This review contains spoilers of the show, so I’m going to get the synopsis/value judgement bits out of the way first. Urinetown is set in a dystopian world ravaged by global drought. Due to the water scarcity, the government has outlawed personal toilets, and citizens must pay for public facilities. These bathrooms are controlled by – cue groans – Urine Good Company, a corrupt corporation … Continue reading Putting the Pee in Privilege
ICAC’s undertaking of Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece Company is one that leaves you with a song in your head long after you’ve left the theatre. Taking on the challenge of Sondheim is an impressive gamble in and of itself, and Company is not only a musically complex show, but a confounding and almost plotless series of vignettes concerning love and married life in New York City. At the centre of … Continue reading Risk and Reward
There were a few things running through my mind when I settled down to watch Cabaret on its third and final night of performance, in what appeared to be a full house at the Union Theatre. The Emcee (Jack Wright) jumped straight into a rendition of “Willkommen”: Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome! Im Cabaret, au Cabaret, to Cabaret. The first of these was the question: what makes … Continue reading Cabaret
In her directorial debut for Union House Theatre, Petra Kalive has guided Echo’s strong cast to create a devised work that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The performance opens with a brief retelling of the Greek myth of Echo and Narcissus before moving on to a series of self-contained scenes examining narcissism in contemporary culture. From the first scene the actors establish that high energy … Continue reading Echo: Review
Thoroughly Modern Millie takes us on a journey through the Roaring Twenties – a decade characterised by its cultural edge and economic prosperity. From the small town of Kansas, Millie Dillmount sets off on an adventure to find herself a job and marry her rich employer. Although an easy plan in theory, Millie struggles with choosing between wealth and love. Overall UMMTA’s revitalisation of the … Continue reading Thoroughly Modern Millie
With UHT’s production of Echo opening next week, Chloe Dallas spoke to director Petra Kalive to discuss the show. The play is inspired by the Greek myth of Echo and Narcissus. Could you explain the story a little? Narcissus was born a gorgeous child. His mother was told that he would grow up to live a long and healthy life as long as he never … Continue reading Echo: Interview with Petra Kalive
In the lead-up to UHT’s Echo, Jeanette Tong sat down with cast member Sara Bolch to discuss her involvement in the production and gain some insight into the show. What is Echo about, and why is it relevant? The first 10 minutes is based on Ted Hughes’ adaptation of ‘Echo and Narcissus’ – the poetry is beautiful – and a dramatised version, which had some … Continue reading Echo: Interview with Sara Bolch
Though problems with pace and writing hold it back, MUSLSA’s 2015 charity play Power Trip is fun, light-hearted entertainment for a good cause. Election candidates Sampath Gallage (Jay Jeeva) and Mukesh Tennakoon (Sid Nair) despise each other, and both men will stop at nothing to win the top job on their local council. Our introduction to the campaign comes via Shan (Nuwan Ranasinghe) and Jan … Continue reading Power Trip
Ubermensch’s production of Michael John LaChiusa’s The Wild Party, directed and choreographed by Emmalee Meisels, fell disappointingly short of being wild, or indeed, a party. The musical follows the trajectory of a party thrown by Queenie and Burrs in their New York apartment for their fellow starlets which quickly descends into a night of debauchery. We learn more about the characters as their personal backstories … Continue reading The Wild Party
The Dialog 