Melbourne

Christmas Comes to Melbourne: A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol Rating

★★★★★

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Since first published in 1843, Charles Dickens ‘ A Christmas Carol’ has captivated audiences.

As the audience enters the theatre, a dimly lit stage with minimal set design greets them, and the sound of carols echos the room.

We meet Ebenezer Scrooge ( Erik Thomson), who we soon learn is a joyless, loveless, grumpy old man.

Life has a way of teaching us lessons, and as Ebenezer soon learns via a series of ghost visits, he has lived his life in a way that will lead him to isolation and loneliness.

The Ghost of Christmas Past (Alison Whyte) takes him on a journey to discover how the choices he made in his youth shaped the course of his future.

As painful as it is, he must learn that every action he took has led him to where he is and given him insights into how his mistakes changed him. As he meets The Ghost of Christmas Present ( Samantha Morely), he learns that the man he has become has consequences for not only himself but also his family and his employees. His selfish, avaricious ways have caused him to have blood on his hands.

Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Presents itself in the form of his sister Little Fan (Aisha Aidara), who shows him the consequences of his mistakes should he continue on his current path.

Through the process, Ebenezer has a revelation. He awakens from the loveless life he has carved out for himself, all in the name of greed. It is with this awakening that he is transformed, and his life changes forever.

A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol is a formulaic story, and as it is well known, we all know what happens. However, the performances of the cast and the incredible stage design make this production something special.

With scenic and costume design by Tony Award® winner Rob Howell, music and arrangements by Tony Award® winner Christopher Nightingale, and lighting design by Tony Award® winner Hugh Vanstone, the minimal set comes alive with breathtaking lighting and effects, making viewers believe that they truly are in London, snow and all.

Erik Thompson gave an exceptional performance, and his supporting cast was equally talented. The use of light and sound, whilst minimalistic, is impressive and effective.

Towards the end of the story, the audience is invited to participate, and the laughter from the crowd is infectious. The snow falling on the front rows and on stage is breathtaking and perfectly captures the atmosphere.

The story might be over 180 years old, but its predictable and transformative character story makes it a much-loved tale.

A Christmas Carol is, in some ways, a love story of sorts—it’s the story of an old man falling in love with life again, reinvigorated, and transformed into a better person. With that love comes redemption and happiness for all who come into contact with the new and improved version of Scrooge.

Jack Thorpe’s adaptation is nothing short of a fantastic telling of a much-loved story. It is a delightful production that is sure to leave audiences with a sense of wonder and excitement.

An Old Vic Production A CHRISTMAS CAROL
A version by Jack Thorne
Conceived and Directed by Matthew Warchus
Presented by GWB Entertainment
At the Comedy Theatre from 22 November to 29 December.

To book tickets to A Christmas Carol, please visit https://christmascarolaustralia.com.au/

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The Wolves present: Marooned

Marooned

Marooned Rating

★★★★★

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The lights go up to illuminate a minimalistic stage with clouds floating on a screen behind, as we are introduced to our cast of characters.

We are in a waiting room of sorts; perhaps it’s purgatory, or it may be a processing room, but as the scene unfolds, we eventually learn it’s a room for those that have failed at committing suicide.

As we meet our nameless characters, from our antagonist, known only as 379, to our young peacemaker 134, businessman 1620, and the only woman 786, through a series of conversations, we slowly learn what has brought each person to this space.

Whether it is a failed life, illness, divorce, sexuality, or just uncertainty, we learn about the insights of each character. Like an overripe onion, layers are slowly peeled away to reveal the deep personal pain and the lessons each character must learn.

Each character must face their demons in the hostile space that is this waiting room, deciding whether they want to live or die. They begin by being in denial of the ending of their lives, as they share their stories we see their humanity evolve, and we begin to see regret, heartbreak and pain in each person. It’s compelling to watch as we learn of the struggles of each individual.

 

Marooned
Marooned

The play delves into some very deep issues of the human psyche and explores them on a level that is thought-provoking and compelling.

As we learn of each character’s complexities it’s hard to decide how to feel about each person and their journey to this space. Each character comes from a diverse background and each has unique reasons for being in the waiting room.

The play is a powerful exploration of a serious topic and it is unafraid to explore such a complex subject. However, it is done in a manner that is provocative and emotional. Each actor brings a rawness to the performance, and all of them are exceptional in their respective roles.

Marooned is a piece of theatre that will leave you feeling a little shocked, rattled and is an exceptional piece of work that is an absolute must see for all lovers of the arts.

To book tickets to Marooned, please visit https://alextheatre.au/marooned/

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Verona Takes Centre Stage in Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet

Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet

Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet Rating

★★★★★

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Romeo and Juliet, famously, only had eyes for each other. But what about the rest of poor old Verona? Enter ‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’. In a new play created by Scott Jackson and Sorcha Breen, the townspeople of Verona are plucked straight from the margins of Romeo and Juliet’s romance and into the spotlight, revealing the hidden tensions, messy relationships and unlikely friendships across feuding houses.

As the Bard himself would say, ‘All the world’s a stage,’ and for this show, it couldn’t be truer. Set outdoors among flowering gardens, brisk breezes and the striking silhouette of a Victorian bluestone church, ‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’ offers a little slice of Renaissance Italy in South Melbourne. Nature plays a leading role in fair Verona’s story: golden sunsets bathe star-crossed dallies, giving way to eerie twilight skies and the darkness of nightfall as misfortune and grief take hold. In a town doomed by the narrative, the passing of day only made it all the more inevitable.

