Physical Theatre

A Campy, Quirky, Delightful Emotional Rollercoaster Ride That Will Delight

Madame Martha's Parisian Cabaret

Madame Martha’s Parisian Cabaret Rating

★★★★★

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Madame Martha’s Parisian Cabaret is a campy, quirky, delightful emotional roller-coaster ride, that will hit you in all of the feels, over a truly captivating hour of queer joy.

What better place for my first theatre review than my beloved Old Fitz, which I fell in love with with “Cut Chilli”, and have since frequented as a viewer, and even performed in their “Senseless & Fitz” Shakespeare night. The vibe is funky and atmospheric. The bartender very accommodating of requests for a “lemonade top up” when I realised that Negronis may look cool, but taste rather vile.

The welcome is warm as we enter the theatre. The set is very much in line with Parisian cabaret. Deep burgundies and mixed glass lampshades, doorways adorned with “show lights”. I sit in the second row, knowing all spots in this delightfully intimate theatre are a winner.

Madame Martha's Parisian Cabaret
Madame Martha's Parisian Cabaret

Then our beautiful trio enter; graceful, careful, flowing and enchanting as they fill they space with their bodies and soon their harmonic voices. With Meg Hickey having absolutely no limits to what can be achieved with those vocal pipes… and an accordion to boot. Their costumes are gorgeous and each artist moves with their own unique elegance as they dance and sing a rendition of “Bad Guy”.

It becomes clear their physical freedom, poetic exploration and musical gifts feed off the shared talent of the trio and their reverie is only broken by the omnipresent, fearsome watchful eye of “Madame Martha”.

The choreography is stunning. Every movement is full-bodied and intentional. There is a collective heart between this troupe that keeps you captivated, entranced and SAFE as deep themes are tackled through the many facets and layers of “cabaret” with a touch of Vaudeville. Be prepared for tits and tips (well, more than that, but I couldn’t resist the alliteration). The actors bare themselves both literally and figuratively on the stage with full abandon and celebration of their forms.

Madame Martha's Parisian Cabaret
Madame Martha's Parisian Cabaret

My eyes filled with tears as Iva Rosebud delivered a deeply moving “What Makes A Man A Man” taking us on a heartfelt musical journey.

Jens Radda is giving “Mother” energy and keeping the three of them connected and intertwined throughout.

The crowd favourite was clearly the extraordinary “Pink Pony Club” where the harmonies slayed, and the audience were ready and rearing when it became clear we could now sing and clap along.

This show lets you all the way in and touches you in deep places. It was a delight!

To book tickets to Madame Martha’s Parisian Cabaret, please visit https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/madame-marthas.

Photographer: Solitude & Co

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An Transcendent Evening Of Theatrical Brilliance

Night Night

Night Night Rating

★★★★★

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3

From the moment I was handed an interactive pendant at the door of the Alexander Theatre, it was clear Night Night was no ordinary night at the theatre. What followed was one of the most inventive, heartfelt and boundary-defying performances I’ve ever experienced.  

Created and directed by the trio Arielle Gray, Luke Kerridge and Tim Watts, Night Night tells the story of Pip, an Antarctic scientist on a quest to uncover the origins of life. What begins as a familiar voyage into isolation and scientific frustration soon tumbles into a surreal dreamscape with an albino penguin guiding our hero and glowing entities emerging from unseen dimensions. It’s a world built from ice and wonder, where the veil between this world and the beyond feels paper-thin.

The compelling narrative unfolds not just on stage, but across a variety of mediums. The set is deceptively simple, consisting of a large projector screen and a small movie studio, fully visible, at the side of the stage. Combined, they become a playground of live cinematography, puppetry, mime, and animation. Gray and Watts deliver a masterclass in physical theatre, coaxing moments of poignancy, whimsy and laugh-out-loud humour from every pixel and prop at their disposal. Their onstage rapport and seamless interaction is the glowing heart of the show. Their performances feel at once effortless and deeply considered.

Night Night
Night Night
Night Night

The sensory layering was delightful from the moment we entered the theatre. Live sketches on an iPad become playful preludes to the show, blending content warnings with charm (beware the show’s loud sounds, flashing lights and wimsy). Messages and images appear on the screen, inviting the audience into the world with a light touch before plunging them into deeper waters.

