Saturday, 8 February 2025

Tender review

Presented by an all-queer cast, Cirque X's Tender looks at what it means to be tender through circus, acrobatics, and musical and dance numbers. The word itself conjures up different definitions and ideas, and in this production, the acts offer unique perspectives and explorations of what tender can be via various lenses such as relationships, sex, sexuality and desire.

The opening teaser by J Twist and Chris Barnett is hands down one of the most seductive and tantalising experiences I've ever had in the performing arts. The pair appear either side of a cube structure and stare defiantly out to the audience. They are "outside the box" and challenging us to join them on this adventure of discovery. They exude sexuality and sensuality as they gradually begin to remove their clothes which climaxes with a surprising reveal that sets the tone for the rest of the evening.

Thursday, 6 February 2025

Labyrinth review

For their latest offering, Forest Collective takes its audience into the labyrinthian myth of Theseus and Ariadne and their battle with the Minotaur, Ariadne’s half-brother. Set in the large and winding spaces within Abbotsford Convent, this opera / physical theatre performance of Labyrinth leads us into the maze alongside Theseus as he edges his way to the confrontation with the beast that has the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man.

Artistic Director of Forest Collective Evan J. Lawson serves as composer, music director and sound designer for this production and the touches he has put to these define and embolden the vision of this show. Alongside librettist Daniel Szesiong Todd, this is a captivating story that is told at a pace that allows you to be drawn deeper and deeper into this world.

Saturday, 1 February 2025

Liza’s Good Judy review

Legendary mother-and-daughter duo Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli reunite for an evening of storytelling and musical delights. Performed by Manda Rozen-Flannery as both celebrities, cabaret show Liza’s Good Judy explores the challenges and hardships experienced by them and the strong bond that existed between them.
 
Aesthetically, Rozen-Flannery captures Minnelli with her hair and outfits but further differentiation is needed during her scenes as Garland. The dialogue generally confirms who is speaking, but having distinction in mannerisms or physical appearance for each would benefit the show immensely.

Thursday, 30 January 2025

37 review


When the Aboriginal Marngrook cousins join the (all-white) local football team, it means a new hope of finally nabbing the premiership cup that has eluded the club for years. But as they inch closer and closer to victory, tensions begin to simmer. Written by Nathan Maynard, 37 explores the world of Aussie Rules and "Aussie rules" of identity, community, and racism within a local footy club of Cutting Cove Currawongs.

Maynard's story might take place at a local level but by setting it amid Adam Goodes' challenging years as a player for the Sydney Swans, he presents a global perspective to this small-town event. The Number 37 guernsey wearer faced a bombardment of constant booing from AFL audiences, being called an ape by a 13-year-old Collingwood fan and accused of inciting violence for performing an Indigenous war dance at a match where he mimed throwing a boomerang (and not a spear as was reported), towards the Carlton cheer squad.

Friday, 24 January 2025

Dead To Me: A Comedy Ghost Tour review

In Dead To Me: A Comedy Ghost Tour, comedian Matt Bell not only talks us through the second most terrifying experience of his existence but he literally takes us there. An encounter with a guy he matched on Hinge with provides some brilliant material that leaves him wondering if this is the most unhinged person to come into his life.
 
We meet Bell at the Melbourne Town Hall and we are presented with a pair of headphones in which Bell speaks to us with. A little bit of housekeeping and we are off to our first location from this infamous date. We are led to restaurants, bars, cafes and entertainment venues (it was a long night) and get filled in on all the sordid details.

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

SPARK review

Sequels suck. Or so people say. The main criticism being they are a rehash of what came before it with no real exploration of fresh ideas or character development. In 2023, Ryan Henry presented his work CULT, an examination of acceptance through a queer lens of fitness and achieving the ultimate body. Fast forward to 2025, and Henry returns with the sequel to CULT: SPARK. While it definitely doesn't suck, there is a lack of ... spark in this production that looks at love, self-acceptance and self-awareness through a technologically centred queer lens.



In SPARK, Henry plays Simon a 30-year-old gay man who is still single! After an awkward date in which he has turned a gay man straight, Simon is visited by a digital assistant called Iris (spell it backwards), who is determined to help him uncover his authentic true self and what exactly he is seeking. With his phone battery charge indicative of the looming deadline, Simon experiences various dates and transformations to try and find the right guy.



Sunday, 19 January 2025

YOU CAN DO IT! (Follow Your Dreams) review

Presented by Easy Killer Productions, YOU CAN DO IT! (Follow Your Dreams) is the motivation we all need to go out and achieve big things, including suicide. This extremely dark comedy is not for the faint-hearted, that begins with two very disappointed and frustrated parents whose loser son can't even successfully kill himself.



Written by Simon Patrick Berman, YOU CAN DO IT! has dialled the absurdism to the max. This satirical look at families and perceptions of success kicks off with opening credits introducing us to the family to a warped Brady Bunch theme. We are definitely not about to watch something consisting of three very lovely girls.



Thursday, 16 January 2025

Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen review

A 36 year old comedian walks onto a stage and tells us he's about to kill his boyfriend. A dark comedy centered on vulnerability, love and truth, Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen is a flawless piece of theatre that finds the perfect balance between generating plenty of laughs and plenty of heart. 

Marcelo Dos Santos has written an engrossing script full of razor-sharp humour and candid observations on contemporary living, particularly as a gay man. The story moves at a swift pace, but it simultaneously allows time to have us care for The Comedian and to reflect on our own similar stories and experiences, regardless of what our gender or sexuality may be.

Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Glory Down The Line review

At times, Tully Jones' Glory Down The Line plays like an M. Night Shyamalan script, where ordinary people get caught in extraordinary situations. Here, two strangers wait in a remote town for a bus to take them on a hike. Where's the tour group? Why are they the only ones there? Who keeps calling them on a seemingly broken payphone? Naturally there's additional surprises to be revealed along the way but that would be falling into spoiler territory.

Julia Gasparini and Henry Stephensen deliver admirable performances as Simone and Brayden. There are instances where the direction could have pushed the actors to go further in eliciting appropriate responses to the story. As the plot unfolded, Simone and Brayden's acceptance of what is happening without showing concern or worry came across as inauthentic. Gasparini and Stephensen share good chemistry and play off each other well, particularly in the opening moments of the narrative.