Perth Theatre

Lost In Yonkers

Lost in Yonkers

Lost In Yonkers Rating

★★★★★

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7

Neil Simon’s Tony Award and Pulitzer prize-winning comedy Lost in Yonkers is an absolute delight.

Presented by the Roxy Lane Theatre in Maylands, which provides a warm, community theatre welcome from the moment you step through the door. This is clearly a group that enjoys what it does and works hard to put on a good show.

Directed by Karin Staflund, Lost in Yonkers centres on brothers Arty (Daniel Keenan) and Jay (Toby Shepherd), who are sent to live with their grandmother (Sarah House) and Aunt Bella (Seren Healy) in the summer of 1942 while their father goes away to work off a debt he owes to a loan shark.

The prickly Grandma Kurnitz is estranged from her son Eddie (Zane Alexander) and his boys. However, she begrudgingly agrees to take Arty and Jay in at Bella’s insistence and makes it clear this will be no holiday as they’re forced to work in her shop downstairs.

Throw in an uncle who is a local gangster (Geoff Miethe) and Aunt Gert (Julia Webster), who is so frightened of her mother that she struggles to breathe; you can tell it’s going to be a long summer for Arty and Jay.

Lost in Yonkers
Lost in Yonkers
Lost in Yonkers

The cast’s youngest member, Daniel Keenan, steals the show as Arty. With an extensive number of lines to remember and maturity beyond his years, he brings the right amount of humour and warmth to his role. Seren Healy’s portrayal of childlike Bella is both hilarious and heartbreaking as a young woman stuck between her learning difficulties and wanting a life and family of her own.

The cast’s accents were fabulous, and the clever use of the time between scene changes with train sound effects and lighting, while you could already hear the hum of the local train in the background, added to the experience.

The set was well done and made great use of the space given. At times, a sofa bed was front and centre. There were also a number of costume changes for each character, all of which suited the characters to a tee.

With nine performances to go, and if opening night is anything to go by, this is one local production you don’t want to miss.

August 17, 18*, 23, 24, 25*, 29, 30 and 31, September 1
Evening shows at 7.30 pm
*Sunday matinees at 2 pm
Bookings at https://www.TAZtix.com.au/roxylanetheatre/ or phone TAZ Tix 9255 3336.

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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Garrick Theatre: Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias Rating

★★★★★

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5

The “Steel Magnolias” performance at the Garrick Theatre was a touching and emotional experience that highlighted the strength of female friendship, resiliency, and the quiet strength that can be found in the community. The brilliant cast brought the well-known Robert Harling play, set in a small-town Louisiana beauty parlour, to life with amazing authenticity and emotional impact.

Cast and Performances
The cast of Steel Magnolias was a remarkable group that skillfully combined humour, melancholy, and true warmth to bring their roles to life. Every character, from the sassy Truvy to the soft-spoken Annelle, was portrayed with a depth that made them seem genuine and relatable.

Truvy Jones (played by Lea McCall) was radiant, balancing her character’s no-nonsense attitude with an underlying tenderness. M’Lynn Eatenton (played by Sally Forbes) delivered a powerful performance, and Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie (played by Grainne Kennedy) brought a vibrant energy to the stage. Her portrayal of Shelby’s spirit and determination, despite her health struggles, was both inspiring and heartbreaking.

Clairee Belcher (played by Heather Marshall) provided a wonderful mix of wit and wisdom, Ouiser Boudreaux (played by Kylie Calwell) was a standout with her gruff exterior and soft heart, Annelle Dupuy-Desoto (played by Allison Sermon) showed remarkable growth throughout the play, evolving from shy to confident in such a natural way.

Direction and Production
Lynne Devenish’s direction was sensitive and insightful, allowing the natural chemistry between the actresses to shine through. The pacing was well-handled, ensuring that each scene transitioned smoothly and maintaining the audience’s engagement from start to finish.

Steel Magnolias
Steel Magnolias

The set design was an impressive recreation of a Southern beauty salon, complete with vintage posters, salon chairs, and an array of beauty products that added an authentic touch. The intimate setting made the audience feel as though they were eavesdropping on the private conversations of the characters.

