Rachael Sue Ragland is a self-confessed Feral. That’s what she has named her stand-up comedy show. Depending on your definition of the word, she may well be, and that’s a compliment. It’s used to describe someone wild and fierce. After seeing her performance at The Factory in Marrickville Sydney, I would agree with Rachael, and add the words “untamed” and “authentic” to round out the honesty of her show.
Ragland’s shared storytelling of some deeply personal health issues was delivered in a way that allowed the audience to collectively bond together. Her recount of a certain wholistic physiotherapist had everyone voicing their indignation, and with the timing of a good comedian, her next sentence had us laughing. The push and pull switch was done seamlessly.
This was not the first time her experiences with health professionals had us groaning at the unfiltered and unprofessional things that had been said to her on life’s path. The stories were not for sympathy grabbing, more of a recalling and sharing of her life’s journey, and her responses to those rude people that had me cheering for her.
Ragland was unafraid to highlight physical attributions about her own body. Performing her set in a bikini under lights, in front of an audience takes some confidence indeed. She embraced her natural attributes in a way that was very admirable. In her own words, she referred to her ‘thick thighs’, her ‘oak tree legs’ on multiple occasions. But instead of lamenting on them, she told the audience how she turned her thighs to her advantage, making them star in their own show!
Originally from the United States, Ragland told stories about living in Australia. Of course, beach volleyball and sweaty sandy backs featured which was relatable to her audience members. She told us that being the only girl in a predominately male family made her competitive. Quite a few times, she shared golden nuggets of advice from her father, Tom Ragland.
When attending a comedy show, it’s a gamble to sit in the front row. Some comedians mercilessly pick on people in the front row. Ragland went gently on them! She did involve her audience by asking us to close our eyes as she recounted a dream. She even gave out Squishy Mallows to the audience to hug, to set the scene of gently falling asleep, a sweet gesture.
There were moments of clever wordplay – “clench my clam” – and visual pictures painted for the audience. After her show, I can still see this flame red, long haired beauty in a hospital bed, with a shaved head and three cornrows close to the head, and it makes me smile.
Rachael was part of Sydney’s biggest annual event, the Sydney Comedy Festival which runs from early April to mid-May. She is not the usual punchline joke telling comedian. Instead, Rachael took us back to her childhood, her sporting life, to her doctor’s appointments and beyond, and invited the audience warmly in, to sit there with her. There is a vulnerability shown that is uncovered during her time onstage, it is all Rachael Sue Ragland, bare and fierce. Proudly Feral.
Rachael Sue Ragland – Feral Saturday 2 May 2026 Performance time: approximately 70 minutes The Matchbox at The Factory 107 Victoria Road, Marrickville The Sydney Comedy Festival 2026
The Little Big Company’s production of ‘The Mad Ones’, at Loading Dock Theatre in Darlinghurst, is a must -see new musical.
As soon as this show begins, the audience sees a red car (not to be confused with The Wiggles red car) on-stage. We immediately sense we’re in for a rollercoasrer ride.
‘The Mad Ones’, centres on Samantha Brown (Meg Robinson), a teenager in turmoil. On the brink of Ivory League acceptance, Samantha has lots of voices in her head. The more-than-best-friend, Kelly Manning (Teo Vergara), is passionate, impulsive and impatient. Adam (Ethan Malacaria), the boyfriend, wants to follow in his father’s footsteps of owning a tyre business. Academia is not on his radar. Samantha’s mother, Beverly Brown (Tisha R. Kelemen), wants her daughter to go to Harvard. Beverly does not approve of Samantha’s intense feelings for the less than academically-inclined Kelly.
The red car stays on-stage for the entire show. Bronwyn Dyer’s production team have created a great knock-about vehicle for the story. Of course, the obvious connections between motor vehicles and human emotions, resonate throughout. Breakdowns, being in the driver’s seat, living life in the rear-vision mirror and the need for drive in one’s life, are symbolic not corny. Getting in a car and driving away, leads itself to ultimate freedom. Samantha fails her driver’s test several times. Freedom is not easily attained.
There are eighteen powerful songs in ‘The Mad Ones’. All of the actors belt out these tunes with the necessary exuberance needed to match the feelings of love and grief, that envelope us. Sitting in the front row, I could see the real tears of Samantha and Kelly, as they try to navigate their path. Robinson and Vergara, are so believable in their roles. Both sing their lungs out and we rejoice. Adam is a slow-burn of a character. As the drama intensifies, Adam also breaks free of the shackles. Malacaria is in fine voice here too. Kelemen dazzles as Beverly. She thoroughly enjoys prancing around and causing turbulence.
‘The Mad Ones’, is a musical by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk. Based on an idea by Zach Altman and Bree Lowdermilk. Director, Sarah Campbell, has ensembled a brilliant cast. All the actors are in-sync and deliver stirring performances. The songs are accompanied by a vibrant band with Nicholas Till (Conductor & Keys 1), Jonathan Zhang (Keys 2), Annabella Chen (Violin) and Felix Staas (Guitar).
