Performing Arts Reviews:
2008–2022

Photo by Rupert Reid Photography Millstone Productions presents MOTH, by Declan Greene, in the ATYP Theatre, Wharf 4, Hickson Rd., Walsh Bay. 6 September – 16 September. MOTH is a one act play by Australian writer, Declan Greene. It is a very early example of his work and the ‘promise’ that this text predicts has been continually advanced upon with project following project: e.g. LITTLE MERCY; EIGHT GIGABYTES OF HARDCORE PORNOGRAPHY and more recently, THE HOMOSEXUALS OR ‘FAGGOTS’. Two young teenagers, Claryssa (Ruby O’Kelly) – a self-declared emo, Wiccan art-freak, and Sebastian (Jeremi Campese) – an underdeveloped, sickly 15 year old…

Photo by Michael Bourchier Monkey Baa Theatre Company presents, WHERE THE STREETS HAD A NAME, by Eva Di Cesare, adapted from the novel of the same name by Randa Abdel-Fattah at the Lendlease Darling Quarter Theatre, Darling Harbour Precinct. 5 – 7 September. WHERE THE STREETS HAD A NAME, is a play adapted from the novel by Randa Abdel-Fattah. It reveals the experience of how ordinary Palestinians negotiate violence and injustice while going about their mundane, everyday lives, as two children go on a quest to fulfil the dying wish of one of their beloved. Says Ms Abdel-Fattah: Monkey Baa’s…

Photo by Brett Boardman Belvoir presents, HIR, by Taylor Mac, in the Upstairs Theatre, Surry Hills. August 16 – September 10. HIR is a play by the American artist, cult figure -“A critical darling of the New York scene” –  Taylor Mac (also, referred too as, ‘judy’ – as in Judy Garland – as a gender pronoun). In the Writer’s Note in the program: I’m a lover and maker of the alternative, underground, and radical movements, and basically every work I’ve made is somehow rooted in a subculture. HIR, however, is a new kind of play for me, as it’s dealing…

Some Company and Oleg Pupovac in association with bAKEHOUSE present AMERICAN BEAUTY SHOP, by Dana Lynn Formby, in the Kings Cross Theatre (KXT), at the Kings Cross Hotel. August 31 – September 16. AMERICAN BEAUTY SHOP, is an American play, by Dana Lynn Formby, written 2015. It begins in the dark with a radio news bulletin reporting on the culpability of the Lehman Brothers and the resultant Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008. We are then brought to Cortez, Colorado, into the basement Beauty Shop belonging to Sue (Amanda Stephens Lee), where she’s re-located from main street, as a result…

The Sydney Theatre Company and Commonwealth Bank present a Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company production of THE FATHER, by Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton. August 24 – October 21. THE FATHER, is a play written in 2012, by French playwright and novelist, Florian Zeller. It won the Moliere Award for Best Play in 2016 and has had an international life of some reputation. It has been translated into English, by Christopher Hampton – his play, LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES (1985) being his best remembered work. From the Program notes from the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) the synopsis: Andre…

The Ensemble Theatre presents LIP SERVICE, by John Misto, at the Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli. 17 August – 30 September. Photo by Prudence Upton LIP SERVICE, is a new Australian play, that premiered in a separate production in London, earlier this year, with the title: MADAME RUBINSTEIN with the indomitable Miriam Margolyes, as Rubinstein and Frances Barber, as Elizabeth Arden. In Kirribilli, at the Ensemble we have Amanda Muggelton playing Madame Rubinstein, and it is a performance that I loved a lot. A performance of comic skill and emotional truth, when required, bringing to bear a technical bravura from an actor…