UMMTA ticks a lot of boxes with its take on the hilarious, absurd and incredibly sexist A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This is a traditional take on a classic farce that first opened on Broadway in 1962. Set in Ancient Rome, it follows the exploits of a slave called Pseudolus as he attempts to win his freedom from his young … Continue reading Fantastic but Problematic

It’s a brave enterprise to stage a production of Shakespeare’s most notoriously misogynistic play to draw attention to a devastatingly relevant issue in Australian culture: the cycles of family violence and abuse. The dangers are obvious. Make one wrong move artistically, and you risk reinforcing the very thing you’re condemning. MUSC’s production of The Taming of the Shrew walks atop this razor’s edge, and the … Continue reading The Shrew We Need

A ruined wedding, a love triangle, psychotherapy, homosexuality, intergenerational conflict and inhumane bureaucracy – all set against growing activism for democracy in Hong Kong. These are just some of the areas covered in this expansive new musical. Nanjing Beijing is the brainchild of Bang Xiao, who wrote the dialogue and composed its music, and is deftly directed by Helena Lu. What an astonishing feat for … Continue reading Love & Tradition

St Hilda’s production of The Wedding Singer is a boisterous and enthusiastic show that doesn’t take itself too seriously. An easy eighties rom-com, this is a somewhat predictable musical that closely follows genre conventions, but is no less satisfying for it. Mackenzie Downie was charming as Julia, giving an endearing quality to the female lead’s girl-next-door simplicity. She conveyed Julia’s romantic indecision both convincingly and … Continue reading Polyester Rainbow

When faced with two truths, each as convincing as the other, yet entirely incompatible, fear is not an unreasonable reaction. The cultivation of doubt is a tool of Veronica’s Room, coupled with time-honoured and effective horror tropes: sudden darkness, autonomous reflections, careful soundscape. MUCTG has created a brilliant show. The program is beautifully printed and at twenty-two pages is longer than some novellas. However it … Continue reading The Horror of Doubt

MUSC’s Athens Reborn is an intrepid production that takes on Shakespearean verse to tell the story of Imogen, a common servant girl who leads the women of Athens to rise against Spartan tyrants. Feminism is neatly woven into the historic language and setting, and the well-employed humour prevents the play from feeling didactic. This show is full of strong and impressive women in the script, … Continue reading A Shakespearean Herstory

Adventures in the Fame school are nothing short of excitement and drama. Talented performers take us on the journey through adolescence, highlighting that anyone can achieve what they want with just a little “Hard Work”. International House staged a musical that brought laughs and sheer enjoyment to their audience. All characters were performed with a good understanding of their intentions and aspirations. A special mention … Continue reading Hard Work Pays Off

Funny. Oddly charming. Ayu Maylinda is a gem of sass. Sally Kingsford is the strongest actor, injecting realism and sincerity into the bizarre world of the show. She makes a good foil for the larger than life hosts. I did want to see more of Rudi – it seems Rubi was fleshed out as a character at the cost of her partner. Needed stronger direction. … Continue reading Mudfest: Rudi & Rubi

Great soundtrack with many high school feels. There may have been too many costume changes, but listening to Teenage Dirtbag made everything okay. Interactions between Lo and Hum were compelling, but the narration of the three women was impeccable. April Garreffa, Emma Caldwell and Esther Myles mixed humour and emotional rawness with a skill that brought the show to life. The comedy throughout helped make … Continue reading Mudfest: Sparkle Tits and Glitter Nips

The Shakespearean language is well handled by the actors, but even more impressively by the writer. Kim Ho succeeds in his mammoth quest to reuse and reshape the language of the Bard. Comedy and villainy are well balanced from an antagonistic politician to a sensitive nobleman. You’ll be angry, and then you’ll laugh. And then you’ll be sort of angry at the dude you laughed … Continue reading Mudfest: Athens Reborn