melbourne theatre

The Wolves present: Marooned

Marooned

Marooned Rating

★★★★★

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The lights go up to illuminate a minimalistic stage with clouds floating on a screen behind, as we are introduced to our cast of characters.

We are in a waiting room of sorts; perhaps it’s purgatory, or it may be a processing room, but as the scene unfolds, we eventually learn it’s a room for those that have failed at committing suicide.

As we meet our nameless characters, from our antagonist, known only as 379, to our young peacemaker 134, businessman 1620, and the only woman 786, through a series of conversations, we slowly learn what has brought each person to this space.

Whether it is a failed life, illness, divorce, sexuality, or just uncertainty, we learn about the insights of each character. Like an overripe onion, layers are slowly peeled away to reveal the deep personal pain and the lessons each character must learn.

Each character must face their demons in the hostile space that is this waiting room, deciding whether they want to live or die. They begin by being in denial of the ending of their lives, as they share their stories we see their humanity evolve, and we begin to see regret, heartbreak and pain in each person. It’s compelling to watch as we learn of the struggles of each individual.

 

Marooned
Marooned

The play delves into some very deep issues of the human psyche and explores them on a level that is thought-provoking and compelling.

As we learn of each character’s complexities it’s hard to decide how to feel about each person and their journey to this space. Each character comes from a diverse background and each has unique reasons for being in the waiting room.

The play is a powerful exploration of a serious topic and it is unafraid to explore such a complex subject. However, it is done in a manner that is provocative and emotional. Each actor brings a rawness to the performance, and all of them are exceptional in their respective roles.

Marooned is a piece of theatre that will leave you feeling a little shocked, rattled and is an exceptional piece of work that is an absolute must see for all lovers of the arts.

To book tickets to Marooned, please visit https://alextheatre.au/marooned/

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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

Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet

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.

 

Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet
Shakespeare-In-Between: Romeo & Juliet

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

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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Madwoman Monologues

Madwoman Monologues

Madwoman Monologues Rating

★★★★★

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The Butterfly Club has once again been set alight by brilliantly talented performers as part of the final season of Madwoman Monologues.

The show is produced by female-oriented theatre company Baggage Productions. Founded in 1999, Baggage Productions has staged Madwoman Monologues every year since 2011, bringing together actors, directors, and creatives from the Melbourne region.

Programme One of this season’s Madwoman Monologues sees six monologues encompassing loss and heartbreak as an overwhelming theme.

Opening with ‘Moll’s Wighty Task’ performed by Melina Wylie, the audience welcomes her abundant technical skill and dedication to character. Following the story of a widowed Englishwoman, Wylie explores hilariously absurd ideas with bold confidence, before slowing the monologue down toward its grief-stricken cornerstone. Between detailed costuming and carefully placed accenting Wylie’s monologue was able to leave a lingering shadow throughout the night.

 

Madwoman Monologues
Madwoman Monologues
Madwoman Monologues

‘Scrub’ written by Louise Hopewell is performed by Kate Mulqueen. The successive monologue offers an effective contrast as the audience follows the story of a millennial-aged woman beginning a new job on a construction site after losing her partner to an affair. The script offers an abundance of hilariously put profanity, with supportive use of props and stage design adding to an indulgent use of characterization. Mulqueen’s performance is heartening, relatable, and soul-bearing as she intertwines the tragic loss of family members throughout her story.

Alice Daly took to the stage next with her performance of ‘Buttered Toast’ by Isabella Gilbert. Gilbert’s stunning script paired with Alice Daly’s committed performance made for a highlight of the night. Audiences were entertained with Daly’s dictation of a hilariously awkward first date, and charmed by her commitment to numerous comedic demands.

‘Anything’s Possible’ performed by Phoebe Taylor, written by Adele Shelley earned a wave of praise from the audience. Her story follows the chaotic life of a mother wiggling her way out of an inconvenient run-in with a police officer. Taylor pools humor and lively storytelling together to create one ever-relatable monologue.

