Blood Brothers The Musical

Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers Rating

★★★★★

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Ghostlight Theatre Co. is a community theatre group that enjoys pushing boundaries. Their latest offering, Blood Brothers, is a horror-tinged romp through 1960s England.

Blood Brothers is written by playwright Willy Russell, who is also the author of Educating Rita. The plot follows twin brothers, Eddie and Mickey, who split at birth and are raised in two different class spheres in the north of England, with consequences that rock their community.

The show’s main cast was mostly quite young and gaining valuable experience from the more seasoned actors in the crew- and they were clearly having a fantastic time on stage.

A standout performer with an absolutely gorgeous voice was Elissa Holswich. She merrily played the devilish narrator alongside a host of other minor roles with flair. Her voice is outstanding and such a highlight of the show.

The relationship between the neighbourhood children was both fun and well choreographed, with the show’s chorus shining in several song and dance sequences. The audience was also able to sympathise with belaboured single mum Mrs Johnston, played by Hannah Davis.

This is a long show, with a run time of almost 3 hours, including intervals. However, you’ll enjoy Blood Brothers if you enjoy musicals, especially those with some supernatural flair and 1960s themes and costumes.

It is currently showing at Theatre 102 in Redcliffe until May 4th, 2024. There is a small bar with snacks and drinks on-site, as well as plenty of parking.

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Vice CIty Fortitude Valley – Loot

Loot

Loot Rating

★★★★★

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A savagely witty journey awaits you with Ad Astra’s latest play, “Loot,” from the brilliant mind of the late Joe Orton. This hilarious farce never cowers from the dark or the simply outrageous and mixes tried and true political stances with the slapstick mayhem of a funeral (and bank heist) gone horribly wrong.

The location of the venue and the production of this kind of play in Fortitude Valley seems particularly apt owing to The Valley’s central role in Queensland’s corruption-filled history between the 1930s and 1980s. The production team must have worked overtime to find this gem during the play selection process.

This play itself was written in 1966 and has seen minimal changes to the original script. Its political message, tackling the corruption of the police force, got a few belly laughs from the crowd—some messages are timeless; what can I say? 1980s Fortitude Valley is calling. However, some jokes regarding women and other darker subject matter did meet with some audience grumbles. The story is definitely more well-suited for an adult demographic.

Although the story isn’t entirely timeless, the incredible cast carry this show proudly on their shoulders with their impeccable physicality and comedic timing. The standouts would definitely be Fiona Kennedy, who played the devious Fay, and Steven Grives as the hilariously corrupt Truscott. They drove the story along at an entrancing and rhythmic lightning pace, and many times, I found myself in stitches throughout the show at multiple points.

A huge accolade needs to be given to Lisa Hickey, who played the corpse of the late Mrs. McLeavey. Despite having no lines, her physical comedy was brilliantly comical. The entire cast truly committed to their characters and donned the most outrageous European accents, greatly complementing the melodramatic undertone of the story.

The theatre was smaller than expected, but the space was expertly used so that every square inch was stylishly accustomed, and absolutely nothing went to waste. Congratulations to the director, Jennifer Flowers, for spinning gold with this play; I will closely monitor what she does next.

I strongly encourage you to get tickets ASAP, as this show only runs until the 27th of April if you haven’t already. It’s absolutely worth watching, especially for those who want to feast their eyes on a clever, ridiculous, and dark extravaganza.

Sessions run from 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for the next two weekends, with matinee sessions running at 2 pm on Sunday 14th and 21st April.

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Devilishly Pleasing – The History Of The Devil

The History of the Devil

When looking at titles at Metro Arts this month, The History Of The Devil, presented by Polymorphic Productions, is one that was of immediate interest to any horror lover, especially when seeing the playwright’s name. Clive Barker is a UK-based, iconic horror writer known for his wit, gritty characters and tackling taboo subjects- and this play, performed at the Metro Arts New Benner Theatre, was no exception.

From the outset, the audience was warned of adult themes, including sexual assault, racism and coarse language. The set was of a bare-bones design, as the story, both geographically and historically, time travelled, so the use of lighting and sound created the atmosphere. They took the audience from the UK to Kenya in believable fashions, and although sometimes the sound obscured voices, the strategy was very effective.

The story revolves around the Devil’s desire to return to Heaven, but he must first face a trial for his actions on Earth. Witness the courtroom drama as Judge Popper, defence attorney Sam Kyle, and chief prosecutor Catherine Lamb engage in a high-stakes legal battle over the fate of the Devil.

Outstanding and charismatic performances came from the cast, but especially from Connor Scoble as the Devil himself and Lisa Hickey as Ms Lamb, the passionate lawyer (among other characters). They made this play fast-moving, funny and enjoyable to watch.

With all actors playing at least two roles, this was a complex, moving feast and the transitions were played flawlessly between scenes, with virtually seamless characters and costume changes. It was hard to believe the high skill level on display, given this was the first showing.

I recommend The History Of The Devil to anyone who is open to delving into the darker themes mentioned to get down and see the History of the Devil. This was an excellently staged, witty play, and you’re in expert hands with this cast and crew.

