'Wagner Roos' Welcome 'Ring Nuts' to Melbourne

It's big, it's showy, it's long and it's here.

In the Northern Hemisphere they’re called “Ring Nuts”, but the Australian cohort have been dubbed “Wagner Roos”. Whatever you call them, they are unique breed, travelling whenever and wherever Wagner’s Ring Cycle is being performed. “Wagner Roos” are in heaven as The Ring comes to Melbourne, courtesy of Opera Australia, The City of Melbourne and patron Maureen Wheeler. But what is all the fuss about? And are these Wagnerian enthusiasts, with apparently more money than sense, more than a little loopy? Continue reading

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Behind the Scenes at MTC

Review: Singin' in the Rain

Melbourne has a healthy appetite for old time musicals. In a jammed packed State Theatre punters were all after the same thing - a night of quality entertainment and, for some, a chance to reminisce. Singin’ in the Rain tickets sales have been so good an extra show is scheduled.

In a populist move, impressive dance choreography borrows heavily from the film. And why not?  Some moves are downright iconic: Rohan Browne (Don Lockwood) splashes in puddles, there’s the couch walkover in Good Morning, and comic antics in Make Em Laugh.

Evidently not all patrons were familiar with the film. In Make ‘Em Laugh Matt Lee (Cosmo Brown) stops short of a wall climbing somersault, to test the stability of the wall instead. Less than half the audience got the joke. Continue reading

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Review: Miss Ophelia

Photo: Dutch Performing Arts

If I told you a finger-puppet show about a quiet old lady, presented on a set made of cardboard shoeboxes and everyday items was a hit with primary school children, I doubt you’d believe me. 

But here we have Miss Ophelia, an exquisite gift from The Netherlands.

How on earth can basic cardboard cut-outs lined with black texta translate to the stage, particularly for an audience of high-tech children? Continue reading here

Kids Love Theatre? Melbourne has it ALL this school holidays.

Circus Oz is at Birrarung Marr

Theatre lovers are in for a treat this school holidays.

An amazing array of opportunities are on offer in this town for people of all ages, including courses, tours, activities and performances.

If you are, or know, a budding actor, musician, dancer, circus performer or puppeteer, there is something on offer for you. ON the other hand, if you love going to shows, there's a smorgasbord of choice for all tastes.

Read the full article here.



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Review: Blak (Bangarra Dance Theatre)

Bangarra’s latest offering emerges out of consultation with tradition communities in the Northern Territory in February this year. ‘Blak’ consists of three portraits titled ‘Scar’, ‘Yearning’ and ‘Keepers’.

In ‘Scar’ we are observers as a gang of young boys prepare for the physical and mental challenges in their journey to manhood.  In ‘Yearning’ the female domain traverses birth, loss, language, powerlessness and self-identity. The final portrait engages all fourteen dancers in homage to the legacy of traditional culture and knowledge.

As expected the collaboration on stage is impressive, and the costuming elegant and sensuous. My personal highlight came late with the erotic and mesmerizing coupling of dancers in ‘Keepers’.

But the majority of subject matter is far from pretty. Dark themes pervade this production, including fighting, fear, suicide, and domestic violence. Important themes to be sure, and yet I craved a dose of hope within the mix.  Continue reading

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Review: The Trip (Spiegeltent)

You’ve got to wonder. If this is what they get up to at work, what happens when these artists let-their-hair-down!

The Trip is a seductively raunchy affair leaning heavily on in-your-face irreverence. For just over an hour acrobatics, contortionists, drag queens, comic songsters and audience fraternise in an expertly paced performance punctuated by gasps, groans, squeals and laughs.

The languidly liquid limbs of boylesque artist and contortionist David Pereira manipulate themselves in and out of some tight spots, and elastic-girl Marjorie Nantal thrills with antics on a shopping trolley, and later twisting above ground in hung fabric. Stiletto heels are no obstacle for hoop-girl Martine Howard, who makes her contribution without fanfare. Continue reading on Stage Whispers

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