Madwoman Monologues
Madwoman Monologues
Madwoman Monologues

The evening was halted by a sweeping performance of ‘Hole’, written by Sarah Durickovic and performed by Melanie Madrigali. The profoundly emotional monologue featured a well-crafted representation of a woman suffering tragic loss and deep sorrow. Madrigali delivered an emotionally charged series of thoughts with utter devotion, despite the direction of the monologue being at first unclear.

Co-founder of Baggage Productions and esteemed actress Christina Costigan closed the program with ‘ICDHT’ written by Kate Rotherham. ‘ICDHT’ tells the story of a mother dealing with heartache through cold morning swims, as advised by her therapist. Her story is hilariously bold, inspiring, and gripping as she commits with total devotion to her character.

The annual Madwoman Monologues are particularly special for they are written by women and performed by women. Each monologue explores grief and loss, comedy, and the charm of small wins in the lives of everyday women. The production brings together communities of actresses, creatives, and audiences to appreciate female talent in writing and drama. Madwomen Monologues is a more than pleasant way to spend a low-key night in Melbourne CBD.

Book in now for one of the remaining session dates/times @ https://thebutterflyclub.com/show/madwomen-monologues

Remaining Shows
Wednesday 13 November 2024 7:00pm
Wednesday 13 November 2024 8:30pm
Thursday 14 November 2024 7:00pm
Thursday 14 November 2024 8:30pm
Friday 15 November 2024 7:00pm
Friday 15 November 2024 8:30pm
Saturday 16 November 2024 7:00pm
Saturday 16 November 2024 8:30pm

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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Your Name Means Dream

Your Name Means Dream

Your Name Means Dream Rating

★★★★★

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Wow. I am going to put this front and centre: if you love seeing high-quality acting and theatre, go and see ‘Your Name Means Dream’ at Red Stitch Actors Theatre. What a phenomenal play and performances by two outstanding actors.

This brilliantly written play by the highly acclaimed Oscar nominee and Obie Award-winning playwright José Rivera (famous for ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’) has hit the shores of Australia for the first time at Red Stitch Theatre in Melbourne.

The cast of two give stellar performances, which should not be a surprise with their extensive backgrounds on both screen and stage. Caroline Lee takes on the role of ‘Aislin,’ a disgruntled widow in her mid-sixties who lives alone in her run-down apartment in New York in the not-so-distant future. Lucy Ansell plays the role of ‘Stacy,’ an advanced robot sent by Aislin’s son, Roberto, to be Aislin’s live-in caregiver and companion.

The play opens with the first meeting of the two characters. Aislin, having settled into a dreary and solitary life after the death of her husband and estrangement from her son, shows resistance to this new form of caregiver sent by her son, Roberto.

Stacy is programmed to assist Aislin in living as long and healthy a life as possible while learning from Aislin along the way. She also yearns to learn as much as she can about humanity from Aislin, wanting to get as close as she can to that point within the limits of being a robot.

 

Your Name Means Dream
Your Name Means Dream

You will walk away from this play contemplating themes including the future of technology with artificial intelligence and machine learning, family, relationships, what it means to be human, health, loneliness, quality of life, death, and grief. All of that in the space of a couple of hours. What a journey!

There is so much lovely comedy intertwined within the dialogue of this play. Caroline and Lucy really carried these comedic moments, having the audience switch from laughter to tears and back again in the blink of an eye.

It was an absolute joy to watch these two actors work together. Caroline and Lucy both portrayed their characters with so much depth, nuance, and humanity—yes, even the robot! The accents were flawless, and subtle characterisations were well-engrained into each character. Lucy’s quick switches between Stacy the robot and Roberto were mesmerising to watch.

The staging was perfect for what this play needed. A nice, simple set was more than enough to still have the audience buy into the world of Aislin and Stacy, with the entire play taking place in the living room of Aislin’s very drab and dilapidated apartment. This really is a play not to be missed.

Your Name Means Dream is on at the Red Stitch Actors Theatre from October 26 to November 24. Tickets may be purchased @ https://www.redstitch.net/your-name-means-dream-2024

Photographer: James Reiser

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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