Australian director Craig Gillespie continues his successful foray into American film with Dumb Money. The film showcases Gillespie’s fast-paced directorial style in a David vs Goliath story that replaces slingshots with sub-Reddits. For whatever reason, Gillespie seems to be attracted to stories that say something about America and its people. That was certainly the case…
For a journey of self-discovery, go to Italy they say. Whatever it is about this place – the history, the culture, the music, the food, the wine, the landscapes, the people – something changes you within! And then, to see Four Flat Whites In Italy, many chords are struck. Written by New Zealand playwright Roger…
Talk about playing mind games with words. Seventeen years after MTC staged this Tony Award winning musical comedy, Saltpillar Theatre has brought it back to tickle our funny bones again. It is, indeed, hilarious, more than a touch silly and really fun, but not without pathos. All the young contestants in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling…
As you enter The Showroom Theatre, there is a faux fox that looks dead lying in the middle of the stage, which has been dressed to look like a road. All over the animal and around it are white feathers. That is the starting point for an original, hilarious and entertaining show, aptly named FOX. As the…
Identity and family are the key ingredients in the incendiary world premiere comedic drama Flake, written by Dan Lee and co-created by Chi Nguyen. With fine direction from Ella Caldwell, the cast does a mighty job bringing to life the story of two 68-year-old Aussie mates and a young Vietnamese woman. Surly and sickly, Bob (Robert…
The relationship between a mother and son is heartfelt, but it can also be fractious. Think of the original ABC TV comedy series of that name starring Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald that ran for a decade until 1994. Recently, it has been reimagined with Denise Scott and Matt Okine playing the leads. Writer, director and producer Tony…
This uplifting Queensland Theatre production of Melanie Tait’s successful play-turned film is a very entertaining and fun trip to the theatre. It manages to evoke lots of laughs while also pressing a few salient buttons regarding Australians’ stubbornness about, and suspicion of change. At one point, one of the older women says, ‘We don’t even…
How unexpectedly and thrillingly different – a bold and unique theatrical offering from the UK, which makes its international debut at the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Think WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) crossed with Norse mythology in a story that melds passion and pain with humour and bravado. Mythos: Ragnarok features professional wrestlers – gigantic men and fearsome…
French cinema is possibly best known for its compelling personal dramas. But you’d have to say it’s not really associated with wacky screwball comedy – at least outside France. But that’s exactly what acclaimed director François Ozon delivers with The Crime is Mine. The situation is a bit of an odd one, because comedies apparently…
For those not in the know, Paw Patrol is a Canadian computer-animated children’s TV series that has been running on Nickelodeon for a decade. The show focuses on a 10-year-old boy named Ryder who leads a crew of search and rescue dogs in Adventure City that call themselves the PAW Patrol. A feature film called…
