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A Promenade of Shorts – The Red Phoenix Theatre Company

17/01/2026 Rob McKinnon🌟🎭

A Promenade of Shorts Rating

★★★★★

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The concept of A Promenade of Shorts was born out of COVID restrictions in April 2020 when crowd sizes had to be limited to a small number. Due to the previous success of the concept, in 2026 the Red Phoenix Theatre Company presents season 3 of A Promenade of Shorts now at the Goodwood Theatre whereby 29 actors perform in 9 plays each of 10 minutes. They are performed in different areas of the theatre with great success. The plays are expertly executed over 3 sessions with 2 breaks and provide a highly entertaining experience.

Over the course of the evening, Tour Guides (Anne Doherty, Kate Prescott and Olivia Jan Parker) lead 3 groups of audience members through the distinct performance spaces where 3 plays are performed at each space.

In the Main Theatre the following are performed:

1. In Farce (written by Steven Bucko, directed by Norm Caddick)

Cast:
Front Desk Staff Jo Coventry
Man Matt Chapman
Husband Adam Tuominen
Wife Anita Zamberlan Canala
Plot Device Krystal Cave

2. Chilled Wine (written by Dorothy Lambert, directed by Alicia Zorkovic)

Cast:
Charlotte Jessica Corrie
Louise Laura Tregloan
Gemma Monika Lapka

3. Go to the Light (written by Laurie Allen, directed by Alicia Zorkovic)

Cast:
Roxie Peta Shannon
Sophie Cheryl Douglas
Dad Malcolm Walton
Will Tom Tassone

In The Bar the following are performed:

4. Bottle for a Special Occasion (written by William Kovacsik, directed by Hayley Horton)

Cast:
Martin Stuart Perce
Judith Lyn Wilson

5. On Queue (written by Morey Norkin, directed by Hayley Horton)

Cast:
Man 1 Jack Robins
Man 2 Jethro Pidd

6. Choices (written by James McLindon, directed by Hayley Horton)

Cast:
Debt Counselor Rebecca Kemp
Prospective Client Laura Lines

In The Studio the following are performed:

7. Road Trip (written by Jan Probst, directed by Libby Drake)

Cast:
Allen Lindsay Dunn
Mary Joanne St Clair
Aunt Pat Katie Packer
Uncle Joe John Rosen
Jack Jai Pearce
Michael Charlie Butler

8. When I Fall in Love it Will Be … (written by Susan Middaugh, directed by Libby Drake)

Cast:
Florence Campbell Lisa Lanzi
Ed Ferris Adrian Barnes

9. Mrs Thrale Lays On … Tea! (written by Rob Taylor, directed by Libby Drake)

Cast:
Mrs Thrale Sharon Malujlo
Polly Zoe Battersby
Dr Johnson Michael Eustice

Over the 9 plays the audience learns the ordinances in the town of Farce, not to trust a man working his way through the alphabet, how many Facebook likes you could get on your death bed, what’s the best wines for a cheating husband, how 2 men can make a queue, how to repay your student loan, how to plan a family road trip, how to cope with spouses who have dementia in residential care and what Mrs Thrale and Dr Johnson do after tea – very naughty!

The plays are often funny, sometimes hilariously, but there is also a mixture of sadness, and all are expertly acted. Each performance space presents its own demands which are adeptly and seamlessly resolved by the company’s crew members. Each audience member will have their favourite play of the evening and is also required to vote for it which is a difficult task due to the high-quality of all of them.

The Red Phoenix Theatre Company is to be congratulated for providing a magnificent evening of entertainment with season 3 of A Promenade of Shorts, with something for all audience members, it is in every respect a triumph deserving full houses.

Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
Rating; 5/5

A Promenade of Shorts remaining sessions are:
January 17, 21, 22, 23 & 24 @ 7.30pm. Sunday January 18 @ 2.00pm

Venue: Goodwood Theatre
166 Goodwood Road, Goodwood SA 5034

Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1419827

To book tickets to A Promenade of Shorts, please visit https://www.redphoenixtheatre.com/nextplay/.

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Adrift in New York

15/11/2025 Rob McKinnon🌟🎭

Adrift in New York Rating

★★★★★

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The Rep presents a masterfully executed traditional melodrama with Adrift In New York that requires the usual audience participation and is a thoroughly entertaining night at the Arts Theatre.

