Theatre

The Drowsy Chaperone

The Drowsy Chaperone

The Drowsy Chaperone Rating

★★★★★

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2

The Stirling Players return for their final production of 2024, The Drowsy Chaperone, and they’re certainly going out with a bang.

One thing you can count on when it comes to community theatre is the traditional complimentary glass of sherry, and The Spotlight Bar at The Stirling Theatre has you spoiled for choice with a range of different types.

This quirky little theatre at the Innaloo Recreation Centre drew a full house for their Saturday evening performance. The tiered seating was a plus for those of us who often find ourselves missing parts of the stage when there’s a tall person in front of us.

The Tony Award-winning musical by Bob Martin and Don McKellar opens on Man in a Chair (Ben Clarke), who, feeling a little blue, shares with us his favourite record, the cast recording of a fictional 1928 musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. The curtains open, and we’re told to use our imaginations as the recording comes to life.

And so, the stage is set for a hilarious evening with a young couple on the eve of their wedding, a disorganised best man, a desperate theatre producer, a forgetful lady of the house, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a self-proclaimed lothario and an intoxicated chaperone. Will the wedding go ahead, or will it be derailed through mistaken identities and the allure of a life in the spotlight?

The Drowsy Chaperone
The Drowsy Chaperone
The Drowsy Chaperone

Even with a relatively simple set, the production values of this show are top-notch; it’s easy to forget you’re in a community hall watching a local production; this could be a cast of professionals at The Regal or His Maj. The costume department was busy with the many costume changes, all of which perfectly suited the era, and a band playing live backstage immersed you in the production when you expect local theatre musicals to come with a backing track.

Danielle Battista shines as Broadway starlet Janet Van De Graff, building on her amazing performance earlier this year in Stirling Player’s production of Evita, and Sonni Byrne is pitch-perfect as the chaperone who is clearly more concerned with her own love life than that of her young charge.

The exchanges between bridegroom Robert Martin (Max Leunig) and his best man George (Oliver Temby) were also a joy to watch, providing strong vocals and great comic timing. I also have to congratulate the wonderful ensemble performers who were perfectly timed and made the most of the relatively small stage. But it’s Ben Clarke as Man in a Chair who steals the show with his hilariously understated delivery that had you waiting with bated breath to see what he’d come out with next.

This one-act, laugh-a-minute musical has to be one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. Having read the synopsis, I really didn’t know what to expect. Even my not-so-musical-enthused husband had a smile on his face every time I glanced over. With just a handful of performances left, get in quick.

To book tickets to The Drowsy Chaperone, please visit https://www.stirlingplayers.com.au/

Playing dates: December 5, 6, 7 at 7.30pm.
Matinees: Sunday December 1 at 2 pm.
Tickets: Adult $25, Concession $22 Members $20

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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 Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Rating

★★★★★

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3

If you ask anyone about their top childhood books, C S Lewis’s – The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe will often be cited as a nostalgic favourite across the generations. Garrick Theatre’s stage production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is full of nostalgia and one not to miss!

My 9-year-old son had recently finished reading the book and was excited to see this stage adaptation by Glyn Robbins. And I myself was curious how they were going to pull off the fantasy world of Narnia, especially since Garrick is such a small heritage theatre! Although they didn’t have high-tech equipment to work with, director Roxi Moore’s, with her simple yet effective directing choices, led to a very successful version of this fantasy world.

The cast, as would be expected, is a young bunch, with the youngest at 16 years old. I enjoyed watching the comradeship of the four children, and what was endearing to read was that two of the children were real-life siblings. Kody Fellows as Edmund was lively and suitably cheeky, and his real-life sister Mia Fellows, in her first lead role, played the timid Lucy, whose childlike innocence was portrayed accurately.

Amy Lock, as Susan, gave us all a fright with her piercing scream and played Lewis’ most unlikable character well. Aaron Wilkes, as Peter, had an impeccable British accent, and I would have loved to see the other actors follow suit to have a unified cast and really be able to get a sense of how quintessentially British this play and writing is.

The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe
The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe

The White Witch, played by Rebekah Hannah, was seemingly the most experienced of the cast. I enjoyed her strong sense of character and her unpredictability vocally, which always left the audience on edge and often scared!

Todd Halvorson, who played Aslan, had a great calm but strong presence as the Christ-like Aslan. At times, he could have projected his voice more, even if he was careful to keep the character calm.

A standout performance goes to Ali Louise, who played three characters: Mr Tumnus, Professor, and Mr Beaver. She was so invested in each character and had great physicality, vocal clarity, and obvious diversity.

The rest of the ensemble should also be commended on their input into the show, with some great characterisations as animals. I especially loved Russell Fellows’s physicality as the Dwarf.

My son and I really enjoyed this production, and it’s safe to say we both left with a smile on our faces and a spring in our step after an enjoyable night out!

Like a lot of community theatre here in Perth, the opening night was sold out, so if you want to see this brilliant production, book now

Bookings: Phone TAZ Tix 9255 3336 or BOOK ONLINE

Performance Dates:
November 28, 29, 30
December 1*, 5, 6, 7*, 7, 8*, 12, 13, 14
All evening shows at 7.30pm
*denotes matinee show at 2pm
Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain

Tickets: Adult $28, Concession $23, Members $22, Children $15. Processing fees apply.

Please note that Saturday, December 7th, evening includes an Auslan interpreter. Auslan patrons will need to email TAZ Tix their booking request.

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Othello: Presented by The Actors Hub

Othello

Othello Rating

★★★★★

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5

Taking on any play by William Shakespeare is no easy feat, especially in theatre, where actors are required to memorise heavy and complicated dialogue. Amanda Crewes, through the talented cast at The Actors Hub, has done a tremendous job bringing Othello to life.

Although the play is set in what appears to be the present time, this is evident from the clothing worn by the cast, Amanda has remained true to Shakespear’s words.

For those who are not big fans or accustomed to Shakespearean talk, you should not be put off. Extra concentration may be needed (as in any Shakespeare story) to follow every interaction between the characters. However, you should still be able to understand the essence of the play and the storyline.

The protagonist and title character Othello, who, despite his ethnicity, has risen through the ranks of a white society to become a General in Venice and marry a white woman, the noble Desdemona. Roderigo, a wealthy man, longs for Desdemona. He is heartbroken upon learning the news of Desdemona’s marriage to Othello.

Othello
Othello

Trouble ensues when Lago, who serves under Othello, is overlooked for the position of lieutenant in favour of a less experienced soldier, Michael Cassio. Filled with bitterness and resentment, Lago devises a web of lies in his plot to bring down Othello as revenge for this perceived injustice. On his path to destroy Othello, he manipulates those around him, cunningly convincing Othello of Desmonda being unfaithful, which leads to devasting consequences.

Amanda cleverly uses a giant chess board as the central focus of the stage, with the characters performing in and around the board. Every move Lago makes on the chess board is matched with a move he makes in destroying Othello.

The play is long, which makes me applaud the amazing cast, which never misses a beat. Leo Rimmer, Bernard Bolum, Kayla Merritt, Jayk Thomas, and Jet Fairlie are exceptional in portraying their characters.

Even if you are not a Shakespeare fan, the play is worth viewing to see these rising young actors.

To book tickets to Othello, please visit https://actorshubperth.com.au/productions/

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