Bonnie Lythgoe Productions celebrated its tenth anniversary with a brand-new production of Snow White. The latest pantomime opened over the weekend at Riverside Theatre, delivering enchanting charm, humour, and a dazzling spectacle that captured audiences both young and old.
Snow White follows the classic fairy tale of a kind-hearted princess whose beauty provokes the jealousy of the wicked queen. Determined to remain the “fairest of them all” and marry Prince Sebastian, the Queen orders Snow White’s demise. Little does the queen know her plan doesn’t quite go according to plan as she seeks refuge with new friends.
The performances were a key highlight of the production. Eliza Sunderland’s performance as Snow White, the titular character, exudes innocence that perfectly captures the essence of the beloved character. Her vocal performances, especially during the musical numbers, blended classic Disney charm with more contemporary energy.
Another stand-out performance was the devilishly over-the-top Wicked Queen, portrayed by Debora Krizak. The audience is encouraged to boo at her as she enters the scene to plot against Snow White. You can’t help but enjoy her wicked antics, thanks to her charisma and banter with those sharing a scene with her. Other notable mentions include Mark Jones as Muddles, a colourful character with witty one-liners injecting the show with humour, Tim Maddren as Prince Sebastian and Barry Pearl as Chambers.
From the moment you sit down, it’s clear that Snow White is a visual feast. The set design transports the audience into a magical fairy tale world. Lighting and effects bring to life the forest, village and menacing Queen’s lair, making the stage feel like it’s straight out of a storybook. The costumes, specifically Snow White’s signature gown and the Wicked Queen’s ensemble, contribute to the fantastical atmosphere. The inclusion of modern pop songs, which are performed with enthusiasm and flair, adds a contemporary touch to keep the production fresh and relevant.
Lythgoe has masterfully incorporated audience participation by creating an engaging and interactive experience. Children were invited to cheer along for our favourite characters (and boo for the evil ones), sing along to the catchy tunes, and join in on the “behind you!” moments, ensuring that the younger audience members stay involved.
Overall, Bonnie Lythgoe’s Snow White is a vibrant, energetic, enjoyable production that ticks all the boxes. It’s a fun, feel-good show filled with magic, laughter and mischief. The show is a perfect outing for families and will leave you smiling long after it ends.
Trust emerges as a standout film for this year’s St ALi’s Italian Film Festival, running nationwide at Palace Cinemas from September 18 to October 23. It invites viewers into an intricate psychological drama where love and fear dance together in a narrative that is as gripping as it is thought-provoking. Directed by the award-winning Daniele Luchetti and based on Domenico Starnone’s novel Confidenza, the film delivers an exploration of human emotion that lingers long after the credits roll.
The central figure in Trust is Pietro (Elio Germano), a well-respected teacher beloved by his students and admired by his peers. His reputation, built on his progressive pedagogical philosophy that affection trumps fear to inspire students, casts him as a pillar of his community. This idea of the “pedagogy of affection” becomes a thematic thread throughout the film, highlighting Pietro’s compassionate and encouraging nature. He’s the antithesis of the authoritarian teacher, choosing love over the fear of failure to guide his students toward their best selves. This progressive approach resonates with audiences, especially considering its relevance in the 1980s and ’90s when the film was set.
But a darker truth lies beneath Pietro’s moral righteousness and public adoration. His life takes an unexpected turn when he rekindles a relationship with a former student, Teresa (Federica Rosellini), one of the brightest minds he ever taught. After they meet again, Teresa confronts Pietro with a profound and unsettling declaration—she has always known about his affection for her, an affection he can no longer deny. Though the two begin a relationship, their dynamic becomes fraught with complexity and tension.
What starts as a seemingly genuine romance soon unravels into an obsessive and destructive bond. Teresa becomes aware of Pietro’s most closely guarded secret, a revelation that binds them together in a way that is almost stronger than love—through fear. The power of this secret is so immense that it threatens to undo the very foundation of their relationship, raising a central question that permeates the entire film: Is love more powerful than fear, or do these two emotions inevitably co-exist in a relationship built on vulnerability?
