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No Day Like Today to See Rent: The Musical

02/10/2025 Linda Lokhee🏆🥇🦉

Rent Rating

★★★★★

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A legendary rock opera is coming to the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House, ready to electrify the audience. Opening on September 30, 2025, Rent the Musical will run for one month and showcases an exceptionally talented cast portraying a group of young, struggling artists living in Manhattan’s Alphabet City in the East Village.

Set in the early 1992, composer and lyricist Jonathan Larson’s retelling of Puccini’s La Boheme explores battles with poverty and gentrification, love, addiction and the fear and impact of the AIDS epidemic. Yet amongst all of the hardships in their lives, this is ultimately a musical about hope, strength and passion. This group of characters discover the importance of connection and community, living in the moment (“No Day Like Today”) and to measure life in love (“Seasons of Love”).

Larson left a lasting legacy by openly featuring love themes between two gay couples and a duet between queer characters on a Broadway stage when the show first premiered in 1996. This milestone in queer representation in musicals deeply resonated with audiences.

With themes such as the hardships of trying to make ends meet, as well as the coming together of friends when it’s most needed, director Shaun Rennie says, “this show, like what Jesus Christ Superstar was in the 70s and what Hamilton was for that generation, Rent really is a show that spoke directly to the youthful MTV generation.” Now, a new generation of people will fall in love with Rent The Musical.

Larson wrote the book and subsequent multi-Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical for his friends but tragically passed away unexpectedly aged 36 from an aneurysm on the eve of his off-Broadway premiere. Despite this, the musical was performed the following night in his honour. Rennie, along with the cast, ensemble and crew, say that they continue to pay tribute to Larson nightly throughout this Sydney production.

Rennie has assembled an experienced and talented cast, all of whom have come from musical greats such as Jesus Christ Superstar (Tana Laga’aia, Calista Nelmes, Henry Rollo), & Juliet (Jesse Dutlow) and Hadestown (Imani Williams) Tina Turner (Kristin Paulse), Dear Evan Hansen (Harry Targett) and Hamilton (Googoorewon Knox). They all have strong voices that are needed for belting out some of Rent’s rock opera songs.

For the preview media call attended today, I got a small glimpse into Rent and I can see that it will be an eye opening full production. The staging is detailed, with revolving movements and the backdrop of typical NYC apartments flanked by the metal criss cross jigsaw of fire escapes. The lighting by Paul Jackson is moody and atmospheric. The moment the first note is played with the opening song, the ensemble moves together as one. They are all dynamic! The musical arrangements by Steve Skinner and the choreography by Bree Tipoki are beautifully fluid. It is a large ensemble and there are so many moving characters singing and dancing, all with perfect sharp dance angles and flashes of energy. For anyone who has never seen Rent before, or for fans who know that “525,600 minutes … a year in the life of friends”, this is going to be one fantastic musical not to be missed this Spring inside the Sydney Opera House.

Season run: September 30 – November 1 2025
Run Time: 2 hours and 35 minutes including interval
Tickets: www.opera.org.au/productions/rent-sydney

To book tickets to Rent, please visit https://opera.org.au/productions/rent-sydney/.

Photographer: Neil Bennett

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Toe Tap and Sing – Side by Side by Sondheim

28/09/2025 Linda Lokhee🏆🥇🦉

Side By Side By Sondheim Rating

★★★★★

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Genesian Theatre Company’s “Side by Side by Sondheim” showcased music from one of the most influential minds of musical theatre, Stephen Sondheim. He had a gift of creating distinct characters, via his witty wordplay and catchy music and drawing you in their world. This was a toe-tapping and energetic evening of musical theatre celebration.

From their opening number “Comedy Tonight” (from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” 1962), until the closing song, “Side by Side by Side” (from “Company” 1970), I was reminded of the golden age of music in movies and musicals; a period when soundtracks were filled with memorable, timeless songs that really captured the emotions and stories on stage. I was transported back to that era by watching and listening to the outstanding performances of the Genesian Theatre cast. Martin Hong was one of the featured soloists and his steady, smooth voice, easy-going mannerisms and smile portrayed a boyish crooner charm akin to Cary Grant. One of the highlights of the evening for me was his beautifully emotive performance of Losing My Mind (from “Follies”1971).

Director Declan Moore and Music Director Ben Fan created a strong sense of nostalgia on stage, a complete evening where patrons were surrounded by the sounds and styles that defined a special period in musical history. The included songs by Sondheim were in the form of a revue, a collection of songs from 1957 and spanning the next two decades, rather than a performance of one of this musicals with characters and a plot. As a result, the talented featured soloists were able to showcase their expertise in becoming several vastly different characters, often flipping from one character to another quickly.

An example of this is when Sarah Dolan brought us into the mind of an acutely panic stricken bride-to-be with her auctioneer-like, expert mile-a-minute performance in the song Getting Married Today (from “Company”). This harried performance contrasted with her gentle rendition of Little Lamb (from “Gypsy” 1959), where her character Louise is a young girl, singing a lonely song to her plush toys on her birthday.

