Disney’s High School Musical On Stage! at The National Theatre – musical theatre review ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I fell big time for the two leads in James Terry Collective’s production of Disney’s…
Dracula (BIG Live) at Her Majesty’s Theatre, State Theatre and Capitol Theatre – ballet review
BIG Live’s balletic production of Dracula is, in a word, captivating. It is dramatic, haunting and sensual. In 11 scenes through two acts, the production reimagines Bram Stoker’s 1897 Gothic horror story about desire, torment and immortality with passion and conviction. With no beg pardons, the performances are pointed and electrifying. It is the tale…
Holy Fool at Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory – theatre review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This guy – Fabio Motta – is absolutely brilliant. In the first instance, he has drawn on fact and upended it to craft an immersive, engaging and thoroughly entertaining story. More to the point, he and he alone (with a little help from the lighting and sound designers) manages to hold us in the palms…
Shelly Restaurant, at 809 Glenhuntly Road, Caulfield – fine dining restaurant review with show
It is an immersive gastronomic experience unlike any other. It is deliciously flavoursome, while very showy and a whole heap of fun. Everything from the Four Seasons’ 10-course degustation kosher menu with accompanying beverages to the entertainment and music is the brainchild of master chef Rony Parienty. He was born in France and raised in…
Disney’s High School Musical On Stage! at The National Theatre – musical theatre review ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I fell big time for the two leads in James Terry Collective’s production of Disney’s High School Musical On Stage! Their chemistry is unmistakable. Individually and collectively Sophia Kouknas and Gabriel Tiller’s vocalisation is pure, strong, melodic and engaging. They harmonise magnificently. They play Gabriella Montez and Troy Bolton, who meet on New Year’s Eve…
Savages, at Theatre Works – theatre review
In terms of holding up a mirror to bad behaviour by men, there is nothing quite as illuminating as women playing men acting appallingly. So it is in the cut through Savages, written with bite by Patricia Cornelius and directed by Kitan Petkovski, who is all in. Four old mates are taking the cruise of…
Menopause: The Musical, at Athenaeum Theatre and touring – musical theatre review
Change of life never looked as good as it does on stage in the hilarious musical Menopause. It mashes four strong artistes, delivering power packed vocals on familiar, up-tempo tunes, cleverly reworded, with slick choreography. Add in colourful lighting, striking sound, easy to navigate staging with smooth transitions between scenes and evocative costuming and you…
Big Religion (Fruitcake Productions), at Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory – theatre review
In 1843, German philosopher Karl Marx famously wrote that “religion is the opium of the people”. So, does religion exist to assuage the tough times? But so much about it can’t be explained. It just is. Think of a virgin birth for starters. And then how do you deal with the untold misery in the…
& Sons (M) – 119 minutes – movie review
Nearly two decades ago, an incident shattered a family and now the patriarch – a feted, but ailing author – is intent on making good before he drops off the mortal coil. Forever sickly, stumbling about, popping pills and turning to the bottle, his name is Andrew Dyer (Bill Nighy). He lives a reclusive life…
I Want Your Sex (MA) – 90 minutes – movie review
Kinky and sexually charged, I Want Your Sex is an erotic dark comedy. Naïve twenty-three-year-old Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) almost can’t believe the fact that he has just landed his first job after finishing university. It is working as an assistant to renowned, sexually provocative artist Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde). Apart from anything else, it will…
GRIMM (Shake & Stir Theatre Co.) at Fairfax Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne and touring – theatre review
While growing up, I was captivated by subversive stories in a classic cartoon segment known as Fractured Fairy Tales. That aired as part of the TV series The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends. It turned familiar yarns about the likes of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and many others on their head. All these…
