In a cinema environment overcrowded with remakes, reboots, sequels and superhero movies, it’s a pleasant surprise to come across something that’s as unique and genuinely entertaining and as hard to define as Polite Society. This energetic and colourful hybrid of Bollywood films, fantasy, high school comedy, rom-com, martial arts drama and action-thriller has been compared…
OMG! Wow. If you are after a show that is energy on steroids and positively sizzles, you simply have to see Velvet Rewired – a celebration of the sensational ‘70s and the disco beat. What a superb production. It is electrifying and takes much pride and pleasure in whipping the audience into a frenzy. Slick and dynamic,…
Essendon supporters (including me) can rejoice in the long and storied history of the club, which has resulted in a record equalling 16 Premierships. But along with the adulation, there has been a fair share of bruises along the way. Most notably, of course, was the supplements’ saga of the early to mid 2010s that resulted in…
We are in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2013, as the US troops are starting a major withdrawal from the country. Taroon (Khisraw Jones-Shukoor) is in hiding from the Taliban. He’s been targeted after working as an interpreter for the American military. Effectively caged for four months, he dare not set foot outside his sister Afiya’s (Nicole Nabout) small apartment….
Joanna Jenkins exposes men behaving badly in the world of corporate law and business in her debut novel How to Kill a Client. This is one of a number of recent crime books that seeks to explore how far we have come, or not come, in the pursuit of gender equality usually focussing on domestic…
He’s such a naturally funny guy, quick witted, endlessly talented and responsive. With his boyish charm and relaxed attitude, he welcomes audience interaction. Michael Shafar’s material is fresh. He observes the world around him from an obtuse perspective. He delves into what many may regard as taboo subjects and gets away with it. In his sights are,…
Cain and Abel – biblical brothers at loggerheads. In American playwright Sam Shepard’s searing, black comedic drama it is well educated Hollywood screenwriter Austin (Justin Hosking) and his older brother Lee (Mark Diaco) – a drifter, thief and drinker – in conflict. The pair hasn’t seen each other in five years and find themselves together in their…
Zach Braff is probably still best-known as Dr JD Dorian on the very funny TV series Scrubs. But he’s also directed several films – including the well-regarded Garden State (2004), Wish I Was Here (2014) and Going in Style (2017). Now after a few years working in television, he’s back with A Good Person. Braff…
A troubled man tries to get home for his mother’s funeral, but events conspire to delay his journey. The third feature film from Ari Aster (Hereditary) is a completely bonkers, surreal and bloated pitch-black absurdist comedy. Beau Is Afraid isn’t so much your typical horror film but rather more of a disturbing Kafkaesque nightmare full…
Joanna Murray-Smith’s remarkable insight, attention to detail and writing prowess are front and centre in a captivating production of Berlin at The MC Showroom. Australian Tom (Lachlan Hamill) has just landed in the German capital, keen to get to know the real city, not the tourist offering. He’s directed to a small watering hole, where he meets…
