Emelia May - Whats The Show

Allons-y! Comic-Con Returns To Melbourne

11 June 202511 June 2025 Emelia May

Melbourne Comic-Con 2025 Rating

★★★★★

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Fans made the hero’s journey to Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre this weekend to meet their favourite celebrities, buy their weight in merch and revel in two days of pop culture chaos at Oz Comic-Con. For a nerd, it’s paradise. For anyone else, stay out of the way because this is my Super Bowl.

Oz Comic-Con is huge. MCEC was absolutely buzzing with activity by the time I arrived–at 9AM! Inside, the hall was wall-to-wall full, from panels to cosplay competitions, interactive challenges, tabletop games, retail vendors and workshops. Travellers, take heed: it’s not for the faint of heart. I had to join the Vaders posted outside for more than one (suspiciously wheezy) breather…

Celebrity panels featured Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito, voice actor and comedian Brandon Rogers, The Boys’ Moff Gideon and–my personal OZCC highlight–Catherine Tate, Doctor Who’s Donna Noble. Other guests included voice actors, cosplayers, costume designers–I could go on. I quite literally did not have enough time in the day to check every event out, so a comprehensive schedule (or a time machine, ha ha) is a must-have for those looking to see anything in particular.

For theatre fans, OZCC hosted a Q&A with the Beetlejuice cast, who are currently completing a fantastic run at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre. In their panel, cast members Eddie Perfect, Karis Oka and Elise McCann touched on some behind-the-scenes insights that you rarely get to hear elsewhere, so I considered myself very fortunate for catching that.

Oz Comic-Con had a massive lineup in the artist alley this year. From movies, TV shows and anime to books and even music, artists showcased fan art and plenty of amazing indie work too. Authors were also in attendance, promoting their books, chatting with fans and signing copies all weekend. Artist alleys embody what OZCC is all about: connecting not only fans with the authors and artists they love, but fellow creatives with one another, supporting the ecosystem of our thriving local art scene. Crucial, creative, and so fun.

I only wish that all of these incredible events could have taken place in separate halls, or with a more thoughtful configuration of booths. MCEC has a wonderful plenary for use, which would have given the guests the undivided attention they deserved; I could barely hear myself think, packed into one room like sardines. With a bit of breathing space, perhaps each element would have had the chance to connect with con-goers on a more personal level.

Still, a large-scale event completely dedicated to a love of art will always leave you walking away inspired to create. Oz Comic-Con brings together people across all walks of life with a common thread: celebrating the hard work of creatives and shaping the future of pop culture and entertainment.

Oz Comic-Con will be travelling to the rest of Australia throughout the year, but will be back in Melbourne from the 6th-7th of December for a special ‘Xmas edition’.

For more information on Comic-Con 2025, please visit https://ozcomiccon.com/.

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The Addams Family Serves Heart for Dinner

4 April 20259 December 2024 Emelia May

The Addams Family Rating

★★★★★

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Rising from the crypt once more, OSMaD’s production of ‘The Addams Family’ invites us back into the world of everyone’s favourite creepy clan, reanimated with a musical twist. Directed by Joel Anderson, this fresh take finds Wednesday Addams, dark princess of the night, bringing her painfully normal boyfriend home for dinner – a decision that threatens to turn her family’s upside-down world right side up. The horror!

The stage design in this year’s OSMaD production was nothing short of spellbinding, packed with a complex set of moving parts and a graveyard’s worth of ancestors lurking in the background. With so many players, it easily could have felt overwhelming, but each ghostly relative pulled their weight as set dressing, storytellers and comedic relief, bringing a distinct personality as they went. The moving portraits framing the stage were particularly mesmerising, watching the story unfold as if from opera boxes (complete with buckets of popcorn).

The production leaned into practical effects and creative staging, a choice that brought the Addamses to life far more effectively than contemporary elements could. This old-school theatrical approach was so compelling that any digital elements in the production felt unnecessary – the show clearly thrives best on campy, cartoonish charm.

