Hamlet: The Madness of Isolation
Times may change, but the surreal voyeurism that Hamlet offers remains a constant source of entertainment for generations. Even then, this production stands out in its rawness, stripping Hamlet down – figuratively and literally – to its dirty, bloody, bones. Front row audience beware, blood splatter imminent. Continue reading Hamlet: The Madness of Isolation
Legally Blonde: Couldn’t get (So) Much Better
Omigod, you guys. Legally Blonde, the blockbuster musical adaptation of the 2001 film, has been a steady choice for uni and college productions across the last few years. Most recent addition to the party is the University of Melbourne Music Theatre Association (UMMTA), with a strong rendition of the classic that proves the adage; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Performing in Union House’s … Continue reading Legally Blonde: Couldn’t get (So) Much Better
Inkling: A Dark, Uneasy and Innovative Debut
Inkling, directed by Ann-Marie Biagioni and Bronya Doyle, is Floor Work’s debut production, and what an exciting debut indeed! The piece is free of dialogue, relying predominantly on the cast’s physical work and the use of live music as story-telling devices. Inspired by Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight, the work delves into the concept of gaslighting via a cast of characters. Each character is defined by a … Continue reading Inkling: A Dark, Uneasy and Innovative Debut
Our Father: Portrait of a Family in Crisis
Playing as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival, Our Father is a considerably dour effort that takes the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse and turns it into a very human drama. Structured mostly as a series of police interviews of the family of an accused man, there is a simplicity to the narrative that brings the characters and their experiences to the forefront. The mother, in a desperate turn by Sandy Morrison, is a well-meaning denial-case; the daughter, played with aloofness by the writer, Lucy Holz, is too detached to let herself see the repercussions of her father’s actions; and the son, in a melodramatic performance by Will Hall, is angst-ridden and standoffish in his it-should-have-been-me complex. The family is divided and in crisis, brought together only by the police officer, played with warmth by Benji Groenewgan. Continue reading Our Father: Portrait of a Family in Crisis
Heathers: Bullets, Bombs and Beautiful Harmonies
Heathers: The Musical, based on the 1988 film of the same name, is not your typical high school musical. It is set at an educational institution, the fictional Westerburg High, and it does feature all your usual stereotypes; jocks, nerds, the popular girls and try-hard teachers. Murder, suicide, bombs and bullets however? Let’s just say it’s not exactly Grease or Hairspray… Continue reading Heathers: Bullets, Bombs and Beautiful Harmonies
Our Father: An interview with the writer
On September 26 – 28 Our Father, the award winning family drama will be presented in collaboration with Union House Theatre as part of the 2019 Melbourne Fringe Festival. In light of the recent Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse, Our Father dives into the psychology of a family turned upside down. From emerging writer Lucy Holz and director Meg Taranto, this show rejects the … Continue reading Our Father: An interview with the writer
Helmut’s Helmet: Humour in the Himalayas
Helmut’s Helmet, written by Finbar Todd, directed by Sophie Newnhan and presented by Trinity College, is a brand new and extremely funny Australian play. Set largely in the shadows of the Himalayas, the show revolves around Robbie (Niamh Todd) as she and her best friend Sue (Annie McGinley) jet off to Nepal to join a charity, aiming to do some good. Almost immediately their motives … Continue reading Helmut’s Helmet: Humour in the Himalayas
Be More Chill: A Musical That I’d Kinda Be Into
Be More Chill opened on Broadway in March this year, closing in August after just 177 performances. Fresh off Broadway, St Hilda’s College, under the direction of Bebe Berryman and Ryan McAllery, have brought the show to the Union House Theatre for Melbourne audiences to enjoy. Evoking a modernised Little Shop of Horrors, Be More Chill tells the tale of Jeremy Heere, a quintessentially unpopular … Continue reading Be More Chill: A Musical That I’d Kinda Be Into
Grease: It’s Got the Grease, but Lacks the Lightning
Under the direction of Emily Bolton, University College Theatre Company take us back to 1959 at Rydell High with their production of Grease. Grease is a challenging text to deal with; its 50s-tinged song and dance numbers require a great deal of energy, and its iconic characters must be played with utmost commitment. Furthermore, any slipups will be noticed, as the original production and film … Continue reading Grease: It’s Got the Grease, but Lacks the Lightning
Let Men Tremble: A bloody critique of patriarchy and tradition
LET MEN TREMBLE begins with an eerie image: seven women repeating a chain of sexual dance moves as three men in suits scrutinise them and take notes on clipboards. As the audience walks in to this scene, we are immediately put in a position of discomfort. Thoroughly disturbing, this scene is one of the play’s greatest strengths. This image of surveillance and control of women … Continue reading Let Men Tremble: A bloody critique of patriarchy and tradition
The Dialog 