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…
Loosely inspired by Bizet’s 1875 opera Carmen, this melodrama updates the timeless story to a more contemporary setting along the US/Mexican border. The film centres around Carmen (Melissa Barrera) who is on the run from a ruthless Mexican cartel that killed her mother. While attempting to cross the border into the US Carmen is caught…
Accessibility and inclusion are at the heart of Fancy Long Legs. This sparkly, pastel, rainbow musical adventure for the young and young-at-heart is set in a spidery world under a crafter’s table. Based on Rachel Burke’s latest picture book of the same name, Fancy Long Legs was adapted by The Little Red Company Artistic Director…
A somewhat surprisingly worthy follow up to the new age retelling of Snow White, namely 2012’s Snow White and the Huntsman, this has clout as well as pyrotechnics. The Huntsman: Winter’s War is billed as a prequel. It tells how the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), also known as Eric, came to be. That involves the malevolent…
Circus Royale is an artistic triumph. I have seen a great deal of circus, but the calibre of acts in this hour and a half show (plus interval) is top shelf. As breathtaking as many performances are, the best of the best are undoubtedly the Colombian-born Lion Brothers – Saret, Sarius and Samir Leon. Not for…
We don’t see many horror films from Iran, as their cinema is mainly centred around domestic dramas and social realist pieces that subtly critique the repressive regime and its patriarchal nature and religious zealotry. Last year we had the low budget A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, a low key and understated horror film…
It is Melbourne’s newest entertainment precinct (off Lonsdale Street), with a sizzling hot new show, involving seven spirited performers. I speak of Spiegel Haus Melbourne and the adults only, risqué cabaret Blanc de Blanc Encore. It is slick, sexy and in your face – in short, a walk on the wild side – with audience…
Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash Despite some dire rumblings, the Australian cinema scene posted a respectable 2024. According to Screen Australia, overall attendances showed a small rise of around 200,000 on 2023 – from 57.9 million to 58.1 million. The gross box office however grew about 5%, from $940 million to $985 million. This…
Five years in the making, Australia 3D: The Wild Continent presents a stunning showcase of this country’s flora and fauna. What we see is so striking that, I venture to suggest, anyone viewing it in Australia will be captivated by the plethora of natural wonders in our backyard. As to those who witness the documentary…
The 40th anniversary production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical CATS is mesmerising – a real crowd pleaser. Superb prowling and dancing, choreographic excellence, an enticing set design and look at me performances are its hallmark. That is not to overlook moggie-appropriate costuming, attractive hair pieces and feline-friendly make-up. And who can forget the hissing…