Kimberly Yuzon had an impressive vocal range, showcasing control and versatility. Her clear and expressive voice allowed her to convey the emotive tone of the songs to the audience. One of my favourite songs was her rendition of Send in the Clowns (from “A Little Night Music”1973) which was performed with heartfelt emotion.

Elizabeth MacGregor was equally at ease on stage, showcasing a truly beautiful voice. Alongside her solo performances, she sang with harmonious clarity alongside her fellow cast members. Her flawlessly precise and tongue-twisting rendition of “The Boy From…” (from “The Mad Show” 1966) was unforgettable and had the audience laughing. It was remarkable how she managed to keep a straight face while delivering the chorus of this lyrically challenging song!

It was a joy to see the pianist, Lindsay Partridge accompanying the actors visible on-stage for the whole of the show, instead of being in the pit below the stage or behind a curtain. He performed each song flawlessly with heart, his deft fingers no doubt flying with expertise across the keys.

Barry Neilson played the Narrator, who introduced each song and gave the audience some background information on the origins of the song. Barry played different roles, and his expressions on stage were notable and amusing. Being a revue, there were many songs which involved the cast to sing together. It was a joy to watch their interactions with each other and they appeared to be having a lot of fun.

Catherine McKinnon’s costume design for the 5 cast members and pianist Lindsay Partridge had a red and black theme, a clever choice of duo simplicity as the glitz and sparkle of sequins shone like diamonds under the lights. The bright globes, and silver dropped curtains that lit up the stage was a nice touch reminiscent of those glamorous Hollywood times of the past, a fitting view from co-lighting designers Michael Schell and Cian Byrne.

The Genesian Theatre Company has crafted an experience that is not only entertaining but also a profoundly meaningful tribute to Mr Sondheim. If it were possible, I would recommend hosting a special evening where the audience could attend dressed in tuxedos and dazzling sequinned, sparkling gowns—it would be the perfect complement to this extraordinary show!

Side By Side By Sondheim is playing at The Genesian Theatre, 2b Gordon St, Rozelle.
Season: 26 September – 1 November 2025

Tickets can be purchased via the following link:
www.genesiantheatre.com.au/events/side-by-side-by-sondheim

To book tickets to Side By Side By Sondheim, please visit https://genesiantheatre.com.au/events/side-by-side-by-sondheim/.

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Adventures Under The Sea, On Earth and To The Moon (And Back)

12/09/202512/09/2025 Linda Lokhee🏆🥇🦉

Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under The Sea Rating

★★★★★

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To say this show is just a theatre performance would be simplistic. Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Pummel Squad cannot be boxed into just one category. Presented onstage by creators and performers Harry McGee and Cooper Donald McDonald, together with sound designer and composer Yanto Shortis, the show is a lively explosion of creativity—a brilliant blend of comedy, live-action illustration, and music, all brought to life with quirky narration and the classic overhead projector (OHP)!

The three performers tell the story of Rasthomas Bulge, an ordinary fellow with an extraordinary name, represented in 2D illustration in various poses, depending on the storyline. He’s drawn in 2D but at times is represented by larger than life 3D narrators, who voice his thoughts. At other times, his thoughts are cleverly interspersed and gently made known, projected onto a screen. Combining shadow puppetry with stencils and rolling overlays, along with narration and acting, the creators move beyond the ordinary to present the story in the most original way possible.

Rasthomas is a car salesman with a bushy moustache. He is drawn with three curly springs of hair sprouting from his head, bright eyes and a snappy suit. As the audience is being seated, his creators are sketching him to life on the overhead projector bit by bit. It was fun watching Rasthomas become himself, and it felt like we were getting an art lesson as the lines morphed into a cartoon man.

He’s got a steady job, a steady social life, (albeit with a shady school friend, drawn to “look bad, and is worse on the inside”) and a steady, ordinary life with his family. At the heart of the story is Rasthomas, feeling unsatisfied with this steady life. He is clearly experiencing a mid-life crisis where he feels that there’s something missing. After meeting and selling a sportscar to a man who surprisingly looks a lot like him, Rasthomas goes in search of adventure.

Following Rasthomas to literally the ends of the Earth and sky, the audience is entertained with stories of him travelling from the depths of the ocean to the moon and back. In a nod to the novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea written by Jules Verne, there’s danger, daring escapes, sea monsters and even a bit of Casablanca cleverly woven in that ties right back to his wife. He realises after he has stepped out of his own shadow, that his ordinary life is something to be treasured, and perhaps looking at things from a different perspective brings acceptance.

Along with the lo-fi music and an almost continuous sound design accompaniment to the show, musician Yanto came out from his music station at the side to take centre stage. Standing in front of the screen, he sang an original song with his banjo ukulele as the projection rolled along, with the drawn buildings floating past with song. The audience loved it!