Lighting and sound design by Geoff Holt were used effectively to enhance the mood, with subtle changes that reflected the shifts in tone throughout the play. The costume design by Maggie Adams was also noteworthy, with each character’s wardrobe reflecting her personality and socioeconomic background.

Emotional Impact
“Steel Magnolias” is a play that tugs at the heartstrings, and this production was no exception. The themes of love, loss, and the enduring strength of women were portrayed with a delicate balance of humour and heartbreak. The emotional climax was handled with sensitivity, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Conclusion
The Garrick Theatre’s production of Steel Magnolias is a triumph of heartfelt storytelling and exceptional performances. It reminds us of the power of community and the enduring bonds of friendship.

This rendition of the beloved classic is a must-see for both long-time fans and newcomers to the story. With its blend of humour, emotion, and authenticity, it captures the spirit of Harling’s play beautifully, making for an unforgettable theatre experience.

Book Online for Tickets @ www.TAZtix.com.au/garricktheatre

Phone Bookings: TAZ Tix 08-92553336

Venue: Garrick Theatre
16 Meadow St, Guildford

Performance Dates:
August 1, 2, 3, 4*, 8, 9, 10*, 10eve, 11*, 15, 16, 17
All evening shows at 7.30pm.
*Matinees at 2pm

Tickets: Adult $28, Concession $23, Members $22
Child Under 18 years $15
processing fees apply
Group bookings of 20 or more or Companion Card holders please call

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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Prima Facie: An Intense and Thought-Provoking Journey

Prima Facie

Prima Facie Rating

★★★★★

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2

Prima facie—a Latin phrase meaning “at first sight” or “based on first impression”—is used in civil and criminal law to denote that a legal claim has sufficient evidence to proceed to trial upon initial examination.

Prima Facie opens with defence barrister Tessa Ensler (played by Sophia Forrest) confidently sauntering onto the stage, ready to tackle her latest court case. Tessa is in her element, prepared to interrogate and break down her witness, determined to continue a several-month winning streak. The script voices Tessa’s inner thoughts, providing a blow-by-blow account of her strategies and tactics. We learn that her impressive win streak includes several sexual assault cases.

The dialogue in this one-woman show utilizes Tessa’s internal monologue throughout, allowing us to follow her journey intimately. Through Tessa’s thoughts, we meet the significant people in her life and experience the play’s events. Sound effects skillfully enhance the emotional depth of the opening scene, conveying an additional current to Tessa’s thoughts and underlying emotions, allowing the audience to connect with her immediately.

As the play progresses, Tessa’s seemingly upward journey is disrupted by an event that leaves her questioning everything she knows. Her previously slick demeanour gives way to confusion and vulnerability, depicting the emotional turmoil of seeking justice and needing to be believed. The play explores the toll on her personal and professional life as she grapples with shattered illusions and seeks justice. Has she been unfair in her past treatment of victims in court interrogations?

What will the aftermath of this event mean for her? Will she be believed? Will justice be served? Will the perpetrator walk free? Will her voice be heard?

Prima Facie
Prima Facie

Congratulations must go to the production team for compiling a finely-tuned show. The set, costumes, sound, and transitions blend together seamlessly. The large stage is cleverly utilized, with versatile wooden boxes transforming into various props for each scene. The backdrop shifts smoothly, with a revolving stage component used cleverly in scene transitions, depicting locations from courtrooms to nightclubs. Visual media elements add tension at critical moments, offering visual insights into Tessa’s inner journey and effectively depicting time shifts in the play’s action.

  • Director: Kate Campion
  • Set Designer: Bruce McKinven
  • Set Realizer: Andy Cross
  • Costume Designer: Lynn Ferguson
  • Lighting Designer: Peter Young
  • Composer & Sound Designer: Melanie Robinson
  • Audio Visual Designer: Jessica Russell

Sophia Forrest’s outstanding performance anchors this intense one-woman show. Forrest adeptly portrays multiple roles, guiding the audience through Tessa’s transformation from a confident lawyer to a victim seeking redemption. Through the internal monologue, she effectively embodies the slick lawyer, interrogator, interrogatee, victim, daughter, sister, judge, and judged.

