Desire, death and possession feature in Dybbuks. This obtuse world premiere is performed in English and Yiddish. Samara Hersch directs the work for Chamber Made, as well as writing the piece. The play draws its title from Yiddish mythology. Dybbuks are unresolved souls who seek form through living bodies. Four actors are accompanied by a…
A calm movie from time to time is something I welcome. Not a flashy, action film where you’ll get nervous because the scenes follow each other at a rapid pace and stroboscopic effects get you a cutting headache. Submergence undoubtedly belongs to the calm movie category. So, no nauseating headache. No disorientation. You’ll certainly not…
Steven Spielberg must be wondering why, 43 years on, the legacy of Jaws would be such mush as The Meg. Quite frankly, I was horrified for all the wrong reasons. A deep-sea submersible has been attacked by a massive creature. It now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean…
From The Hunger Games to Divergent, dystopian films aimed at tweens have made serious coin; so why wouldn’t producers keep pouring money into them? They follow a familiar storyline where youngsters are outcasts. And so to the latest incarnation, The Darkest Minds. Based on the popular YA novel by Alexandra Bracken, The Darkest Minds starts…
Spike Lee has to be one of the most influential filmmakers of the past 30 years. From the incendiary Do the Right Thing (1989) to the slick Inside Man (2006), his movies have marked a generation. So when a new Spike Lee “joint” comes along, you better pay attention. The great news is that, after…
King of Pigs is a new Australian play by Steve Rodgers. This play targets domestic violence for discussion. Says director, Blazey Best: I’ve been hearing a lot about the ‘Epidemic’ of Family Violence and – faced with the statistics and the sheer relentless regularity of horrific stories in the news – it’s hard to dismiss…
A psychoanalyst crosses the line and has to find a way out in Saltpillar Theatre’s In Bed with the Bishops. This new world premiere work was written especially for Saltpillar by Melbourne psychiatrist-turned-author and playwright Rob Selzer. The play, filled with sharp one liners, moves along at pace. It’s far from a straightforward journey for…
At a time when we’re hearing that blues rock veterans Jimmy Page is thinking about a 50th Anniversary tour for Led Zeppelin, while rumors are circulating suggesting that Eric Clapton’s playing days are practically over, the fact that elder statesman Buddy Guy – who will turn 82 later this month – is alive and well,…
Noni Hazlehurst (right) has been touring this one-woman masterpiece for more than two years now and everywhere she has packed the venues and earned wide acclaim. After watching her performance at the Cremorne there is no problem in understanding why. The whole package, from words and performance, to lighting, set and sound, was perfect theatre;…
A hip gangster has to get down and get dirty in Superfly. This stylish 21st century remake of the 1972 film of the same name comes from a man who’s noted for music videos for the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna. He goes by the name Director X (born Julien Lutz). When Director X…
