Adelle Givney🆕

Author badges: 🆕 Fresh Face (3 reviews) Adelle Givney is a passionate theatre enthusiast, reviewer, and writer based in Brisbane, Australia. With a keen eye for storytelling, performance, and production detail, Adelle brings a unique blend of insight and accessibility to her reviews. Her background spans both creative and professional spheres, allowing her to enjoy all aspects of performance from both the stage as a community actor and the audience. Whether reviewing community productions or professional touring shows, Adelle champions the arts with thoughtful critique, warmth, and genuine appreciation for the craft.

Centre Stage – A Variety Spectacular

12/01/2026 Adelle Givney🆕

Centre Stage: A Variety Spectacular Rating

★★★★★

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Sunnybank Theatre was the perfect venue for the world premiere of Centre Stage – A Variety Spectacular. Produced and directed by the multi-talented William “The Juggler” Piper, the show was expertly emceed by William himself, who not only hosted but also juggled, performed magic, and had the audience laughing and participating throughout. One of the funniest moments was a balloon routine featuring a delightful five-year-old volunteer. William’s strong stage presence and obvious passion for providing up-and-coming performers with opportunities to showcase their talents set the tone for the show.

Young hip-hopper Tyrese Jok opened the show with a high-energy routine, earning cheers and applause from the appreciative audience. Dancer Macca Cloke and singer Eliza Cullerton brought Broadway to Sunnybank with sequins, soaring high notes, and undeniable flair. Former Australian representatives at the Acrobatic World Championships, Lisa Gardiner and Mia Krone, defied gravity with two spectacular acrobatic routines that had the audience holding its breath more than once.

William conceived the idea for Centre Stage in 2025, and this inaugural performance set a high standard for future productions. By the final curtain, Centre Stage had done exactly what its name promises — giving performers a moment in the spotlight and audiences an afternoon to remember.

To book tickets to Centre Stage: A Variety Spectacular, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1463163.

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Lassú: Past, Future, and Burlesque Collide

21/09/2025 Adelle Givney🆕

Lassu Cosmic Cabaret Rating

★★★★★

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Produced by seventh-generation circus performer Merrik Ahston and creatively directed by Mitchell Woodcock, Lassú is a fusion of tradition and innovation. Their combined experience is evident in a seamless blend of circus, dance, and burlesque, delivering a cabaret that feels both fresh and timeless.

Billed as a Cosmic Cabaret, the show transports audiences into the glittering confines of the saloon with space cowboys, alien drifters, and the legendary Rodeo Sisters. Beneath the big top, transformed with bars, banquettes, private tables, and rings of chairs encircling the stage, the atmosphere captivates the audience before the first act even begins.

That anticipation was instantly rewarded when a poised aerialist strode onto the stage in boots and a high bun. To the audience’s amazement, she clipped herself onto the corde lisse (smooth rope) by her hair and soared, spinning and twisting with both grace and daring. The crowd erupted with cheers and whistles, fueling her performance even further. She later returned for a more traditional aerial routine, showcasing extraordinary artistry. For me, she was the standout performer in a show already brimming with remarkable talent.

From there, the show surged from thrill to thrill. A knife thrower had the audience holding its collective breath, his blades thudding into the board beside his assistant with precision—made all the more nerve-wracking once he donned a blindfold and relied only on her shouted commands: “Left! Right! Up! Down! THROW!” Gasps and nervous laughter rippled with each loud thunk.

A slack rope walker defied balance and logic by juggling atop a ladder and later a unicycle; a hypnotic fire act illuminated the stage with fiery beauty; feats of strength impressed with sheer power; and an unexpected clown act (IYKYK) had the audience laughing in surprise. Bringing it all together was the glamour of accomplished burlesque dancers and the soaring vocals of a powerhouse singer, ensuring the energy never faltered.

Lassú is not just a show—it’s a feast for the senses, a wild ride through the cosmic saloon where tradition, daring, and decadence collide to deliver an unforgettable night of entertainment.

To book tickets to Lassu Cosmic Cabaret, please visit https://www.lassutheshow.com.au/.

Photographer: Brooke Elizabeth Photography

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Takacs Quartet with Angie Milliken

25/08/2025 Adelle Givney🆕

Takács Quartet & Angie Rating

★★★★★

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The Concert Hall at QPAC is a superb venue for performances such as the Takács Quartet, with the majestic Klais Grand Organ with its 6,500 pipes creating a striking visual backdrop. Yet the quartet was never overshadowed by the gleaming pipes or warm wood tones; instead, all eyes and ears were firmly fixed on the stage.

Musica Viva marked its 80th birthday in consummate style, celebrating the collaboration between these distinguished musicians, composer Cathy Milliken, and her sister, AFI Award–winning actor Angie Milliken.

