A huge cast brings youthful energy and drive to the dark and humorous Matilda The Musical Jr. In a battle of wills, dastardly principal Miss Trunchbull locks horns with bright bookworm Matilda Wormwood and her encouraging teacher, Miss Honey. The story, based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel, features music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, with…
Tomáš Kantor is such an uber talented performer. Whether he is channelling voices high or low, or singing with lyrical appeal, or playing a succession of instruments adroitly, he makes it all appear effortless. That, in itself, is mighty impressive. Overall, he is simply so engaging and that gets back to his yarn spinning and…
Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling collide and are turned inside out in spectacular fashion by world renowned acrobatic circus troupe Circa. If that isn’t enough, Duck Pond contains not one, but two surprise endings. As per director and designer Yaron Lifschitz, who has crafted something very special, in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Princess Odette is…
Acrobatic excellence at a level you are most unlikely to have seen. That is what is in store if you venture into Arts Centre Melbourne to see 10,000 Hours, which I would urge you to do. This is the first time it has been in Melbourne. The title of the show refers to the amount…
The dark storyline in Saturday Night Fever is a sharp contrast to the detail and stunning clarity in the video design and lighting, which are mainstays of this production. Based on the 1977 film starring John Travolta and featuring the Bee Gee’s soundtrack, the jukebox musical set in Brooklyn concerns youth and ambition. It was…
Who doesn’t like hearing bangers with the volume turned up? In what has become an annual, most enjoyable musical cavalcade, Legends in Concert returns for its eighth iteration at The Palms at Crown. While the line-up of big-name tribute artists varies from year to year, the good times keep on rolling. This season, after a…
What does it take to push a disenchanted young man over to the dark side? That question is answered in all its destructive ugliness in the incendiary play Blackpill: Redux. It is a reworked expansion of a production that captured the imagination at Theatre Works’ more experimental venue, The Explosives Factory, last April. Eli (Oliver…
Strong, melodic voices and good-humoured banter characterise an ideal, fun-filled family musical. Showcase Entertainment Group brings our favourite green ogre and his irritating best friend, Donkey, to life on a Victorian and NSW tour. The musical is based on the 2001 Dreamworks Animation film and the 1990 book by William Steig. With book and lyrics…
Set in the magnificent Royal Botanic Gardens, The Australian Shakespeare Company’s The Wind in the Willows is a delightful family production, which never ages. I am pleased to be able to say that three decades on, it continues to resonate – strongly. That is due to a combination of colourful characters, mischief making, engaging songs…
Humour plays a significant part in PLOS’s production of The Wizard of Oz. Led melodically by the beautiful voice of Lana Hutchinson as Dorothy Gale (boy, can she hold a note), the comedic elements come from the scarecrow, tinman and lion. The ageless story is that of young Dorothy, who lives on a Kansas farm…