Dates:- 28th Nov – 16th Dec
Duration:- Approximately 170 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
Age:- Recommended for ages 15+
Session Dates/Times:-

  • Tuesday, 28 Nov 2023, 7:00pm
  • Wednesday, 29 Nov 2023, 7:00pm
  • Thursday, 30 Nov 2023, 7:00pm
  • Friday, 1 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Saturday, 2 Dec 2023, 2:00pm MATINEE
  • Saturday, 2 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Tuesday, 5 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Wednesday, 6 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Thursday, 7 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Friday, 8 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Saturday, 9 Dec 2023, 2:00pm MATINEE
  • Saturday, 9 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Thursday, 14 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Friday, 15 Dec 2023, 7:00pm
  • Saturday, 16 Dec 2023, 2:00pm MATINEE
  • Saturday, 16 Dec 2023, 7:00pm

Coarse Language, Horror, Mature and controversial themes, Morbid Humor, Offensive language, References and depictions of Sexual Assault, Religious themes, Themes of trauma, Violence, Haze/smoke effects, Loud Noises, Strobe Lighting Effects, Please note a lockout period applies. Latecomers may be admitted at a suitable break in the performance.

Photography: Emma Stratton dilemmazdigitals@gmail.com

Check out more reviews here at Dark Stories Theatre Reviews to see what else is on in your town.

Meet the Actor – A Night With The Villains

A Night With the Villains

This Halloween, Mira Ball Productions, in association with Our Yakka and the Salad Bowl Collective, brings you a sinister night of villainous melodies through their concert A Night With The Villains.

But only for two unforgettable nights – Tuesday 31st Oct and Wednesday 1st Nov. Here we meet one of the concert’s principal performers – Georgia Leigh – whom we chatted to for the insider’s view of A Night With The Villains.

About Georgia Leigh

A Night With the Villains

What do you enjoy most about acting?

I love the way being an actor can transport you to so many different places and be a completely different person to yourself. It’s so fun being able to play different characters. I personally love going out after the show and meeting the audience, hearing what they think and interacting with them as myself.

What productions have you acted in before?

I have worked mainly in Musical Theatre, with most of my professional experience in Children’s Theatre, starring in roles such as Sophie in Mamma Mia and Nancy in Oliver! And Rosalie Mullins in the QLD Amateur Premier of School of Rock. I have performed at the Adelaide Fringe Festival with JALLY Entertainment, performing as Snowy in Snowy and the 7 Cool Dudes by A.J. Bailey and have performed this show in 6 states and territories.

What has been your favourite role so far in your career?

I met my husband playing Sophie in Mamma Mia, so I am probably slightly biased in thinking that’s my favourite role. In terms of the most challenging, I think that would have been Rosalie Mullins from School of Rock, she is very different to who I am, so it was hard being a tight arse, but that’s what made it so enjoyable.

What do you think makes a performance most believable?

I think that a believable performance has heart. I find performances most believable when I can sense the deep connection to the character, and can feel and see myself in those moments.

Are there any particular genres or types of roles that you prefer or feel most comfortable in?

I love working in the Children’s Theatre. Although physically demanding, it brings me joy knowing that I could potentially influence future young actors. I remember watching shows at my school and thinking how amazing it was, and I hope I am bringing that same feeling to others.

About A Night With The Villains

A Night With the Villains

What is this Production about?

A Night With The Villians is the amazing brainchild of Elodie Boal and Trent Sellars, with help from Jennifer B Ashley and Jackie Fredericksen along the way. Imagine having all the best villains in the world returning for just one night (in our case, 2!) and tormenting you with fabulous song and dance. Truly, it is a match made in Halloween heaven, but you can’t just take my word for it!

What character are you playing, and what can you share with us about them?

I am playing the Wicked Witch character. As soon as I was posited with going green for this show, I was all in! Some of the best roles are painted green, so I am actually honoured to be doing it for this one! Everyone in this show has a unique character, and it is so wicked and fun to see them transform at rehearsals.

Why did you want to be involved in this production?

I spent a year in America in 2019, and the difference between American Halloween and ours cannot be understated! When Elodie approached me about being a part of a Halloween show, you bet I was ready brooms-a-blazing. Being a part of a supportive cast and crew was also a major draw card. These guys have been the BEST to work with.

What sort of person is going to love this show?

Everyone who loves a bit of a spook and something quirky will love this show—bringing a little bit of Musical Theatre, Film and Television together in one jam-packed 2-hour thrill. Everyone has their moment to shine and tell their own unique story with iconic songs and amazing dancing.

What’s going to surprise people about this show?

How amazing the talent is in Brisbane (though we already knew it!), the cast is so solid in their performances and deliveries I think that people will be amazed.

Georgia can be seen in A Night With The Villains from 31st Oct to 1st November in the Ron Hurley Theatre in the spooky Seven Hills Hub.

Other interviews can be viewed in Our Meet The Actor Series, or check here for the latest Dark Stories Theatre Reviews.

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