This style of melodrama emerged in France in the early nineteenth century and rapidly spread throughout the world becoming the favourite form of theatrical performances for the following century. A great number of plays were produced in this genre containing the staples of a love interest, moral conflicts, exaggerated acting in a fast-paced plot with music and happy conclusions. The audience is required to aah and ooh or boo and cheer and sing to the familiar songs if they want.

This story is set in the 1890’s and begins in the Weston family’s farmhouse where Aunt Sarah Weston (Jude Hines) and Martha Weston (Abigail Papps) are discussing the arrival of a letter for Nellie Weston (TJ Baker) from the villain Francis “Desperate” Desmond (Dylan Haar). Silas Weston (Russel Ford), Martha and Nellie’s father, announces that the wealthy Mr. Willoughby has been murdered and robbed. Nellie enters and it is discovered that Desmond has offered to take Nellie to New York to make her a great singer. The hero Jack Merriwell (LA Foale) arrives then Desmond and as the events unfold Desmond’s plot to steal the love of Nellie and to take over the farm which he believes has underground oil is revealed. The twists begin as the battle between good and bad engages.

The second act is set in a Bowery music hall then the conclusion in the third act is back at the farmhouse. The audience is superbly entertained at the start and end of each act with vaudeville sets by the wonderful chorus, including the hilarious balloon dance. There is also a segment where the audience can sing the classics, “Give My Regards to Broadway”, “A Bicycle Built for Two”, “Down by the Sea” and others.

Director Rose Vallen’s experience comes to the fore in this excellent production containing all the elements of a successful melodrama as the cast move seamlessly around the stage extracting the mandatory audience participation. The set design is minimal but effective. The music from the band, Sandi McMenamin and Rowan Dennis, is perfectly performed and holds the show together.

The cast is outstanding, Jude Hines expertise shines as she both masterfully handles the role of Aunt Sarah and guides the audience in eliciting the required responses to the hero and the villain. Newcomer Abigail Papps, in only her second production, has a first-rate grasp on the necessary exuberance required for a melodrama performance sparkling in the role of Martha. TJ Baker and LA Foale are similarly excellent, and Dylan Haar is terrifically dastardly as the villain. The rest of the cast and chorus are also marvellous, especially the scene stealing Penni Hamilton-Smith.

While a traditional melodrama may not be to everyone’s taste this production of Adrift in New York executes the genre expertly and is a great fun night for those who want to boo the villain and cheer the hero and sing to old favourites.

Reviewed by Rob McKinnon

Adrift in New York remaining sessions are:
15 November at 7.30 pm
16 November at 2.00 pm
19-21 November at 7.30 pm
22 November 2.00pm

Venue: Arts Theatre
53 Angas St Adelaide

Tickets: 8212 5777 or adeliaderep.com

To book tickets to Adrift in New York, please visit https://adelaiderep.com/season-2025/adrift-in-new-york.

Photographer: Richard Parkhill

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The Whale

12/11/2025 Rob McKinnon🌟🎭

The Whale Rating

★★★★★

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The University of Adelaide Theatre Guild has a long history of delivering excellent theatre and this interpretation of Samuel D. Hunter’s The Whale is a worthy inclusion to this formidable tradition.

As the audience enters the intimate space of the Little Theatre they are immediately confronted with the large two-hundred-and-seventy-kilogram form of Charlie (Sam Wiseman) correcting papers on his couch amongst the disorder of his fast-food containers and wrappers. Charlie is an internet English tutor who has isolated himself in his apartment after the death of his partner Alan. Charlie continues to eat himself to death despite the ire and medical assistance of his only friend Liz (Annie Matsouliadis) who is a nurse and the sister of Alan.

As Charlie has a heart episode, he encounters Mormon Elder Thomas (Liam James) knocking at his front door and who attempts to spiritually save Charlie. Before he dies, Charlie wants to reconcile with his alienated and bitter daughter Ellie (Tianna Cooper). Later his estranged former wife, Mary (Jessica Merrick), who he left for Alan, discovers what has become of Charlie and she learns of his attempts to re-engage with Ellie.

Hunter’s poignant story embraces the themes of redemption, love, connection and grief. It was transformed into a very successful film adaptation earning Brendan Fraser an Oscar. In this production veteran director Geoff Brittain returns the story, as he states, to “the intimacy of live theatre, we return Hunter’s original vision: a story that unfolds in real time, in a single room, yet manages to encompass a world of longing, regret and possibility.” Brittain achieves a beautifully touching production.