Rachel Claudio’s musical score and sound design deserve particular praise. They don’t just accompany the action, they elevate it, transporting the audience with a soundscape that moves from delicate to dazzling, always in perfect dialogue with the visual storytelling. The audio-visual synthesis is so immersive it’s easy to forget how complex and technical the show must be.

Night Night’s innovation lies in how it wears its complexity lightly. Static and animated visuals are woven with handmade puppets, showing digital magic dancing alongside analogue charm. Every moment feels handcrafted, intentional and lovingly made. The creative team’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in every snowflake, shadow and blink of light.

This is theatre as revelation. An invitation to see the world differently and to feel more deeply, remembering the power of connection to each other, to nature and to something greater. As Pip’s journey becomes more metaphysical, so too does the audience’s, emerging not only entertained, but perhaps even enlightened. 

In short, Night Night is a rare piece of theatre that feels both personal and universal, intimate and epic. It’s a reminder of what live performance can achieve when craft, heart and imagination collide. This is the kind of show that lingers long after the lights go out. Do not miss it.

Night Night will be on tour soon and is coming to Geelong Arts Centre in August and Bondi Pavilion in September. To book tickets to Night Night, please visit https://www.thelastgreathunt.com/night-night.

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New Theatre’s Fighting: A Captivating Insight

Fighting

Fighting Rating

★★★★★

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4

What’s involved in one single day in the life of you?

Do you wake up, have an ordinary and satisfying day at work, return home and feel contented with life? If you do, then you are lucky. In “Fighting”, now performing at the New Theatre in Newtown, Character A struggles through just one day of his life, and we are in the front seat, travelling along his emotional rollercoaster with him.

“Fighting”, written by Xavier Coy, is about the highs and lows of someone with bipolar disorder. Having been diagnosed with bipolar during the 2020 lockdown, the playwright felt that the disease had previously been portrayed on-screen as someone who was “crazy”. Xavier wanted to write a play dedicated to authentically depicting the complexities of living with bipolar. Written as a dark comedy, “Fighting” won the Silver Gull Award in 2022.

Sound designer Mehran Mortezaei’s choice of the opening song was perfect. Nirvana’s “Lithium” with lyrics such as “I’m so ugly”, “I’m so lonely” and “I love you, I’m not gonna crack” hints at the character’s struggles of self-loathing and internal angst, yet also has the strength and will to keep going, to survive.

Character A wakes up and is immediately inundated with noise and voices. Character B, played by Sophie Highmore, is one of hope. She is encouragement; the calm voice of reason who reminds Character A to do the exercises recommended by his psychologist when he feels anxious or heightened. Character C is the voice of melancholy. Played by David Woodland, Character C is easily recognised as one of chaos, self-loathing, destruction, and darkness.

Jay James-Moody as Character A pulled me into his world immediately with his fast-paced self-talk, a dialogue of descriptive analogies of how his body is feeling as he navigates through his workday. He is a Vodaphone salesman at a company owned by a couple, a woman in her sixties named Helga and her older partner Cliff, who have an active sex life and don’t mind sharing details with Character A. This causes him to be very uncomfortable yet, at the same time, provides a lightness to some heavy scenes. Helga, played by Sophie, is a caring boss. Cliff is a pensioner, an elderly gentleman and David’s interpretation of this character is hilarious, right down to his mannerisms – a comedic tongue popping out as he speaks needs to be mentioned!

Fighting
Fighting
Fighting
Fighting

In the course of his day, he comes across different customers, also played by Sophie and David. These customers add a scatter of comedy amongst some darker scenes. These customers are all different. Some are odd, such as the ‘conspiracy theorist’ (“you lost the sale of someone who came in wanting to buy a phone”- taunts Character Chaos). Another is a nonchalant customer (“Why even bother?”), a young teen reminiscent of a fourteen-year-old bubble tea drinker with clearly no serious plans to purchase a phone or a plan, and a customer Character A in Salesman-on-Fire mode pitches to and convinces him to buy a phone and “Be here! Be now! Be Somebody!”

