Show Reviews

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a fun and witty musical. Put on by the Metropolitan Players at the SPCC Theatre.  The show is set on the French Riviera, where Lawrence Jameson is a successful working conman. When a young rival, Freddy Benson, invades his territory. Lawrence whimsically takes Freddy under his wing to teach him the tricks of the trade. The arrival of a well-endowed American heiress starts a battle to see who can con her first. Khalil Khay, who plays Laurence did an amazing job carrying the show through the twist and turns of the cons. However, the character that…

Maitland Repertory Theatre’s production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons dives deep into its dark themes, leaving the audience feeling for every flawed and human character. What starts as a leisurely look at a suburban family accelerates into a philosophical examination of duty, trauma and grief, and we are invited into the family backyard to watch in awe as the play’s events transpire before us. It is a personal love of mine when actors perform pre-show or during intermission. As you walk into the playhouse for MRT’s production of All My Sons, all the characters are already on the stage.…

You want gore? You got it. You want action packed fight scenes? You got it. You want monologues that will move you to tears? Right here. Reamus Theatre’s Lord of the Flies is a gripping rendition of William Golding’s classic tale. Set on a deserted island during the 1950s, a group of school children find themselves stranded after their plane goes down during an evacuation attempt. It is a cautionary tale of what mankind can become if modern democracy, rationality, and compassion are abandoned. It was clear that a lot of consideration went into the staging of this production. There was a need to create at least six different locations…

Maitland Repertory Theatre’s production of Neil Simon’s “Rumours” is indeed something to talk about. Directed by Robert Comber, this production – despite involving for the characters serious bodily injury and gunshot wounds – will have you laughing the entire way through, and I had the privilege of viewing the performance on its opening night. The play opens with a scene of panic. What was meant to be a lovely dinner party to celebrate a politician’s 10-year wedding anniversary has already been turned on its head. A reluctance for the truth to come out causes lies upon lies to be told…

How do you humorously portray the horrific? Add a touch of human. Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s hit musical Come From Away brought to you by Civic Theatre Newcastle, tells the story of a small town called Gander during the week after the 9/11 bombings. From this dark context, the play blossom into exploring what it is to be human in the face of tragedy. Through themes of love, loss, compassion, and exhaustion, the play examines what it means to be human when faced with the unimaginable. The text of this play is a combination of script, lyrics and verbatim,…