Formed in 1975 at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, the Takács Quartet now features Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes on violin, Richard O’Neill on viola, and founding member András Fejér on cello. Associate Artists at London’s Wigmore Hall, they are currently touring Europe, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Florence, Bologna, and Rome. To hear them here in Brisbane was a rare privilege.

The evening opened with Haydn’s String Quartet in G minor, Op. 74 No. 3 ‘The Rider’ (1793). Across its four contrasting movements — from briskly energetic to gently lyrical — each musician’s artistry shone.

Musica Viva’s commission, Sonnet of an Emigrant by Cathy Milliken, set eight of Bertolt Brecht’s poems written during his exile from Germany in WWII. The work captured Brecht’s shifting emotions of shock, longing, urgency, reflection, and cautious optimism, weaving his words seamlessly with the quartet’s music.

Narrator Angie Milliken delivered Brecht’s sonnets in both English and German, her voice rising and falling in perfect counterpoint to the strings. Naming herself the “fifth instrument,” she embraced the intimacy and challenge of matching spoken word to musical intent.

The audience sat in rapt silence, spellbound by the performance. The marriage of poetry and music was so vivid that Brecht’s words felt almost tangible, as though the audience could both hear and see them.

After interval came Beethoven’s String Quartet in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 ‘Razumovsky’ (1808). Its movements ranged from stately and graceful to the exuberant, whirlwind finale (Allegro molto), played with astonishing verve.

Animated and passionate throughout, the Takács Quartet radiated their own delight in the music, and the audience shared in their exhilaration. For seasoned concertgoers and newcomers alike, this was a wonderful evening of world-class music-making. Brava!

To book tickets to Takács Quartet & Angie, please visit https://www.musicaviva.com.au/concert-season/2025/takacs-quartet-with-angie-milliken/.

Photographer: Cameron Jamieson

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Parade: The Musical

22/07/202522/07/2025 Adelle Givney🆕

Parade: The Musical Rating

★★★★★

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The Tony Award-winning Parade: The Musical returns to Brisbane at the Ron Hurley Theatre in Seven Hills, recounting the true and tragic story of Leo Frank (Michael Lewis), a Jewish factory manager in Atlanta, Georgia, who was wrongfully accused and convicted of the murder of 13-year-old factory employee Mary Phagan (Mabel Tamone).

The case—and its aftermath—exposed deep-rooted antisemitism, stark regional divisions, and widespread injustice in early 20th-century America. This pivotal moment in U.S. history not only intensified the rift between North and South but also helped fuel the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan.

Directed by Johnny Peek, this Bump In Productions staging features a cast that seamlessly blends professional and community talent.

Real-life couple Michael and Belinda Lewis lead the production as Leo and Lucille Frank, lending a powerful intimacy to their performances, particularly in the show’s later scenes. Michael gives a deeply sincere portrayal of Leo, the Brooklyn-educated businessman who moved to Georgia after marrying Lucille and took over management of her uncle’s factory. His involvement in the local Jewish community becomes a focal point in the courtroom scene, and his emotional depth in the final act—after conviction and while awaiting sentencing—is both compelling and heart-wrenching.

Belinda Lewis delivers a sublime performance as Lucille. Her disbelief and frustration over the injustice done to her husband drives her to take control (“Do It Alone”) and persuade the Governor to re-open the case (“This Is Not Over Yet”). When Leo is moved to a prison farm, she visits him with a picnic—this tender scene was, for me, the highlight of the show. Their connection during “All the Wasted Time” was palpable, holding the audience in rapt silence.

Jay Monck gives a commanding performance as the ambitious District Attorney Hugh Dorsey, whose political ambitions hinge on a conviction—regardless of the truth.

Mabel Tamone is exceptional as Mary Phagan, imbuing the role with a childlike innocence and warmth. She is perfectly matched by Casey Martin as Frankie Epps (“The Picture Show”), a rising triple-threat performer. Both Tamone and Martin are talents to watch.

The ensemble is strong across the board, with standout moments in group numbers like “There Is a Fountain” and “It Don’t Make Sense.” Matthew McKenzie is magnetic as Jim Conley, especially during the gripping chain gang number, “Feel the Rain Fall.”

Musical Director Michael Keen brings Jason Robert Brown’s score vividly to life with the support of an accomplished live orchestra positioned offstage. Maureen Bowra’s choreography plays to the cast’s strengths, with intricate staging that immerses the audience in key moments.

Overall, Parade is an extraordinary and moving production—not to be missed.

Parade: The Musical runs through 3 August at the Ron Hurley Theatre, 28 Tallowwood St, Seven Hills QLD 4170.

To book tickets to Parade: The Musical, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1360687.

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