The venue for this production is the Loading Dock Theatre, which is situated in the old Darlinghurst Police Station. Cells have been transformed into art gallery-like installation spaces that trace the history of queer relationships. It’s an amazing building. The theatre foyer has cell windows as a provocative backdrop.
The audience on opening night, absolutely adored ‘The Mad Ones’. So many poignant lessons to be learned. Being swept up in these magnificent songs, one realises that there’s nothing more dangerous in life, than playing it safe. The synopsis quotes that it’s truly better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.
This is a musical that deserves to be heard. You would be mad to miss it!
Oxford Falls Grammar’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a grand glossy, decadently drizzled, deliciously complex and rich in flavour musical… oh yes, it was a sensational WhippleScrumptious Fudgemallow Delight of a production!
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has delighted children and adults alike for 62 years, since its publication in 1964. It’s no wonder that the eccentric (some may call him ‘crazy’) purple coated, top hat signature style, whimsical Willy Wonka found himself and his fellow characters in a musical, featuring an original score by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and a book by David Greig. The musical also featured songs from the movie by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.
This was a huge cast, with 21 main characters, 20 dancers and an immense 31 person ensemble sometimes having to be onstage all at the same time, notably for when the spoilt children meet their fates and the little Oompa Loompas appear to “help clear out” (I don’t think this review would contain any spoilers but if you have not read this novel or seen the musical, you wouldn’t know what an Oompa Loompa is, right?) Artistic Director Odessa R and Assistant Artistic Director & Stage Manager Megan G were tremendously talented in managing the large scope in putting this production on the stage.
The musical kicked off with the upbeat song, The Candy Man, as we are introduced to Willy Wonka played by Toby. After I had seen Toby perform this first song, I knew that the audience was in for a treat because of the way he introduced his character with quiet confidence and a little zany charm!
Charlie Bucket, played with pure sunshine-hearted goodness perfection by Grace, lives with her mum, played by Sierra and her four bedridden grandparents squeezed into bed, played by Christian, Zoe, Grace and Jack. Mrs Bucket works hard and is struggling to earn enough money to feed everyone. Sierra’s voice was showcased beautifully in a song, If Your Father Were Here, which she sings when Charlie is asleep, and when she dances with the memory of Charlie’s father, this added a quietly touching scene.
Soon we discover that Willy Wonka, after being mysteriously unseen for many years and his branded chocolate currently in the same way – unseen/ unsold – is now selling Wonka chocolate bars at a candy store near Charlie’s house. There is a new and exciting competition. Five Golden Tickets are hidden inside Wonka’s chocolate bar wrappers, and each Golden Ticket ensures the winner a tour into Willy Wonka’s factory and an opportunity to have a lifetime supply of chocolate! In quite a genius stroke of marketing, chocolate sales all over the world skyrocket with people scrambling to acquire a Golden Ticket, until all Wonka bars are sold out worldwide.
The announcements of the four winners are televised as the Candy Man shopkeeper (Toby) invites Charlie to watch each winner gloat over how they won their tickets. Jerry, played by Charlie and Cherry, played by Isabella, were the news announcers and carried the enthusiasm of the winners to the audience with pizazz.
The winners come from all over the world. The first winner is German child Augustus Gloop, played with cheerful hungriness by Xavier. His mum Mrs Gloop, lovingly played by Xenia, indulges her son in whatever he wishes. The ensemble’s German costumes added authenticity to the introduction of this initial lucky winner, with the song, More of Him to Love.
Veruca Salt, played by Caitlin is another winner from Russia. Alongside her father Mr Salt, played with a desperate-to-please-his-daughter stress by Nico, we see Veruca’s spoilt personality clearly with Caitlin’s performance of Veruca’s sharp demands, especially with the song When Veruca Says. I’m sure, not only me but many parents in the audience were cringing at her “I want!!” statements and feeling sorry for Veruca’s father. This wouldn’t be the first time that the audience would begin to appreciate our own wonderful children, as we meet the next 2 subsequent child winners and their outrageous personalities.
Pop diva wannabe American child Violet Beauregard, introduced with the song The Queen of Pop, is played by Poppy. She is the next winner and her father, the wealthy Mr Beauregard, played by Luka, panders to his spoilt daughter. Poppy held the stage as her character would, with her spoilt demands and her impressive dance moves.
The next winner, American Mike Teavee, played perfectly with the coolness of a teenager addicted to screens by Hilary, shook off all of Mrs Teavee’s attempts at affection with derisive looks and a swipe of the hand. I almost felt sorry for Mrs Teavee, played by Riley. Riley’s song That Little Man of Mine added to this feeling, although we do see hints of how Mrs Teavee has other addictions and how perhaps being addicted to something could run in the family.
After being blown away by the visual elements of this first act so far, and the dancing and energy of the spoilt children and pandering parents, it was an absolute contrast and joy to watch Charlie quietly unwrap a Wonka bar and be the final winner as she discovers the golden ticket. The audience was invested as we cheered Charlie’s discovery. I know I was beaming as Grace sang, “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket”. What a wonderful turn of the story to see Charlie run home and announce this exciting news to her family. It is here that Grandpa Joe gets the motivation to step out of bed (after 40 or so years!). Christian had the audience laughing as his wobbly knees slowly begin to work and he dances with Charlie and Mrs Bucket in celebration, even kicking his leg into the air – followed by him grasping his back!