The closeness of the Little Theatre aids in bringing a visceral element to the production as the audience is brought close to the chaos of Charlie’s apartment. Production Manager, Ray Trowbridge, and Stage Manager/Set Designer, Leah Klemm, are to be congratulated for the use of the space – all that is missing is the smell to fully bring the apartment alive.
A part of the great success of this production is the physical appearance of Charlie. Bree Roberts’ foam latex prosthetics along with the makeup and costume by Gillian Cordell and Sandy Faithfull brings an outstanding element of realism helping to portray the difficulties of Charlie’s movements and struggles of his large body size, adding greatly to the development of the Charlie character.

Sam Wiseman is commended for the balance of seamlessly handling the difficulty of the physicality of the large body suit with his brilliant portrayal of Charlie. Wiseman’s performance is affecting and impressive. Additionally, the rest of the cast, Annie Matsouliadis, Liam James, Tianna Cooper and Jessica Merrick are superb in their roles.

This production of The Whale from every perspective is a moving triumph worthy of full houses for its entire run.

Reviewed by Rob McKinnon

The Whale remaining sessions are:

Wednesday 12 November at 7:30pm
Thursday 13 November at 7:30pm
Friday 14 November at 7:30pm
Saturday 15 November at 3pm
Sunday 16 November at 3pm

Venue: Little Theatre
The Cloisters, Victoria Drive, University of Adelaide

Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1324506

To book tickets to The Whale, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1324506.

Photographer: Richard Parkhill

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Film Review: The Boy with Pink Trousers (2025 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival)

31/08/2025 Rob McKinnon🌟🎭

The Boy With Pink Trousers (Italian Film Festival) Rating

★★★★★

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Film Review: The Boy with Pink Trousers (2025 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival)

The Boy with Pink Trousers is based on the actual story of Andrea Spezzacatena, a fifteen-year-old boy from Rome who was severely cyberbullied and is loosely built on his mother’s, Teresa Manes, autobiographical novel, ‘Andrea: Oltre Il Pantalone Rosa’. The film is an engaging sensitive retelling of Andrea’s story, beautifully acted by the three young leads and is a cautionary tale in this age of social media obsession.

The film begins with Andrea recalling his birth and contemplating what would have happened in his life, shifting then to an older Andrea watching DVDs of him and his family in happy times and wondering when his parents’, Teresa (Claudia Pandolfi) and Tommaso (Corrado Fortuna), relationship began to fail. Moving then to teenaged Andrea (Samuele Carrino) practicing piano as Teresa receives a call from Andrea’s school informing her that he has won a scholarship because of his excellent academic achievement. To celebrate, they go to the funfair with Daniele (Pietro Serpi), Andrea’s younger brother.

As the story progresses, Andrea auditions for a choir that will perform for the Pope where he becomes in awe of another student Christian (Andrea Arru) also auditioning for the choir. At the start of the eighth grade Christian, who is repeating a year, and Andrea become classmates. Andrea is befriended by fellow eight grader Sara (Sara Ciocca) after Andrea deliberately gets into trouble in class. Andrea becomes friends with Christian after Christian asks him to help him with his studies but Christian distances Andrea after Andrea is chosen to perform for the Pope, but Christian isn’t.

After Andrea’s parents split, he confides in Christian who shares the contents of their discussion with the rest of the class. As Andrea and Sara move into High School, they discover that Christian, who was going to a different school, has joined their school and is in the same classes as them. Christian plots against Andrea which leads to calamitous bullying.

The Boy with Pink Trousers is director Margherita Ferri second full-length feature film and she and writer/producer, Roberto Proia, treat the subject matter delicately highlighting Andrea’s journey in the film sympathetically. Martina Cocco’s cinematography is subtle and warm, adding depth and emotion to the film. The music by Francesco Cerasi sits well with the events in the plot. The main theme is “Canta ancora” performed by Arisa which won Best Original Song at the Nastro d’Argento.

The three young leads, Samuele Carrino, Sara Ciocca and Andrea Arru, deliver excellent performances, particularly Carrino who carries most of the screen time of the film with aplomb. They are superbly assisted by Claudia Pandolfi and Corrado Fortuna.

The Boy with Pink Trousers was the highest grossing Italian movie of 2024 for good reason, it is a compassionate portrayal of a sensitive topic featuring exceptional performances by the young cast that will bring a tear to your eye.

Reviewed by Rob McKinnon

Rating; 8 out of 10
Genre: Drama
YouTube trailer: The Boy with Pink Pants trailer I PÖFF28

To book tickets to The Boy With Pink Trousers (Italian Film Festival), please visit https://italianfilmfestival.com.au/films/iff25-the-boy-with-pink-trousers.

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