Enough credit cannot be given to Sophia Forrest for the remarkable effort in tackling the immense content of the role with skill and finesse. One can only imagine(shudder at) the mountains of preparation required to portray this role so successfully. A shoutout to understudy Holly Easterbrook, who must also have undertaken a similar journey in terms of effort and preparation.

The play’s heavy themes are thought-provoking and resonate deeply. You won’t necessarily leave the theatre with a light heart, but you will leave with plenty to think about, having witnessed a first-class production.

Prima Facie runs at the Heath Ledger Theatre from July 1 to July 21. Tickets range from $30.00 to $139.00.

The show lasts one hour and forty minutes without an interval. Content warnings include strong themes of sexual assault, coarse language, and the use of haze and smoke effects.

Photographer Credit: Daniel J Grant

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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Pygmalion – The Original My Fair Lady

Pygmalion

Pygmalion Rating

★★★★★

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4

Garrick Theatre’s latest production of George Bernard Shaw’s classic play Pygmalion opened last night to great anticipation. While most are familiar with the story through the film My Fair Lady and its countless adaptations, Pygmalion is the original source, encapsulating Shaw’s true intentions.

First premiered in Vienna in 1913, Pygmalion is a romantic comedy about Professor Henry Higgins, an English gentleman who bets he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a scruffy Cockney flower girl, into a proper lady.

As the curtains rose, the audience was transported to Old Covent Garden in London, with excellent lighting effects by Technical Director Geoff Holt, creating a marvellous ambience of an English rainy day.

The cast delivered strong performances throughout the play. Peter Clark excelled as Professor Henry Higgins, portraying the character’s likable-unlikable intellectualism. His blunt honesty and unawareness of the impact of his words on others, coupled with the absence of ill intent, brought depth to the role. Stuart Ridgway’s Colonel Pickering was like a trusted uncle, embodying the Professor’s gentlemanly confidant. Ridgway’s portrayal of Pickering’s paternal relationship with Eliza, helping her gain self-respect alongside phonetics, was heartfelt and genuine. Catherine Leeson’s Eliza Doolittle adeptly showcased the character’s evolution, with her comedic moments peaking in the middle of the play. Her portrayal captured Eliza’s transformation with authenticity and charm.

Pygmalion
Pygmalion

The supporting cast also shone brightly. Adam Skellham played Alfred Doolittle, Eliza’s scheming father, transitioning from a dustman to the epitome of middle-class morality. Sorcha Leary and Janice Phillips, respectively played Clara and Mrs. Eynsford Hill, depicted the petulant and idle rich with flashes of charm. Marsha Holt, as Mrs. Higgins, consistently put her son, the Professor, in his place, adding a much-needed mature counterbalance to her son’s sometimes haphazard approach to life. James Skellham’s Freddy was convincingly bumbling and infatuated with Eliza, while Allyson Corti’s Mrs. Pearce provided a grounded perspective on the implications of Higgins’ bet. Special mention to Juliette Hyland as the Parlour Maid, whose small role brought subtle yet appreciated comedic relief.

The Set Designer and Director Fred Petersen ingeniously crafted the set, with detailed transitions between scenes from Covent Garden to Higgins’ Laboratory and Mrs. Higgins’ Flat. His meticulous planning was evident and greatly enhanced the production. The choice of classic piano music between scene changes enriched the overall atmosphere, and the period-appropriate wardrobe, especially for the ladies, added a delightful authenticity.

As for the play’s ending? While many adaptations exist, this production offers the unique opportunity to experience Shaw’s original narrative as he intended.

The Garrick Theatre’s cast and crew have created a memorable and faithful rendition of this timeless play. Don’t miss the chance to return to Old Victorian London and enjoy this classic tale.

Pygmalion runs from June 6 to 22.

Performance Dates:
June 6, 7, 8, 9*, 13, 14, 15*, 15eve, 16*, 20, 21, 22
All evening shows at 7:30 PM.
*Matinees at 2 PM.

Bookings: TAZtix or call (08) 9255 3336.

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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