A memorable moment for me was one where we were introduced to Rasthomas’ four sons, drawn in lines, their portraits smiling. Their names were announced and revealed, read aloud as a list, with the first three son’s names rhyming, culminating with the youngest son being named Rasthomas Junior, which made me laugh as it was so silly. It was these witty bits of comedy, seamlessly woven in and delivered at surprising moments throughout the show, that gave the show a comedic charm which I thought was reminiscent of Roald Dahl.

Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under the Sea was a 50-minute performance that seemed at times to be an improv. However, the Pummel Squad team cleverly crafted their skills to only make it seem this way, involving tag teaming the precise placement and flipping of stencils on the OHP, and quick delivery of quips and cheeky lines. Part of the 2025 Sydney Fringe Festival and already an award-winning show, this is one quick-draw scribby art combo comedy show (I did say it was hard to categorise it!) which will capture your sense of humour and your heart. Don’t miss this truly unique performance—there’s nothing else like it!

Season: 10- 13 September (matinee and evening performance on Saturday 13 September)
Run time: 50 minutes
Venue: New Theatre, 542 King St Newtown
Tickets: www.sydneyfringe.com/events/twenty-million-thousand-leagues-under-the-sea

To book tickets to Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, please visit https://sydneyfringe.com/events/twenty-million-thousand-leagues-under-the-sea/.

Photographer: Tom Noble

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Wits and Whisky – Dorothy in Oz, An Immersive Cocktail Adventure

08/09/202507/09/2025 Linda Lokhee🏆🥇🦉

Dorothy In Oz: An Immersive Cocktail Adventure Rating

★★★★★

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Writer and director Alex K. Wregg brings his lifelong love of the Oz books by L Frank Baum to life at the 2025 Sydney Fringe Festival. His latest imaginative experience Dorothy in Oz is introduced as an experience where guests attend a birthday celebration for Princess Ozma of Oz. I had no idea about what lay ahead in our adventure and the mystery of this added to the suspense.

We started our journey in Kansas, sitting on hay bales and drinking a preshow drink from the bar titled Baum’s Marvellous Medicines – Potions, Tinctures, Remedies. It is here we met Dorothy, played with girlish charm by Bethan Williams. She was the guide that lead us safely into the world of Oz after she suspects a tornado was on the way.

The theme of the different lands where we begin is clear when we step through the tornado tunnel. There are tables beautifully decorated in vibrant colours, representing the different lands. As with all things magical, there were fairy lights adding to the atmosphere. The guests were greeted by The Scarecrow, played by Adam Watt, and we were able to gravitate to whatever table colour we wished to sit at to begin our night. Throughout the performance, Adam maintained the thoughtful and sweet nature of the Scarecrow and deserves a shout out for when he answered some of my questions with quick witted Oz related answers multiple times.

Production designer and build, Paul Bujak created a space that appealed visually and made me want to explore the area (the different lands) immediately! I did go for a wander around when I first came in.

On one wall, there was a poster of Oz, titled “The Marvellous Land of Oz” and it pulled together the five different lands; Winkie Country, Gillikin Country, Munchkin Country, Quadling Country, all of which surrounded the famous Emerald City. Bordered on four sides by the Great Sandy Waste, Shifting Sands, Impassable Desert and Deadly Desert, this map’s artwork was truly beautiful, and I could have studied it for hours.

In dual character roles, Marni Collier played Tip with a light-heartedness zeal and Ozma, and Kirsty McGuire’s performance as Mombi and Glinda made me laugh a few times! The four cast members bounced off each other to keep the flow going throughout the night and were there to support the guests if we got into any confusion about how to solve the given puzzles. There were lots of puzzles to be solved as a team (your country), and this was one of the highlights of the experience! I didn’t find the puzzles too difficult – think Escape Room meets family friendly World of Oz, and you can understand the fun to be had when working together with other people. I was on a table of five, but this number can vary, depending on the number of guests on the night. The puzzles were cleverly thought out to space separately the places where we went to complete the challenges.

Dorothy in Oz, An Immersive Cocktail Adventure, wasn’t your typical sit-down theatre performance. Instead, it was an interactive experience where guests became part of the story. Without giving too much away, it turned out to be a wonderfully fun journey into the Land of Oz that will captivate everyone, from the young to the young at heart. Although it has ‘cocktail’ in the title, the experience also caters for non-drinkers and has family friendly sessions, which will suit younger guests who have curious minds and wonderful imaginations.

If you want a diversion in our busy and hectic world, use your wits then relax with a delectable whisky-based cocktail, transport yourself to Marrickville Town Hall this September! For Sydneysiders, my message borrowed from The Wizard of Oz is “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire, I won’t look any further than my own backyard.” Explore your own backyard and book tickets to this experience, before the tornado hits town!

Season Run: September 3-28, 2025
Venue: Marrickville Town Hall
Run Time: Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes
Tickets: www.dorothyinoz.com

To book tickets to Dorothy In Oz: An Immersive Cocktail Adventure, please visit https://www.dorothyinoz.com/.

Photography: Phil Erbacher

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