From acclaimed Estonian filmmaker Zaza Urushadze (Three Houses) comes this Oscar nominated anti-war drama, set in the disputed territory of Abhazia during the war between Georgia and Chechen rebels in the early 1990s. Tangerines is a strong and provocative but very human look at the horrors of war, but it also looks at the futility…
More than ever, in 2023 the theme has an ick factor. It made my skin crawl. Today, cyberbullying is unfortunately rife, with physical appearance being a common reason why. Dogfight, in the context of this musical, refers to the practice among Marines of placing bets on ugly women. This is the story of Eddie Birdlace, who is…
Some of the most intoxicating circus acts I have had the good fortune to see are among the highlights of Santa’s Magical Kingdom, which has reappeared in Melbourne in the lead up to the festive season for an eighth time. The word “wow” doesn’t do them justice – they are that good. The experience is…
Melissa McCarthy tackles one of the best roles of her life in this hilarious homage to James Bond. Susan Cooper (McCarthy) is an overweight, unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst and the unsung hero behind the Agency’s most dangerous missions. But when her super smooth partner Bradley Fine (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top…
It’s rude, it’s crude, it sets out to push the envelope and succeeds in doing so, but is also quite clever. I’m talking about Sausage Party, an animated feature from the warped minds of Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Jonah Hill. The language is full on. From the outset, it is rampantly sexual with the cartoon…
David Eldridge’s well-written two-hander Beginning has a runtime of 1 hour 40 minutes, without interval. Yet its story appears to fly by in what seems like the shortest of times, such is its well-written script of witty, but also honest banter of two singles, drawn together at a party’s end. It is in intimate real…
A love story against a backdrop of civil war, Skies of Lebanon has a decided artistic and poetic bent. It is the 1950s and despite not speaking a word of Arabic, Alice (Alba Rohrwacher) leaves her straitlaced existence in Switzerland for a nannying job in Beirut. In a café she meets and falls for a…
Horse Jumper of Love is a Boston-based trio composed of Dimitri Giannopoulos (vocals/guitar), John Margaris (bass), and James Doran (drums). Known for their intricate approach to indie rock, the band has gained recognition for their expressive compositions that explore both gentle and intense soundscapes. Since their formation, they have developed a reputation for introspective songwriting,…
Sound quality was the only sour note in an at times uproariously funny opening night for First Date The Musical, a comedic musical about a hook up between a serial dater and a nerd. With a book by Austin Winsberg and music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, the show – inspired by…
The life and troubled times of pop diva Britney Spears make for compelling and scintillating entertainment in the hands of one of Australia’s finest musical theatre performers, whose comic timing is impeccable. Christie Whelan-Browne (The Drowsy Chaperone) is dynamite. Britney Spears: The Cabaret, by award-winning writer/director Dean Bryant (Sweet Charity), is a satirical look at…
