Maitland

Saucy Jack and The Space Vixens

Saucy Jack and The Space Vixens

Saucy Jack and The Space Vixens Rating

★★★★★

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6

SAUCY, SEXY AND SPACY

“Saucy Jack and The Space Vixens” production by Sun Street Studios was instantly engaging from the point of arrival. Mitch Maypole, played by Stuart Ussher, was casually chilling out the front of the Repertory Theatre greeting and directing people to the theatre’s entrance.

The production was held in the back section of the 160-year-old historical building. Ambient mellow lighting and casually dispersed armchairs immediately felt comfortable, relaxed and inviting.

The setting was cleverly laid out and utilised wonderfully by the performers to create an immersive atmosphere of actually being present in Saucy Jack’s Club. It included an effective wall projected neon sign reading “Saucy Jack’s”, a quaint stage for Saucy Jack’s Club performers and a ‘staged’ bar with seated and ready Dr Von Whackoff (David Smith). A dancing pole with a mini stage round was also engagingly fitted amongst the audience chairs.

“Saucy Jack And The Space Vixens” musical was completely unknown to me before this viewing and so I entered open hearted and open minded. The show was fruitful in witty word plays and comedic lines and fabulously delivered infectious laughter, which indeed had the audience, including myself, rolling in hysterics several times. The pinnacle moment was when Dr Von Whackoff revealed what he’d been hiding inconspicuously under his trench coat.

 

Saucy Jack and The Space Vixens
Saucy Jack and The Space Vixens
Saucy Jack and The Space Vixens

Chesty Prospects, played by Angie Hutchinson-Ussher, tragically falls victim to the killer at loose at the end of the first act. To the audience’s delight she remains ‘dead’ on the stage throughout the intermission allowing audience members great amusement to lay beside her and take selfies. Her commitment to her ‘death’ was highly commendable.

The Space Vixens sparkled and shimmered into the second act to investigate the ongoing murders occurring at Saucy Jack’s. Their metallic silver costumes along with their vibrant hair and makeup artistry brought all the fabulous, sexy, razzle dazzle their characters deserved.

Saucy Jack and The Space Vixens is a mature audience show in the adult sense only – not maturity. If you’re in need of a crazy, whacky intergalactic night full of laughs then grab your partner or a group of friends and I guarantee you’ll have a great time.

Top notch restaurants are also conveniently located nearby to make your night out complete.

For tickets, book @ https://www.mrt.org.au/2024-plays/saucy-jack-and-the-space-vixens/

The show is running until the 21st of September, and tickets are a steal at;
$35 adult
$30 concession
Group of 10- $30 each
Also, the drinks at the Repertory Theatre are really well-priced if you fancy one, two, or a few. Enjoy!

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical

Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical

Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical Rating

★★★★★

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2

The tale of Bonnie & Clyde is a well-known one, but this musical put on by Stand and Deliver Inc. will make you hear it like never before, set to a rambunctious rockabilly and glamorous gospel soundtrack!

The cast of actors performed wonderfully, drawing the audience into their world using their passion and strength of character, each performer nailing their complex character and filling every moment with idiosyncrasies to look out for. The staging meant even the minor characters could steal the spotlight for themselves in each moment (I’m looking at you three ladies in the hair salon!), giving us a well-rounded view of 1930s America and all the intricacies.

The cast’s singing was just as strong, the solos making you lean forward, desperate to hear more, only for the choirs to throw you back in your seat with the power of their harmonies.

For the costuming and set design, I must give the stage crew major props. Every piece of the set was chosen with purpose and passion, and the whole stage was used to the absolute fullest potential possible. While this did mean you may miss minor details if you happened to have a tall person sitting in front of you, the overall experience and stage presence this brought more than makes up for it, and the fast pacing means the characters will be back in view for you in mere minutes.

For each scene transition, the stage crew knew exactly what to do and where to be at any given moment, a well-oiled machine that made every transition seamless.

 

Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical
Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical
Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical

Of course, there were some minor issues—singing being drowned out by the music, microphones cutting out on actors, and some lines being delivered to the back of the stage rather than us as the audience—but these are often to be expected for an opening performance.

Each issue was combatted instantly, and the performance grew smoother as the night went on. Nothing dulled the audience’s mood, with people bopping along and hollering out throughout the whole show, creating a positive environment for the audience and actors alike.

This meant that despite costume surprises, the actors remained in character throughout, swiftly using the issue as a character choice in-scene.

Bonnie and Clyde’s run is going to be short. Sadly, this show runs only for three nights this week, and you’ve already missed opening night. Be sure not to miss it and support a new and up-and-coming local theatre company: Stand and Deliver Inc.

