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…
Grand performances, stunning staging and striking costuming characterise a musical adaptation of the 1997 animated film of the same name. The story concerns a legend surrounding the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. The tale begins in St Petersburg in 1906 when the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna Romanov (Nancye Hayes) bids farewell to her youngest…
If you are in the mood for some light-hearted fun and hijinks, head for The National Theatre to see theatrical’s production of School of Rock. Debuting on Broadway in December 2015, it is based on the 2003 film, which was a hit for Jack Black, who played the most unlikely of teachers. The musical features…
I saw the feel good, comedic, part musical, part play, part concert Here You Come Again when it was first in Melbourne for a brief run in July and I enjoyed it. I appreciated it even more second time around. It is a lot of fun and carries a relatable message that resonates. The legendary,…
What a stunning song cycle! It premiered off the West End in 2008 and off Broadway the following year and first appeared in Australia in 2012. The work of American composer and lyricist Adam Gwon, it concerns two relationships in New York City. Warren (Joel Granger) is an artist who is house sitting another artist’s…
The singing and dancing in this Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) musical spectacular is off the charts. Featuring a blend of hip-hop and Latin rhythms – salsa, merengue and samba – it is an energetic and colourful cultural celebration, marked by superb performances. It is clear why In the Heights, which opened on Broadway in 2008, claimed…
MTC keeps lifting the bar. Kimberly Akimbo is a superb, zany, comical and tender production. The five-time Tony Award winner, which included Best Musical, concerns a lonely girl about to turn 16 who has a very rare genetic condition. She ages four to five times faster than normal, which means she looks old long before…
A wonderful theatrical experience awaits in a little-known theatre by a little-known theatre troupe, with the Broadway hit Parade being given a stellar run by Bump In Productions. Tucked away in the Brisbane suburb of Seven Hills is the Ron Hurley Theatre, with a modest capacity of about 160 seats. There, magic is happening. What…
The nanny with the lot, Mary Poppins, gets to weave her magic in 70 minutes and still make it count in this cut down version of the beloved musical. It is based on the 1964 Disney film, which starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, and stories by PL Travers. The book is by Julian…
With an introductory nod to J.C. Williamson’s premiere season of Annie in Melbourne in 1978, this intoxicating, family friendly musical sizzles and sparks anew. All the elements – music, performance, staging, choreography, lighting and sound – come together seamlessly and make for a delightful night at the theatre. Despite being set during the Great Depression,…
