This British series about an extended family in Manchester offers a refreshingly different take on the family drama genre. For one thing, it’s created, written and executive-produced by Russell T Davies (Doctor Who). Director is Simon Cellan Jones (Boardwalk Empire). The title is very literal, with each episode jumping forward in time over 15 years…
Based on the whimsical work of Theodor Seuss Geisel, known as Dr Seuss (2nd March 1904 – 24th September 1991), Old Carey Performing Arts Club’s (OCPAC) production is slick and sassy. It is lively, energetic and highly entertaining. Musical direction comes from Olivia Jackson and Julian Smith-Gard. There are many rousing up-tempo numbers in the…
I fell in love with Fredrik Backman’s My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises, and now, I’ve just developed a crush on Britt-Marie Was Here. What is about his writing that gets me? I think it’s the way he taps into whimsy, delight, oddness and the sometimes elusive inner child. Here’s the blurb: For as long…
A flawed but sometimes amusing animated feature, Charming is a delightful twist on damsels-in-distress. As an infant, Prince Philippe Charming (the voice of Wilmer Valderrama) was maliciously “over-blessed” with “charm” as the result of a curse. So, through no fault of his own, he attracts women like a magnet. Every woman he meets falls madly…
The Picture of Dorian Gray is an extraordinary triumph of talent and theatricality. It is the very finest of entertainment involving a handsome young man and a portrait that becomes a mirror to his soul. The play shines a spotlight on a world obsessed with youth and beauty. Dorian Gray is painted by his friend, artist Basil…
We seem to have been getting more European – specifically French – films in Australian cinemas recently. That might be a hangover from Hollywood’s troubles over the past year or two, but it provides an opportunity for more diverse offerings. And few films could be further from a Hollywood blockbuster than Catherine Breillat’s enigmatic Last…
A book dealing with the modern-day experience of selfies, social media and cyber-bullying … it’s the kind of read that’s right up my alley. And Wendy James delivered the goods. With a bite. Here’s the blurb: Blogger Lizzy’s life is buzzing, happy, normal. Two gorgeous children, a handsome husband, destiny under control. For her real-life…
The moral dilemma. Juicy. Delicious. Ideal for the stage. It is at the heart of Only Child, a new play from Leah Annetta. Divorced, uptight Veronika (Sarah Hallam) runs a wedding planning business. She lives with her mother Barbara (Michele Stayner) and her high achieving, 18-year-old daughter Anika (Alessandra Alessio). Anika, in her final year…
Think of the hijinks in Crazy Rich Asians, Bridesmaids and The Hangover and you go some way to understanding why Joy Ride will be a fan favourite. There are laughs, silliness and good times aplenty. As five-year-olds, Audrey and Lolo meet by chance in 1998 at a New York park. Born in Asia, Audrey –…
“This performance you are about to witness is unofficial, unauthorised and not at all like the 1993 film”, a start-of-show Jurassic Park The Musical announcement declares. Regardless, like its movie muse, the show begins with a mosquito. From there, however, things detour from the specifics of the science-fiction adventure film, to delightful comedic effect. The…