Luchetti masterfully plays with these concepts of love, fear, and honesty throughout the film. His direction ensures that the audience is never too comfortable, always wondering whether the bond between Pietro and Teresa is driven by genuine affection or by the terror of having their deepest fears exposed. The result is an exploration of how once-shared secrets can become weapons, altering the course of a relationship forever.
While Trust succeeds in exploring these weighty themes, there are moments when the film falters. Certain scenes feel unnecessarily drawn out, adding little to the overall narrative and making the film feel longer than its runtime suggests. As a thriller, Trust sometimes lacks the tension necessary to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, leaving a few key moments feeling flat. These pacing issues could have been addressed with tighter editing, which might have sharpened the film’s focus.
Despite these minor flaws, the performances are nothing short of extraordinary. Elio Germano delivers a nuanced portrayal of Pietro, a man whose inner turmoil is constantly simmering beneath his calm exterior. His ability to convey vulnerability and authority makes his character a fascinating study in contradiction. Federica Rosellini is equally impressive as Teresa, her performance embodying a mixture of longing, manipulation, and pain. Together, they create a volatile and captivating dynamic that anchors the film.
The supporting cast, including Vittoria Puccini as Nadia and Pilar Fogliati as Emma, adds further layers of complexity to the story. Isabella Ferrari’s portrayal of Tilde provides a sense of groundedness amidst the chaos of Pietro and Teresa’s relationship. Each performance enriches the film, allowing the audience to explore different facets of Trust, fear, and human interaction.
Ivan Casalgrandi’s cinematography elevates the emotional tone of the film. His use of shadows, light, and shots peering through windows door creates an atmosphere of quiet tension, echoing the characters’ internal battles. The set and costume designs also reflect the 1980s and ’90s setting, giving the film an authentic feel without distracting from the central narrative.
One of the standout aspects of Trust is Thom Yorke’s haunting score. Known for his ability to craft music that evokes deep emotion, Yorke’s contribution here is no different. His atmospheric soundscapes underscore the tension and emotional weight of the film, drawing the audience deeper into the story without overwhelming the performances. The themes of Trust are universal and timeless, making the film deeply relatable for audiences of all backgrounds. At its core, the film asks whether honesty, when laid bare, can strengthen or destroy a relationship. Can love survive when fear takes hold, or does fear inevitably erode Trust? These are the questions Luchetti leaves audiences grappling with, and their unresolvable nature is what makes Trust such an impactful film.
As the premiere film of the St ALi’s Italian Film Festival, Trust sets the tone for a fantastic lineup of Italian cinema. It challenges viewers to think deeply about the nature of human relationships, leaving them with more questions than answers, which is often the hallmark of a truly great film. Despite a few pacing issues, Trust succeeds as an emotionally resonant and visually arresting exploration of love, fear, and the secrets we hide from each other—and ourselves.
Film Review: Trust (2024) Directed by Daniele Luchetti Starring: Elio Germano, Federica Rosellini, Vittoria Puccini, Pilar Fogliati, and Isabella Ferrari Based on the novel Confidenza by Domenico Starnone Original music by Thom Yorke
Diving into the Darkness is a captivating and immersive documentary featuring Dr. Jill Heinerth and her deep sea and cave diving expeditions. Directed by Nays Baghai, it shows footage of various underwater adventures undertaken by Dr Heinerth and explores the dangers, wonders, and beauty of nature in its raw state.
While identifying the dangers involved in her role, Dr. Heinerth gives honest and thoughtful narration that encompasses the spirit of an explorer. Her tenacity, resilience, and eloquent storytelling set the scene, alongside the engaging, atmospheric soundtrack and the well-adjusted lighting and camera angles.
It was also interesting to see the animation design throughout the film as Dr. Heinerth recalled memories that shaped her journey. During this, the themes of personal growth and courage were well portrayed. It seemed that she was giving viewers a call to action, to question how our fears direct our lives. Having completed over fifty expeditions across multiple continents, the message is one that she seems more than qualified to speak on.
As the themes and content of the film seemed to be the focus, it made sense to see the cast wear denim or navy shirts instead of elaborate ensembles. They maintained a clean and professional presentation that did not detract from their intended purpose and removed the possibility of distraction.
