Dinner is served, or at least about to be served. That is what we are led to believe in the latest, decidedly adventurous play at Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory, Social Dance. Talk about creating a favourable first impression. Walk up the steep stairs to the theatre, turn left and you cast your eyes over a huge dinner table…
In 2012, a cute, foulmouthed teddy bear – that for all intents and purposes was human, only smaller and hairier – and his “thunder buddy” were the talk of the town. In the States Ted, co-written and directed by and featuring the voice talent of Seth McFarlane alongside Mark Wahlberg as John became the highest…
Dazzlingly frocked up, the seemingly ageless Rhonda Burchmore sizzles as the dastardly Carabosse in the delicious pantomime Sleeping Beauty, A Knight Avenger’s Tale. At one point she literally soars above the audience belting out Cher’s 1989 hit “If I Could Turn Back Time”. That’s one of several popular numbers that punctuate a familiar story with…
Let’s face it, 2016 was a tough year. Despair, hopelessness and rancour were all around us, and those feelings simply spiralled downward as the year wore on. Thankfully, we had the movies to allow us a couple of hours escape from the madness and to (hopefully) introduce a little grace note into our lives. All…
Multi-award winning Australian crime writer Candice Fox returns her fiction to Australia for the first time in a few years with the high octane thriller High Wire. High Wire is a little bit Jack Reacher and a little bit Mad Max but all Fox who once again takes some familiar tropes and twists, embellishes them…
Ten Australian premiere productions, along with some of the best new talent, come together for the 8th Melbourne Cabaret Festival, under the artistic direction of Dolly Diamond. She also has her own show during the Festival, which opened on 20 June and runs until 2 July 2017. The Festival includes song and dance pieces, plenty of good…
Geez, you think you know a guy! Whether you loved or loathed former US Vice-President Dick Cheney, Adam McKays’ new film Vice will probably give you new insight into this enigmatic figure. Oh, and it may just illuminate some recent history as well. But the most important thing about Vice is that it’s fun. Although…
Melbourne noir-country duo Broads have announced plans to hit the road this April, May and June to celebrate their brand new album Vacancy. Broads are crooners Kelly Day and Jane Hendry. Their songs weave through a cast of characters riddled with self-delusion, longing, regret and paranoia. Vacancy, which was released at the end of February,…
10 years is a long time between albums, so Scheherazade is a true welcome back to the simple folky rooted songs from Catherine Ann Irwin and Janet Beveridge Bean of Freakwater. For some, this reunion is something special as their 1995 record, Old Paint, is always an album you may hear listed as helping put…
The most festive of the traditional Christmas family film offerings this year is Diney’s live action stunner, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. With writing credits including the original Nutcracker storyteller, ETA Hoffman and a score of whimsically re-arranged motifs from Tchaikovsky’s much-loved ballet of the same name, this new film adaptation is a little…