The cast built up so much excitement and towards the end of the first act, there was genuine wonder for me as to how OFG was going to present the second act. I was looking forward to seeing inside Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, so much so that during the intermission I went out and bought a chocolate bar in anticipation! (Spoiler – it wasn’t a Wonka Bar, it was a Picnic, but I assumed it was because all Wonka bars had sold out).
The second act of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory didn’t slow down. It was filled with electric energy, stacks of humour and sometimes a little bit of kid-friendly horror as things begin to move forward and some elimination of candidates occur. I don’t want to say what happened in the second act. I will say that there was not one moment, which didn’t capture my attention. The dance sequences were phenomenal, with the cast moving in time together and showcasing their skills as a team. The three talented divas, Arrabella, Monah and Emma demonstrated their skills throughout the musical. Well done to choreographers Lauren T and Chelsea M for putting this together, to be so visually beautiful.
All the costumes, by co-producer Roxy M, were eye catching and clever in their design. As each winner was introduced, with the exception of Charlie, the ensemble appeared in complementary costumes that added to the character’s presence. Two standout costumes were Violet Beauregard’s suit after she snatched the three-course meal gum and popped it in her mouth against Willy Wonka’s wishes. I loved how Poppy cartwheeled across the stage in her purple puffed suit as though she was a rolling blueberry! The Oompa Loompa’s outfits were perfect, and the duo colour and stripes somehow made them look small.
The ever changing and colourful digital screens behind and either side of the stage, as well as the 3D print of the props, communicated to the audience exactly where the current scene was set. It was an impressive achievement by Dale D as every visual had so much to look at. The scene leading to Willy Wonka’s factory made me wonder what was inside there.
An integral part of a musical is the band and backing vocals. Oxford Falls Grammar had 22 extremely talented musicians and singers who carried the accompaniment and added sound effects throughout the whole performance. Situated at the base of the stage, the music was clear and beautifully executed, well done to all. Congratulations to Jimmy H, not only the conductor but also the co-producer and musical director of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He has succeeded in creating a dynamic and rich heartfelt musical that appeals to people of all ages.
There is wonderment, a little touch of magic, many belly laughs and of course, a world of pure imagination in Oxford Falls Grammar’s production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was difficult to believe that this was “only” a high school performance, as it reminded me of plays and musicals that I have reviewed, and given five stars to, in theatres around Sydney in the past. Given the remarkable effort that resulted in just three evening performances, I suggest considering a reprise at the end of the year. This could be advertised more widely and opened to the general public for ticket sales. I believe many people would be eager to attend and would greatly appreciate the incredible talent this school is contributing to the Northern Beaches community.
Bravo OFG, Bravo!
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Approximately 3 hours, with a 20 minute intermission C3 Auditorium, Dreadnought Road, Oxford Falls 23 April 2026 – 25 April 2026
We were in for an intense and emotional rollercoaster that is always Chekhov and we got it. The set established the mood with an atmospheric living room and dining area reminiscent of a late nineteenth century painting with curios and antiques shadowed and lit according to the changing dynamics of the play. Chairs, tables and a piano would become central to the changing dynamics of a tight-knit family in the wrong place. Music was beautifully performed adding a melancholic mood adding to the underlying sadness as the dining table was changed for different times of the day reflecting the changing circumstances.
Enter the actors all strong in their own ways and at times challenged not to upstage each other with the drama of each revelation. As the family evolved, we started with a celebration and the characters established themselves in their best light and costumes as if anything were possible and personal dreams were almost real. The three sisters formed the core as the male characters danced around them reacting as disillusionment set in over the years. Dreams came and went and some of the wrong goals became reality with a realisation of the saying, ‘Be careful what you ask for, you may get it’.
The oldest sister, already slightly worn with responsibility was played by an actor who made the character believable and maintained a sense of sympathy from the audience as she struggled with others’ decisions that impacted upon the family’s fortune and frustration. The middle sister, strongly acted, was all suppressed passion, erupting eventually and then left with the scars of untempered desire. The youngest was presented as confident and fresh as a daisy being courted by a couple of men and presenting the first stirrings of the Russian future of work being the goal and reason for living only to find that it is just labour and not love. All female actors offered different facets of the sense of lack of control ending in a fractured life and family.
The male characters were equally strong and believable if occasionally upstaging others due to the bombastic nature of the character. The dream Colonel who offered a romantic view of life probably more than anyone, saw unhappiness as the main result of being. The idolised brother who quickly falls of his pedestal, marries the wrong woman disturbing the household and failing at his dreams ending in emptiness. The Baron who loves the youngest sister and as with the others, makes a choice that would impact upon his life. The minor characters offered a backdrop to a household that is struggling with identity, living with rose-coloured glasses of their past life in Moscow and refusing to see what is evolving around them.
The audience laughed, squirmed, became irritated and responded to the oncoming disillusionment as each character fell apart and the ending left asking for more and what happens to them next?
