Performing Arts Reviews:
2008–2022

  Sydney Theatre Company presents LITTLE MERCY by Sisters Grimm. Created by Ash Flanders and Declan Greene at the Sydney Theatre Company in the Wharf 2 Theatre. You know, I had packed away my Mardi Gras costumes and make-up kit after the CLUB KOOKY PARTY down there at the Wharf restaurant and bar on the Recovery Sunday, after the Parade Night. A good time had by all, by all accounts. Too soon, brothers and sisters! Haul them out again, for, it seems it is still going on down there. The ‘gay’ persona mashes, smashes into the mainstream spaces … well,…

  Critical Stages and Michael Sieders present SONGS FOR THE FALLEN by Sheridan Harbridge in the Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre. SONGS FOR THE FALLEN is a new work written by Sheridan Harbridge for herself and two other actors, Ben Gerrard, Garth Holcombe and a composer/live musical performer Basil Hogios. This presentation is the beginning of a tour for Critical Stages and Michael Sieders, mounted after a successful first outing at the Old Fitzroy, last year. Harbridge describes SONGS FOR THE FALLEN as “part vaudeville, part punk opera, part MTV-does- Baroque”, a pastiche, using the life history of an actual historical…

  I’M TRYING TO KISS YOU in association with NIDA Independent presents I KNOW THERE’S A LOT OF NOISE OUTSIDE BUT YOU HAVE TO CLOSE YOUR EYES by Zoey Dawson, Anna McCarthy and Allison Wiltshire in The Parade Studio, at the Parade Theatres, NIDA. I KNOW THERE’S A LOT OF NOISE OUTSIDE BUT YOU HAVE TO CLOSE YOUR EYES written and created by Zoey Dawson and Anna McCarthy, also, the actors, and Allison Wiltshire, the director. They first conceived this work in 2009 and first premiered at the 2011 Melbourne Fringe Festival and have continued to develop this work over…

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY DRAMA SOCIETY (SUDS) presents William Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR provided by University of Sydney Union in The Cellar Theatre, Science Road, Sydney University. Sydney University Drama Society presents William Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR. This is one of many productions of JULIUS CAESAR that I have seen in recent years. “Metellus Cimber kneels before Caesar begging the repeal of his brother’s banishment. … Brutus, with a kiss that reminds us more of Judas than of Brutus, … seconds the petition … Caesar, refusing … The moment has come. Casca stabs him from behind, the others follow, Brutus significantly, striking last. “Et tu,…

The Royal Court Theatre presents IN THE REPUBLIC OF HAPPINESS by Martin Crimp at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Sloane Square, London. I saw this work in January, 2013. IN THE REPUBLIC OF HAPPINESS by Martin Crimp is a one act, three scene play with no interval. Each scene has a title. The first scene is entitled: DESTRUCTION OF THE FAMILY. It begins at a family Christmas lunch. Three generations: grandparents (Anna Calder-Marshall and Peter Wight), mum and dad (Emma Fielding and Stuart McQuarrie), uncle and aunt (Paul Ready and Michelle Terry), and two nieces (Seline Hizli and Ellie…

  Photo by Jeff Busby John Frost by special arrangement with Jed Bernstein and Adam Zotovich present, DRIVING MISS DAISY by Alfred Uhry at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. DRIVING MISS DAISY (1987), a Pulitzer Prize winning play by Alfred Uhry,  is the first part of what has become known as his ATLANTA TRILOGY. The other two works being THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO (1996) and PARADE (1998) – a musical with the score by Jason Robert Brown. These last works were winners of Tony awards. DRIVING MISS DAISY became a film directed by Bruce Beresford and the winner of four…