Book your tickets quickly @ https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1217425

Showtimes:

Friday, 6th of September: 7:30-10 pm
Saturday, 7th of September: 7:30-10 pm

Location: Warners Bay Theatre

Music by Frank Wildhorn (Dracula: The Musical, Jekyll & Hyde), lyrics by Don Black (Dracula: The Musical, Billy), and book by Ivan Menchell (Death Note: The Musical).

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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Romanoff and Juliet Presented by Reamus Theatre

Romanoff and Juliet

Romanoff and Juliet Rating

★★★★★

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You’ve heard the story before, two star-crossed lovers forced to choose between love and family, only to meet a tragic end… Well, Romanoff and Juliet is not that story!

Romanoff & Juliet takes the premise from the original Shakespearean play and makes it its own concept. It is set in a mythical micronation somewhere in the northern hemisphere, with quirky characters and conversations that leave you halfway between chuckling and questioning the meaning of our world.

As always, my absolute favourite part of this production was the actors and actresses who pulled it into reality. With an obvious passion for the show and its characters, the cast gave their all to the performance and successfully brought us, as the audience, into their realm.

The only thing this wonderful cast really needed was more confidence and pride for their show, with minor teething issues like forgotten lines, shaky accents, and occasional projection and blocking issues to clue us into how nervous they were for their opening performance.

Alongside the cast, the stage crew did an outstanding job, with an impressive set design that perfectly captured the two sides of the story without becoming cluttered or overwhelming. The actors’ stage presence combined with the care shown for the performance from all sides made me love this show, even if I could not understand what was going on during every scene.

Romanoff and Juliet
Romanoff and Juliet
Romanoff and Juliet

Romanoff and Juliet is a unique, short-run production by MRT’s Reamus Theatre concept, separate from their 2024 Season program. Reamus Theatre brings together community members aged 18 to 30, helping them cultivate various theatre skills. These passionate and talented young performers consistently deliver exceptional entertainment to the public.

Reamus meets weekly to enhance their theatre abilities through workshops, rehearsals, and shared enjoyment. Since 2002, they’ve regularly staged annual Shakespeare productions, as well as short play nights and one-day play events. You can discover more about Reamus Theatre’s initiatives at Maitland Repertory Theatre here: https://www.mrt.org.au/reamus-theatre/.

For Tickets to Romanoff and Juliet:-
https://www.mrt.org.au/2024-plays/romanoff-and-juliet/

Performance Dates/Times:
Evenings at 8:00 pm:
August: Wednesday 21, Friday 23, Saturday 24, Friday 30, Saturday 31

Matinees at 2:00 pm:
August: Sunday 25
September: Sunday 1
Doors open 30 minutes before performances

Running time
Approximately 2 hours, including a 20-minute interval.

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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The Marvelous Wonderettes – Soundtracks and Schadenfreude

The Marvelous Wonderettes

The Marvelous Wonderettes Rating

★★★★★

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5

The Marvelous Wonderettes by the Maitland Musical Society captures all the kitsch and fabulous fluffiness of 50s frocks, with costuming, props, and dialogue dragged directly from the past.

The show draws the audience in as we watch the “award-winning” (hey, third place is still a win) prom singers devolve before our eyes. Their high school angst-filled youth is captured beautifully in each individual character—and individual they were—each being unique and well set apart from the others.

The actresses really did the girls’ characters justice, never breaking character despite the numerous bouts of audience participation in the show. Due to their commitment, you will undoubtedly be able to recognise characters from your own high school days, regardless of whether that’s a good thing or not…

The music features toe-tapping tunes with popular hits from ‘way back when’ and some lesser-known ones for those who want to experience some new songs from the era. The cast had a good blend of voices with each other and the music, though they were occasionally overpowered by the live band, who sat onstage with the cast and also got into the show, dancing along with their own tunes. Their presence really adds to the live prom feel.

The Marvelous Wonderettes
The Marvelous Wonderettes

There were a couple of minor tech issues, including mics turning off and lights being slightly off cue, but for their opening performance, some teething issues are to be expected, which will no doubt be streamlined as the season progresses.

There are some strobe lighting effects used multiple times throughout the show, so be prepared lest you be caught off guard. Kudos to the wardrobe team, who created colourful costumes perfect for the era and the characters; the wigs themselves were almost scene-stealers!

Finally, the venue and staff were just amazing, offering homemade snacks as sweet as the Marvelous Wonderettes would like you to think they are. Overall, it was a marvellous experience, and I applaud the Maitland Musical Society for putting on such an amazing, entertaining show.

The show runs for only one more week with sessions as follows:-

  • Sun 2nd June 2pm
  • Fri 7th June 7pm
  • Sat 8th June 7pm
  • Sun 9th June 2pm

Please don’t miss out, and when you get there, don’t forget to take a selfie at ‘The Prom’!

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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