Character A still holds the pain of grieving the breakup of his former girlfriend, and Jay’s portrayal of this is sharp as he tries to use strategies throughout the day to remain centred in the moment after he sees her when she enters his Vodaphone store and back into his life unexpectedly. An upcoming date and all the customers give the audience a chance to witness Character A’s fluctuating moods, from one scale of calm to the other end, hypermania, along with Hope and Chaos’ responses to these situations.

Throughout “Fighting” there is no silence, no peace for the protagonist, and it is exhausting for him. There is only Hope’s guidance and Character C’s sharp barbs, his pointed and specific insults that result in intense self-loathing. At one point, David’s portrayal of Character C‘s unrelenting mocking and scornful words combined with him physically circling him and the loud fast heartbeats of the sound design combine to create a breathstopping scene. Even Hope’s words, his own voice of survival, is silenced during this scene. The lighting by Robin Legal highlights Character A. This scene is a culmination and very intense, and there is a trigger warning of suicidal ideation in this play.

Director Xavier Coy’s production is emotional, the scriptwriting and acting of the company has successfully portrayed the disintegration of the mind, the feeling of being a stranger in a world always on the outside looking in and a loneliness that comes along with someone suffering from a mental illness such as bipolar. We felt it here, and it is a place that no one would choose to be.

“Fighting” is playing at New Theatre, 542 King St Newtown from 18 March – 12 April 2025.

Tickets: www.newtheatre.org.au/fighting

Full $37
Concessions, Groups (6+) $32
New Theatre Members $25
Thrifty Thursdays $25
Preview $20

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Mario The Maker Magician

Mario The Maker Magician

Mario The Maker Magician Rating

★★★★★

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1

Mario “the Maker Magician” Marchese is a New York-based performer, author, and maker. He tours worldwide with his wife, producer, and children. He incorporates DIY electronics and robotics into his projects, using magic to inspire limitless creativity in children and families.

This is a fun and amazing show for the whole family. Mario is a dynamic performer. Larger than life, he commands the stage. Even on one of the hottest days in Adelaide, he still put on a stunning show. But I feel we are grateful as he sprays water about the venue, cooling and more sleight of hand.

The audience was totally engaged with Mario’s every move. The hand-made props add a gorgeous charm to the show. They remind you of the toys that children would make themselves with cardboard, paint, and sticky tape. It took me back to my childhood, and I imagine that a lot of the parents were remembering their childhood.

It was also relatable to the younger audience members, the arts and crafts they like to do on a rainy day. Magician David Blaine, whom he has toured with, has labelled Mario “the best kids’ magician in the world”. He has appeared on the “Sesame Street’ show and with Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show. Even David Copperfield has heaped praise on Mario.

The show revolved around robots that Mario had hand-built. There was a lot of audience participation in the show, and the kids loved it. The kids loved the magic, and so did the adults.

Mario The Maker Magician
Mario The Maker Magician

Mario touches on his favourite teachers and what they mean to him, reminding the audience that teachers have had a pivotal role in our lives. This is part of the misdirection. In fact, the show starts with some simple, sleight of hand tricks. They immediately draw the audience in. Mario has us all hooked. The pace accelerates, and more tricks are revealed. We are introduced to the simple but fun robots.

The pace of the production helps with the sleight of hand and misdirection, which are important in this show. Mario makes positive statements about children and how the simple act of getting up on stage as a volunteer is a brave moment in their lives. We should applaud this.

The audience’s reaction throughout the show is something to behold. I have never seen an audience so captivated, engaged, and incredibly noisy. He owns the venue, and he takes along his magic journey, meeting those who have influenced him, like Andy Warhol.

As the show progresses to the finale the strings of the story come together. And with an ending we did expect it comes to a close. We are left wanting more. Which is how all shows should end.

The takeaway from this fun, glorious production is “Follow your dreams”.

Performed by Mario “the Maker Magician” Marchese
Written by Mario and Katie Marchese
Produced by Katie Rosa Marchese and Chris Cox

To book tickets to Mario The Maker Magician, please visit https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/mario-the-maker-magician-af2025.

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