Confronting dive into the difficulties of normal life
"This was a production with a rich seam of interest that ran from beginning to end." ARNE SJOSTEDT reviews August: Osage County, playing at the ACT Hub in Kingston until September 15.
Theatre
"There’s a magic in Away that always comes through," writes theatre critic ALANNA MACLEAN of the new Rep production.
"There are many layers to this play for anyone who loves language... another recurrent theme is how you become a different character when you're speaking your own mother tongue." Reviewer HELEN MUSA has a kind word for the play English.
Tracy Letts’ Tony and Pulitzer-winning play August: Osage County is one of the great theatrical warhorses of our time, says arts editor HELEN MUSA.
Theatre
The many parts to Shakespeare’s violent streak
One man in his time plays many parts, The Bard once said, but one role Bell Shakespeare director Peter Evans won’t play is that of an actor, reports arts editor HELEN MUSA.
Theatre
Massie’s magical performance as Hedy Lamarr
"Heather Massie commands the stage with her personalised story of gifted Hedy Lamarr, who achieved fame as both a glamorous actress and inventor," says reviewer LEN POWER.
Theatre
Director Tasnim brings winning play to town
In a busy week of theatre openings For Canberra next week, it would have been easy to have missed the announcement that the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production play English, will open at The Playhouse on September 5, reports HELEN MUSA.
Arts editor HELEN MUSA previews Canberra Rep's upcoming production of Michael Gow’s famous play Away.
"It’s a performance on a knife-edge, relying throughout on audience responses. Jarrad West never falters, bringing energy as well as a touching sensitivity to the role." LEN POWER reviews Every Brilliant Thing.
New York theatre-maker Heather Massie is coming to town with her one-woman tribute Hedy! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, who was, says HELEN MUSA, one of Hollywood’s great enigmas.
“The sole purpose of Cirque Bon Bon is to entertain. There's no deep meaning, there's no story, it's just beautiful people doing beautiful things," Cirque Bon Bon co-creator Ash Jacks tells HELEN MUSA.
The next play at ACT Hub, Every Brilliant Thing, by British playwright Duncan Macmillan, was first staged at the National Theatre, London in 2015, reports HELEN MUSA.
Emmanuel Mattana's play Trophy Boys, a funny-serious satirical comedy based around the perils of school debating, is one of those productions where the girls play the boys – very privileged boys from the posh fictional St Imperium College.
ARNE SJOSTEDT reviews Canberra Rep's production of Lord of the Flies.
"The production of Mary Stuart provides an opportunity to experience something of the very essence of power play and how it makes for exciting and challenging theatre," says reviewer JOE WOODWARD.
Some Like it Marilyn is Canberra actor-producer Lexi Sekuless’ stage show about Marilyn Monroe's life on the screen, and if the title sounds familiar, it is, writes arts editor HELEN MUSA.
"44 Sex Acts in One Week depicts the power of sex to lift up humankind or bring it to its knees," writes reviewer SAMARA PURNELL.
The Girl Who Glows is an intriguing show for the under 10s about a young girl who literally shines in the dark as she tries to prevent darkness from taking over.
In the sure hands of director Jordan Best and a top six-woman cast Joanna Murray-Smith’s Bombshells has a terrific impact, writes reviewer ALANNA MACLEAN.