Admittedly, my ‘Romeo & Juliet’ knowledge was a bit dusty going in. High school English and a few blockbuster flicks left me with only the broad strokes (boy meets girl, mum and dad disapprove, preventable tragedy ensues). For proper buffs, following along might have been a real ‘Shakespeare in the Park’, but I found myself losing the thread here and there. Perhaps a narration of some sort could have helped us novices stay on track with the plot – though to be fair, it’s one of the most famous plays ever written, so that might be on me.

 

Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet
Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, even when I couldn’t quite place their original roles. And there were plenty of them too! The small cast of nine took on some thirty parts, juggling a number of personalities at the drop of a velveteen doublet.

Underexplored characters flourished in ‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’: Rosaline (Seon Williams) reclaimed her role with headstrong resolve, while Peter, the bumbling butler (Scott Middleton), provided plenty of comic relief. The Nurse (Helen Hopkins) was delightfully extra, and Paris (Oscar Morphew) hilariously daft.

Meanwhile, familiar figures like Lady Capulet (Renee Palmer), Lord Capulet (Myles Tankle), Tybalt (Jett Chudleigh), Mercutio (William Hassal), and his companion Balthazar (Wolfgang Reed) brought depth and loads of charisma to their roles, commanding attention with every appearance. Together, their portrayals offered a compelling glimpse behind the curtain of the tragic teen tryst – and the destruction left in its wake.

‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’ brings together a versatile cast of actors, comedians, musicians – even swordfighters (seriously, I’m expecting swordfights in every play now). Their talent packed into one cohesive, dynamic ensemble made for a fantastic showcase of Melbourne’s independent theatre scene. Bravo!

Pack thy best picnic blanket and join the good people of Verona for an evening of wit, music and top-notch live theatre. ‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’ is playing at St Kilda South Port Uniting Church until November 23 – to miss it would be a tragedy.

To book tickets, please visit https://events.humanitix.com/shakespeare-in-between-romeo-and-juliet

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Peter And The Starcatcher

Peter And The Starcatcher

Peter And The Starcatcher Rating

★★★★★

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Ever wonder how Peter Pan came to be in Neverland? Or how he got his name? Or the exact means by which Captain Hook ‘acquired’ (or perhaps I should more accurately say, ‘required’) his hook? Well, wonder no more, as ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ gives us the prequel to Peter Pan that we never knew we needed to cover all of these questions and more.

Winner of 5 Tony awards, and written by Rick Elise, Peter and the Starcatcher is a feast for all the senses, and a production the whole family can enjoy.

Although the play is a prequel to Peter Pan, you really don’t even have to know anything about Peter Pan (but I think everyone knows the story, whether they want to admit it or not!) to enjoy this production as a stand-alone story. But of course, knowing the story and characters of Peter Pan will make the show much more enjoyable; you’ll simply get so much more out of the very clever writing and humour.

The story begins out at sea, and you’ll be forgiven for taking a bit of time to get up to speed with the characters and story, as you are thrown right into the depths of this fast-paced production from the start. But once you orient yourself with the different characters and how they relate to the well-loved classic, Peter Pan, you can sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

Peter And The Starcatcher
Peter And The Starcatcher
Peter And The Starcatcher

And what a ride it is! The show is a feast for the senses with beautifully crafted sets, costumes, music, and stunning puppets. There is dancing, singing, live musicians on stage, and oh, the humour and comedy!

The show is marketed for all ages, including kids 8 years and older. But I would question how much the younger kids would actually understand. It is a fast-paced show, especially in the dialogue, which is extremely well written. Almost every line seems to have some sort of joke, pun, or reference linked to it, and with the fast pace of it all, I am sure I missed some of them. So although the kids may not understand it all, there is still so much they can enjoy visually and musically from this production.

Having live music played on stage was lovely, and weaving the musicians in and out of the scenes on the rolling pianos and stages was a nice touch.

The puppets were a beautiful addition to the play, really adding a lovely magical feel. And the actors did a great job in the puppetry on stage, brining to life a variety of animals.

The different sets, lighting, and costumes were a visual smorgasbord and feast for the eyes. Talk about some impressive costumes (keep an eye out for the mermaids!).

The cast were a joy to watch together, with some very strong performances shining though.

 

Peter And The Starcatcher
Peter And The Starcatcher
Peter And The Starcatcher

Olivia Deeble commanded the stage and really showcased her amazing talents in acting, singing, and dancing. She really is brilliant as the leading young lady, Molly: the character who we learn turns out to be the mother of Wendy in the Peter Pan we are familiar with.

Colin Lane was another standout performance and brilliantly cast as the hilarious ‘Black Stache’, the pirate captain who we know as Captain Hook. Lane stole the show with his witty humour; at times clearly off-book with some jokes, but never allowing it to be out of line with the show or his character.

If you are looking for a show that brings you a lot of joy, magic, and laughter, Peter and the Starcatcher is just what you need. A great production to bring the whole family along to enjoy.

Peter And The Starcatcher is playing now until the 1st December.

To purchase tickets please visit https://peterandthestarcatcher.com.au/

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