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Merrily We Roll Along

Going off to the Hayes Theatre in the expectation of once more (I have seen at least three other productions in Sydney) engaging with Stephen Sondheim’s 1981 musical MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. I had a palpable sense of excitement. Stephen Sondheim is one of the Greats of contemporary theatre. I have rated him alongside Edward Albee, a writer and figure of the same generation – Albee born in 1928 and Sondheim in 1930. Albee passed away in 2016 at the age of 88 and Sondheim in March celebrated his 91st birthday. Two Great American geniuses spanning two centuries with a body…

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No Pay/No Way!

Dario Fo and his wife, Franca Rame, were a famous team of political clowns. Inspired by the traditions of the Italian Commedia dell’arte – of 16th century origins – comedy sketches that were both scripted and had improvisational freedoms, freedoms that could be pertinent to the political ‘auras’ of the local community they were playing in – using character ‘types’ that the populace recognised by particular masks – both half or full. Fo and Rame began their theatre work as political ‘sketch’ artists lambasting the political authorities in the Italian governmental and institutional hierarchy. They were invited to develop a…

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The Overcoat

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…

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Journey’s End

    Cross Pollinate Productions in association with Norton Crumlin and Associates, present, JOURNEY’S END, by R.C. Sheriff, at the ATYP Studio, Wharf 4, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, 15 – 22 October. Last year the Sydney Theatre and Music companies gave respect to the Centenary of the tragic events of Gallipoli Cove, during World War I, that has become the ANZAC tradition, with Commemorative performances. That terrible war began in August, 1914 and continued through to November, 1918. So, it is more than fitting that in 2016, we should be reminded that those commemorations of last year are just as…

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Stop Kiss

  photograph by Gez Xavier Mansfield UNLIKELY Productions presents STOP KISS by Diana Son at atyp Wharf 4, Hickson Rd. Walsh Bay. STOP KISS (1998), written by Diana Son is set in New York. The play is principally Callie’s story (Olivia Stambouliah) and we watch her negotiate her identity, and, ultimately, her commitment to her humanity. She is a New Yorker working as a News Traffic Reporter for a television company. She has a boyfriend, George (Aaron Tsindos). Sara (Gabrielle Scawthorn), has recently moved to New York from St Louis, after a seven year relationship, her one and only, with…

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