musical - Whats The Show

Javeenbah Theatre Presents: The Man Who Doesn’t Like Musicals

12 February 2025 Monique Molnar

The Man Who Doesnt Like Musicals Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

The Woman who loves musicals found herself kicking off 2025 with Javeerbah’s production of “The Man Who Doesn’t Like Musicals.” I didn’t know what to expect with this one but I was not disappointed.

Directed by Fiona Mumford, with choreography by Charlotte Carozo and musical direction by Alex Angus “The Man Who Doesn’t Like Musicals” is set in Hatchetfield, where everything seemed normal until people began singing… Then, they began dancing… And now, a musical pandemic is sweeping the entire city. Whilst this doesn’t seem like a huge problem to me, Paul (A man who doesn’t like musicals) is determined to stop this musical apocalypse and fight for humanity’s future.

The cast and crew of Javeenbah never cease to impress me with the level of professionalism that they put into their productions. From the acting and choreography to the set design everything was of the highest quality for a community theatre production.

Whilst the title of the production might sound whimsical just be aware that this one does come with a content warning: This production contains strong language, depictions of guns & gunshot sound effects, mature themes, audience participation, and the use of slime. It is also set to music (if you hate musicals) so viewer discretion is advised.

Having said that though, if you are a fan of Schmigadoon or are just looking for an exciting night out then I would highly recommend heading down to Javeenbah, support local community theatre by checking out “The Man Who Doesn’t Like Musicals.”

Javeenbah Theatre is nestled on the corner of Steven and Ferry Street in Nerang, overlooking the Gold Coast skyline. There is ample parking onsite or on the street, and the theatre serves drinks and a small selection of snacks for patrons to enjoy before or during the show.

The theatre is on ground level, surrounded by grass and gravel, but there are no stairs to negotiate for theatre access if you use a mobility aid. The theatre is quite intimate, with excellent views of the stage from any seat in the house, comfortable chairs and ample legroom.

If you are looking for a fun evening on the Gold Coast, I highly recommend attending this show.

To book tickets to The Man Who Doesnt Like Musicals, please visit https://javeenbah.org.au/product/the-guy-who-didnt-like-musicals/

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.

Monique Molnar

Ghost Quartet: A Haunting Musical Kaleidoscope

15 January 2025 Steve Willems

Ghost Quartet Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

When I first sat down in the Hayes Theatre, watching the performers playfully improvise to keep us entertained while a technical problem delayed the start, I really wasn’t sure what to expect.

The stage was covered with Persian rugs and dressed in various antique furniture, cameras, and lamps. I knew there would be music. I knew there would be a blackout sequence (I read the program warnings), and I knew there would be no interval. But even when it was all over, and the audience leapt out of their seats for a standing ovation, I still wasn’t quite sure what I’d just experienced.

The best way to describe Ghost Quartet might be as a haunting, quirky, and inventive musical dreamscape. Directed by Brandon Pape, Antipodes Theatre’s production of Dave Malloy’s Ghost Quartet is like a fusion of The Twilight Zone and One Thousand and One Nights.

I must admit, I found the plot a little hard to follow initially, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment. It involved sisters, an astronomer, the stories we tell each other, and the ghost of Thelonious Monk. Ultimately, I decided to simply let go and immerse myself in the musical kaleidoscope. By the end of the production, the themes of ghosts, memory, and the passing down of stories across generations were conveyed in a surprising, effective, and powerful way.

The lighting design by Sidney Younger was beautiful and haunting, while the sound design by Evan Drill was outstanding. Antipodes’ actual ‘Ghost Quartet,’ led by musical director David Butler, constantly surprised me with their range, talent, and humour. They were all unique individuals and yet perfectly harmonious, interacting well with the audience in a way that kept the whole theatre engaged.

Hany Lee, Willow Sizer, David Butler, and Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward are all incredibly talented actor-musicians, each covering various musical styles and instruments while delivering strong individual and collective performances. There is one fifteen-minute sequence where you’ll find yourself wondering, long after the show, how they could keep changing styles and instruments so flawlessly.

Skipping an interval was a wise choice, as pausing the rollercoaster of this production would disrupt the show’s momentum and wake us all up from a musical trance. Like waking from a dream, returning to the same place is impossible once the spell is broken. It didn’t seem to be a problem. Despite the delayed start and extra pre-show drinks, I didn’t notice anyone leaving to miss any part of the show. This is a show I would wholeheartedly recommend experiencing—perhaps more than once.

Ghost Quartet by the Antipodes Theatre Co. is playing at the Hayes Theatre in Potts Point, Sydney, until the 1st of February 2025. To book tickets to Ghost Quartet, please visit https://hayestheatre.com.au/event/ghost-quartet/

Photographer: Angel Legas / 3 Fates Media

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.

Steve Willems

A Very Naughty Christmas

13 December 2024 Amelia Williamson

A Very Naughty Christmas Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

‘A Very Naughty Christmas’ is back for its eighth year with a delicious new array of jaw-dropping spectacles and skits. The musical features raunchy dance showcases, brilliant Christmas parodies, and hilariously vulgar gags in what is fast becoming Australia’s best Christmas show for adults.

The star-studded cast attacks the stage with vivid confidence. The company is small yet fierce, many of whom are triple-threat performers and graduates of Performing Arts institutes from all over Australia. The show offers almost too many memorable scenes to choose a favourite, and running at just under two hours long, the spectacle is a joy to witness from beginning to end.

The most iconic of parodies include “Walking ‘Round in Women’s Underwear” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (with an expose of X-rated toys…in every store). The calibre of vocal strength among principal singers rivals the talent of Australia’s most well-known musical theatre performers. Grace Laing and Jarrod Moore win over the audience’s affection, particularly for their indulgent vocal qualities, memorable storylines, and natural on-stage charisma.

Asmara Soekotjo stuns as the cast’s most striking mover, unsurprisingly adorned as this season’s Dance Captain. Soekotjo takes center stage in a parody of The Police’s “Roxanne”, turned “Rudolph Put On The Red Light” where she displays her aerial and lyrical might.

Led by the idyllic Mr Santa Claus, played by Tim Paige, the musical sees several hysterical audience interactions during the evening of fun. The cast revels in mischievous antics all night by poking fun at and embarrassing the viewers unlucky enough to be scouted into the limelight by performers. For those particularly unfortunate, a segment of the audience on-stage performance could be involved.

The talented live band adds to the glossy exterior of the production without any significant reliance on pre-recorded material. High-quality lighting, production, live sound, and cast confidence are a testament to the production’s long-standing history of success.

The extravaganza of risque bliss is nestled in St Kilda’s Alex Theatre and is a Christmas show not to be missed. A Very Naughty Christmas is making its way through nine total shows running in Melbourne until December 21.

To book tickets to A Very Naughty Christmas, please visit https://melbourne.averynaughtychristmas.com/

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.

Amelia Williamson

The Addams Family Serves Heart for Dinner

9 December 2024 Emelia May

The Addams Family Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

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

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.

Emelia May

Connect Online