The photography was high quality and was complimented by the slow scans across the various landscapes. Given the biome that the crew were filming in and the difficulty of diving with such equipment, it is impressive to see each shot recorded underwater have the right amount of lighting and clarity. This quality and style of filming brings the viewer along for the ride and allows them to engage more fully in the content, which I am glad to say I was.
The soundtrack was theatrically appropriate, offering suspenseful moments as well as gentle, reflective ones throughout. Paired with the great film quality, the soundtrack pulled me in from the first scene. It felt like there was something to explore and be inspired by. I appreciated the atmospheric composition, as it was a large part of the storytelling experience.
From Mexico to Antarctica, Dr Heinerth and her colleagues (Dr Bill Stone, Brian Kakuk, and Natalie Gibbs) strived to paint a clearer picture of climate change, water health, and the vital role that cave divers play in exploring our world. This documentary thoroughly impressed me, and I look forward to seeing what they do next.
A well thought out murder has always been the premise for a juicy plot. A traditional whodunnit which has red herrings and hidden clues, complete with an eccentric detective. This is what the main character, author and critic Selwyn, excels at with his best selling novels. We begin the play being introduced to the self inflated, egotistical Selwn, played with relish by Ross Alexander wearing a sports coat, a pocket handkerchief and a fancy silk neckerchief scarf – a nice touch by the costume designer Cettina Lahiri to convey the success of his career.
Selwyn and his assistant Christine, played by Fabiola Pellegrino, are discussing his latest review of a rival’s novel, which he essentially deems as rubbish and takes great delight in taking it apart! The dripping venom and confidence in Selwyn’s words is a key factor in this story as he is someone who likes to be in charge; to lead the story.
When something happens to Selwyn, the next door neighbour Peter Fletcher guides us through his own theories of what he thinks has led up to this murder. Rawdon Waller, as Peter Fletcher, gives us a delightful performance as the amateur sleuth, who excitedly tries to solve the mystery. Dressed flamboyantly in a fancy dressing gown, he is a fan of Selwyn’s murder mystery novels and Rawdon’s portrayal of Peter’s enthusiasm for being in a real life murder mystery was very amusing. His lines and physical comedy had the audience laughing many times over.
There are the ‘usual suspects’ in this story – Christine the devoted secretary, Imogen the wife who wants a divorce, and the publisher, who also happens to be Imogen’s lover, John. When faced with accusations, Brian May’s John appears helplessly out of his depth and this is communicated in both action and speech in a way which made me laugh and feel sorry for the poor man.
Imogen, played by Julie Mathers, was sassy and confident, complete with big hair and an 80’s sequinned top. Julie Mathers and Ross Alexander had their characters at the top of their form in a believable love/ hate marriage relationship. They were arguing, throwing insults and pointed remarks at each other and quickly bouncing back for more. It was a like watching a succinct tennis match with clever and witty dialogue as the ball.
The play, written by Duncan Greenwood and Robert King, had its strength in the script which was full of dark one liners and clever twists and turns. It was quite a wordy play, but the Hunters Hill Theatre’s strong cast, led by director Margaret Olive, didn’t let Murder by the Book drag.
The setting of 1980’s London meant we had a living room on stage with a traditional rolled armed couch, a wooden writing desk, record player (which was used to musically enhance a scene) typewriter and a dial handset telephone. These props by Coralie Fraser all added to the authenticity of the era. Wayne Chee’s set design ensured the living room had an open and spacious feel, where the audience could view the actors clearly. I noticed that there was a clever addition of something behind the couch which I won’t give away, would have made Selwyn feel more comfortable for some of the scenes!
If you are a fan of the clever whodunnit genre, come along to see the Hunters Hill Theatre’s performance of Murder by the Book. You’ll be guessing the Who, What, Why all throughout the play, not just at the end!
Running Time: Two hours, including a 20 minutes interval
Season: 7 -31 September 2024 Hunters Hill Theatre at Club Ryde 728 Victoria Rd, Ryde Tickets from $32