Costuming was another standout feature, working to identify different factions, both dead and alive. The Addams Family, velvet and venomous from head to toe, stood in stark contrast to the sweater-wearing, fatally repressed all-American Beinekes. Head of costuming, Joshua Saunders, had a clear artistic direction, a solid grasp of visual storytelling, and a talent for capturing hearts as the moon-eyed Uncle Fester! His teeny-weeny little astronaut costume was so absurdly endearing it had the audience howling with laughter.

The cast was chock-full of big personalities, led by Demetrius Kiriakidis’s dashing, kooky and fiendishly unforgettable Gomez Addams. Melanie Ott’s Morticia sent hearts (and perhaps a few souls) aflutter with her hypnotic elegance, while Marchella Rusciano-Barrow’s powerhouse vocals brought Wednesday’s rebellious spirit to life. Liz O’Hanlon’s Alice Beineke took the audience completely by surprise with her wild, wine-fueled confession scene, as did Jordan French’s deeply deadpan Lurch. And the dancing – wow! Dylan Henry’s choreography was ambitious, but the ensemble cast tackled it all with boundless energy.

A live band led by Ashton Turner delivered thrills and chills in equal measure. The masterful mix of instruments and vocals struck a perfect balance between spooky, whimsical and comedic beats that kept me utterly hooked the entire show. And those iconic finger snaps are impossible to resist!

OSMaD’s ‘The Addams Family’ is the kind of production that thrives in community theatre – bursting with creativity, heart, and playful spirit. From its brilliant staging to its standout cast, it perfectly captures the quirky charm that makes the Addams family so beloved. ‘The Addams Family’ will be haunting the Geoffrey McComas Theatre until December 14 – catch it if you can.

To book tickets to The Addams Family, please visit https://osmad.com.au/

Photographer: Ken Spence

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Emelia May

Verona Takes Centre Stage in Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet

4 April 202516 November 2024 Emelia May

Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet Rating

★★★★★

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Romeo and Juliet, famously, only had eyes for each other. But what about the rest of poor old Verona? Enter ‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’. In a new play created by Scott Jackson and Sorcha Breen, the townspeople of Verona are plucked straight from the margins of Romeo and Juliet’s romance and into the spotlight, revealing the hidden tensions, messy relationships and unlikely friendships across feuding houses.

As the Bard himself would say, ‘All the world’s a stage,’ and for this show, it couldn’t be truer. Set outdoors among flowering gardens, brisk breezes and the striking silhouette of a Victorian bluestone church, ‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’ offers a little slice of Renaissance Italy in South Melbourne. Nature plays a leading role in fair Verona’s story: golden sunsets bathe star-crossed dallies, giving way to eerie twilight skies and the darkness of nightfall as misfortune and grief take hold. In a town doomed by the narrative, the passing of day only made it all the more inevitable.

Admittedly, my ‘Romeo & Juliet’ knowledge was a bit dusty going in. High school English and a few blockbuster flicks left me with only the broad strokes (boy meets girl, mum and dad disapprove, preventable tragedy ensues). For proper buffs, following along might have been a real ‘Shakespeare in the Park’, but I found myself losing the thread here and there. Perhaps a narration of some sort could have helped us novices stay on track with the plot – though to be fair, it’s one of the most famous plays ever written, so that might be on me.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, even when I couldn’t quite place their original roles. And there were plenty of them too! The small cast of nine took on some thirty parts, juggling a number of personalities at the drop of a velveteen doublet.

Underexplored characters flourished in ‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’: Rosaline (Seon Williams) reclaimed her role with headstrong resolve, while Peter, the bumbling butler (Scott Middleton), provided plenty of comic relief. The Nurse (Helen Hopkins) was delightfully extra, and Paris (Oscar Morphew) hilariously daft.

Meanwhile, familiar figures like Lady Capulet (Renee Palmer), Lord Capulet (Myles Tankle), Tybalt (Jett Chudleigh), Mercutio (William Hassal), and his companion Balthazar (Wolfgang Reed) brought depth and loads of charisma to their roles, commanding attention with every appearance. Together, their portrayals offered a compelling glimpse behind the curtain of the tragic teen tryst – and the destruction left in its wake.

‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’ brings together a versatile cast of actors, comedians, musicians – even swordfighters (seriously, I’m expecting swordfights in every play now). Their talent packed into one cohesive, dynamic ensemble made for a fantastic showcase of Melbourne’s independent theatre scene. Bravo!

Pack thy best picnic blanket and join the good people of Verona for an evening of wit, music and top-notch live theatre. ‘Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet’ is playing at St Kilda South Port Uniting Church until November 23 – to miss it would be a tragedy.

To book tickets, please visit https://events.humanitix.com/shakespeare-in-between-romeo-and-juliet

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Global Smash Club: A Full-Throttle Cabaret Spectacle

4 April 202520 October 2024 Emelia May

Finucane & Smith’s Global Smash Club Rating

★★★★★

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Exuding colour, light, and all things sublime, Finucane & Smith’s ‘Global Smash Club’ celebrates its 20th anniversary exactly as it came into the world: with a glorious bang.

Opening night at Trades Hall saw the ETU Ballroom bursting with talent, as icons of Melbourne’s art and theatre scene took to the stage for an hour of cabaret, spectacle, and daring subversion. At the helm, Moira Finucane – Fringe legend and co-creator of the original ‘Burlesque Hour’ – isn’t one to shy away from making a mess. Her performances tore through the boundaries of convention with wild abandon and dubious liquids, stirring the pot in ways that left the crowd gasping for more (and more and more).

Performance art legend Maude Davey transformed the ballroom into a high-voltage dive bar with powerhouse vocals, off-the-charts energy, and a healthy side of rock and roll. Her cheeky acts blended classic burlesque with a contemporary edge, and were just so cool (seriously, Aussie-BBQ-meets-showgirl should be compulsory viewing).

Yumi Umiumare, the undisputed goddess of dark fever dreams, served up her signature whiplash concoction of surreal dance, twisted comedy, and Butoh, luring the crowd to the edge of reality with spellbinding intensity. The way her intricate costumes moved and flowed under her precise control was as hypnotic as it was impressive.

Sharing the stage with these powerful headliners was a dazzling ensemble of stars. Unforgettable performances from Mama Alto, Piera Dennerstein, Imogen Kelly, Zitao Deng, and Xiao Xiao suspended the crowd between moments of breathless awe and unbridled laughter. The evening’s magic was punctuated by a special appearance from Yorta Yorta Taungurung Wiradjuri elder and artist Glennys Briggs and country musician Ian Muir. With live music and art filling every corner, the show was an all-encompassing, neon-drenched seduction of the senses.

What makes ‘Global Smash Club’ truly irresistible, however, is the bold individuality of its performers. Each act overflows with personality, effortlessly balancing artistic expression and unhinged absurdity. If you’ve got a good sense of humour and don’t mind a bit of provocation, this will do you just fine. As for me, the odd fish that I am, I felt right at home in the chaos – though it still got a few dropped jaws out of me! By the end, I left no less than obsessed and hopelessly in love with the beautiful madness of it all.

‘Global Smash Club’ has everything you never knew you needed – cabaret, karaoke, the possessed demonic spirit of Hello Kitty. It’s a lucky dip of performance art that can’t be pinned down, and you either get with it or get left behind. Defying reason and transcending both genre and gender, this show asks: why be normal when you can be gloriously indecent instead? It’s cheeky, saucy, and it’ll leave you soaking wet (literally).

As a passionate farewell to this year’s Melbourne’s Fringe Festival, ‘Global Smash Club’ is more than just a show; it’s a sweaty, sexy homage to a powerful movement that refuses to simply survive – it thrives in all its naked glory. Catch it this weekend only at Trades Hall – satisfaction guaranteed.

For further information on Finucane & Smith, please check out: https://www.finucaneandsmith.com/

Photographer: Max Roux

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