Latecomers and (de)construct may have been developed separately, but their connections are clear. Both pieces are concerned with ideas of the self and the ways in which we are perceived and constructed by those around us. Whilst the two pieces explore these ideas to different ends, Open Body has created a compelling partnership that leads audiences to question the true impact of their behaviour towards … Continue reading Voicing The Unsaid
We all know the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrols at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. Originated by the writer Amanda Brown in the novel of the same name, Legally Blonde was made famous by its 2001 film adaption, starring Reese Whiterspoon in the lead role. In 2007, the film was brought to the stage by Laurence O’Keefe, … Continue reading Whipped Into Shape
Over twenty years ago, when Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins originally opened Off-Broadway, the composer expected disapproval of its ‘volatile’ subject matter. The musical tells the stories of nine people who attempted – some successfully – to murder Presidents of the United States, and explores what motivated the assassins, using the conceit of a carnival shooting game. Today, it seems people are transfixed more than ever by … Continue reading ‘Assassins’ A Dream
‘Don’t you see,’ Jeremy tells the Apocalypse Bear, ‘it was about who we are now and about our childhoods at the same time.’ This concept of duality is at the heart of Lally Katz’s Apocalypse Bear Trilogy. A narrative that stretches across time and space, forcing audiences to consider matters both dark and mundane – from domestic comedy to sexual violence – Katz’s absurdist play … Continue reading Enjoying the Apocalypse
Homecoming, the Melbourne Uni Law Revue’s 2016 edition, saw the student devised sketch comedy back on the stage where it first started, at the Union House Theatre. Written, devised, and performed by the cast, Homecoming’s sketches didn’t really have anything to do with the idea of a homecoming, apart from the opening rap. I expected the 80s prom theme to be something that all the … Continue reading The Law Reviewed
Open Body’s Unknown|show|Unknown|location is a piece about bodies in space, performed between concrete pillars in the underground car park by actors dressed in loose grey clothing and black boots. If that sounds a little unnerving and out of the ordinary, it was. Refreshingly so. The entire performance was improvised, though structured through sections with rules governing the behaviour of the performers. Sometimes they could run … Continue reading Improvisation Over Content
It is uncomfortable to classify Spirituality Piece as a performance. In one sense it is nothing more than you and Kim Ho sitting down having a chat about spirituality and eating some bickies. In other ways it was a complicated morphing of visual arts, where Ho creates complicated and colourful mind map while you describe your spiritual experiences. After the very first line ‘what is … Continue reading Spirituality Piece
Four Letter Word’s production Triptych introduces three new works written and directed by students from or affiliated with the University of Melbourne. Cherry Bomb, The Mutineer, and Terrorism vary widely in tone and subject matter, ranging from the politics of student theatre, to colonialism, to terror and surveillance. They combine to present a refreshing and thought-provoking collection of theatre. James O’Donoghue’s Cherry Bomb, directed by … Continue reading Triple Threat
Urinetown is not your usual musical – we were promised this early on. The play takes place in a time where big business controls the one bodily function where when you need to go, you need to go. That’s right – paying for the right to pee. Although Urinetown is not the place you want to be, you definitely want to be in the Union … Continue reading A Daring Piece of Musical Theatre
The Melbourne University Chinese Theatre Group’s production of The Physicists, directed by Shan Huang and Bauhinia Lam, presents a satirical view on the dangers of scientific development. Relying on subtitles in theatre was a new experience for me, and yet the charisma and strength of the cast ensured an entertaining and involving production. On the whole, the production was entertaining, with strong performances and a … Continue reading E=MUCTG²
The Dialog 