Performing Arts Reviews:
2008–2022

This is not a blog concerning a Performance. This concerns the plans for two theatres in the Independent circuit in Sydney. On Sunday 25th November and 2nd December I attended the launch of two 2019 Seasons. It was quite a pleasure to see, at both, a majority of young artists and their supporters, present. I just thought to remark on the foresight and enterprise of LIMELIGHT ON OXFORD and THE KINGS CROSS THEATRE (bAKEHOUSE). Both organisations have planned 2019 with a generous sense of the development of the young artists in this city by giving the opportunity to create and…

Photo by Claire Hawley Secret House and Limelight On Oxford present CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, adapted for the stage by Chris Hannan, based on the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, at the Limelight on Oxford, 231 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. 12- 22nd December. First, let us say that all great experiences in the theatre are, mostly, projected from the conceptional and evidential contribution of the Writer. This theatre work is adapted by Chris Hannan from the novel CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) is regarded as one of the Great Novelists, that reputation based, principally, on CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (1866),…

Apocalypse Theatre Company presents ALL MY SLEEP AND WAKING, by Mary Rachel Brown, at the Old 505, Eliza Street, Newtown. 28 November – 22 December. ALL MY SLEEP AND WAKING, was an early play (first?), written by Mary Rachel Brown, first performed in 2002 in a 55 minute one act version, that has had recent and further development with Mentor/Director, Dino Dimitriades, of the Apocalypse Theatre Company. Three siblings, Maria (Angela Bauer), Anne (Di Adams) and Peter (Richard Sydenham) await – with Anne’s son, Josh (Alex Beauman) – the passing of their father from a longterm illness – we never…

Theatre Travels presents THE LARAMIE PROJECT and THE LARAMIE PROJECT: 10, by Moises Kaufman and Members of the Tectonic Theatre Project, in the Reginald Theatre, at the Seymour Centre, City Rd, Chippendale. 28th November – 8th December. A new theatre company, Theatre Travels, for its opening foray into the Sydney scene, has tackled THE LARAMIE PROJECT, and its sequel, THE LARAMIE PROJECT: 10. Two plays and nearly five hours in the theatre. It seems to be a season of ‘marathon’ experiences, what with the Sydney Theatre Company’s (STC) recent THE HARP IN THE SOUTH and the Ensemble’s production of the trilogy…

Photo by Marnya Rothe Mad March Hare Theatre Co. in association with Red Line Productions presents, EURYDICE, by Sarah Ruhl, at the Old Fitz Theatre, Cathedral St, Woolloomooloo. 15th November – 15th December. The Greek myth has Orpheus enter the underworld to retrieve his wife, Eurydice, under the admonition that he must not look at her, trusting that she is following. He looks back and all is lost. Sarah Ruhl’s 2003 play tells this myth through the experiences of Eurydice. Eurydice, a lover of the power of language and words, falls into the underworld on her marriage day to the…

Photo by Clare Hawley The Costi Siblings present, THE OVERCOAT – The Musical, based on the short story by Nikolai Gogol. Book and Lyrics, by Michael Costi. Music, by Rosemarie Costi. For the Belvoir 24A Program, in the Downstairs Theatre, Belvoir St, Surry Hills. 15 November – 1st December. THE OVERCOAT, is a new Australian work, a Musical, by Constantine, Michael and Rosemarie Costi, based on the Gogol short story of 1842. The literal translation used is by Alena Lodkina. Gogol seems to be the parent to a writer like Kafka and his more familiar concerns. In this version of the…