The pacing of the night was little lopsided with the most intense feats filling the first half while the energy drifted a bit in the second act. It was still a night to be remembered and the stand out of the night was the fire eater who did amazing things with that primal element.

LASSÙ Cosmic Cabaret is currently playing in Brisbane until 27 September before hitting up Central Coast from 3 October 2025!
Rob Hudson

LASSÙ Cosmic Cabaret
Brisbane – 19 to 27 September – Victoria Park, Gilchrist Avenue, Sprint Hill
Central Coast – 3 to 26 October 2025 – Gosford Waterfront
www.lassutheshow.com.au

If you felt the need you had to venture into the big city to actually see the play. You also had to sidestep the religious right out front with the placards of denouncement and verbal noise upon entrance, my how times have changed. Blasphemy and box office have long since become good bedfellows and the Christ complex can be seen on rock stages around the globe. The one thing that still plays is the feeling of it being a rite of passage.

The audience on the night reflected this with an extremely wide range of looks from the extreme theatre peacocks to the jeans-clad grungesters and all points in between. The average age though was surprisingly elder. Come on parents this is a work the youngsters might actually like. The production was bombastic in the best way and the songs still hold up. This was however challenged slightly by a few problems with the audio production.

It took a song or two for the sound to come into focus and the vocals for a few cast members needed the extra clarity. Also when the Big Guy’s son gave the pipes a real workout, the volume became overwhelming and a bit shrill. It’s been a while since the last visit and the thought that the first half contained most of the banger songs came flooding back but by play’s end, it was still quite the experience. The exuberance of it all still makes one wonder why rock music hasn’t penetrated more thoroughly into the world of theatre.

Jesus Christ Superstar is currently playing at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane until 10 August 2025 – click here to get your tickets now!

Rob Hudson
www.jesuschristsuperstarmusical.com.au/

Sister Act sets out to be just pure entertainment and achieves that goal admirably. Actor Casey Donovan presents the lead character Deloris Van Cartier as accessible and not overly complicated. This is mirrored in her vocal presentation as it is free from vocal gymnastics and overstatement. The criminal element of the story is presented in a slap-sack fashion and is very non-threatening.

Fans of the film should be warned however that this is the theatrical version and not the movie version, so the songs included in the play were written exclusively for the stage and the recognisable tracks from the film are absent. There are times that the audience lift of known tracks would have added even more to the energetic presentation.

The night was high-energy entertainment and the communal aspect was in full effect. From the female audience members looking good rocking modified nun’s habits to the audience participation with the inclusive dance number that finished the show, everyone was welcome to join the festivities. This environment created positive vibes that lasted well into the night and the following day.

Sister Act is currently playing at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre until March 15, 2025 – get your tickets now! www.qpac.com.au
Rob Hudson

The visual production is solid and emphasizes the participants’ song and dance moves, which they duly deliver. The intro images quietly playing before things get underway really set the tone. Their low-res look is matched by a drive-in theatre from the fifties content, which is a perfect fit. And really, who doesn’t want to visit the snack bar?

The cast’s physical talents are on full display from the start, and the segments featuring the full cast are infectiously fun. Both their athleticism and vocal prowess are used to full advantage. The costumes are understated and authentic-looking. Having a live band in the pit to belt out the hits adds a lot to the presentation.

Most will be familiar with the story from the film but know that there are more songs and more dance in the theatre presentation than in the celluloid version. This is to the audience’s benefit as the energy level is kept high throughout. This is capped by a rousing finish that will have the entire audience on their feet singing and dancing.

Grease the Musical is currently playing at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane until 1 February 2025 – head to www.greasemusical.com.au to get your tickets now!
Rob Hudson

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 the musical elements are impressive. In every scene, there are multiple elements to focus on and QPAC’s Lyric Theatre was fully alive with song and dance. The athleticism of the cast members was also onl display, with a special mention going to the actors playing the flying monkeys.

There is a palpable energy that only the live theatre can summon up and Wicked uses this power to the point of overload. There is an intensity that will translate well to audience members of all ages. This musical supplies an optimum opportunity to introduce the little ones to the joy and adventure that can take place in the arena of live theatre.
Rob Hudson

Wicked is now playing at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane until November 24, 2024 – get your tickets now!
www.wickedthemusical.com.au

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 (like those used in outdoor cinemas) to help create a 3D sonic soundscape and the sound design is fascinating. It mixes live stage sound and pre-recorded elements to fully envelope the viewer. Actor Michael Cormick plays Warren, he has a fine singing voice and is more than up to the task of carrying the proceedings.

The fact that Warren was such a driven man adds dynamic range to the story as he is far from the ideal partner. His disregard for the importance of spending time with his young family and wife, who suffers from Perinatal Depression brings you to the verge of disliking him. His wife Ruth is effectively played by Helpmann Award winner Helen Dallimore. Queenslander Paul Hodge has created a captivating approach to the theatre and this production should not be missed.

Black Box is currently playing a limited season at Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane until 19 May 2024 – click here for more information and tickets.
www.qpac.com.au

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 of that era gives this musical its timelessness. The cheeky demeanour of its main participants provides enduring humour and the tightly choreographed nature of the dance moves suits the smallish set. The entire band is given full view at the back of the stage.

Most people know the story of Roxie Hart (Lucy Maunder) and Velma Kelly (Zoë Ventoura) from the film, which is fine but those who have forgotten how invigorating a live performance can be should check this one out. It’s also a feast for the ears with a red-hot live band playing accessible songs that feature more than a dash of attitude.

The musical also features Anthony Warlow as Billy Flynn, Peter Rowsthorn as Amos Hart and Asabi Goodman as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.

Chicago
Now Playing until 4 February 2024
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane
www.qpac.com.au