Emmanuelle Mattana’s hit play exposes the roots of male privilege as private school boys gather to debate the merits of feminism.
Tag: Sydney Theatre Reviews
Review: Grief is the Thing with Feathers (Belvoir St Theatre)
As The Spare Room closes (one of my favourite shows of the year so far), another literary adaptation— Grief is the Thing with Feathers—opens, at Upstairs Belvoir. The 2015 verse novel by British writer Max Porter depicts how a widowed father, left alone with two young sons, is haunted by a Crow. Co-Produced by Andrew…
Review: Summer of Harold at Ensemble Theatre
Summer of Harold, written by Hilary Bell and directed by Francesca Savige, is a triptych of three short comedic plays performed by two actors (Berynn Schwerdt and Hannah Waterman)—two monologues and one duologue. It’s ostensibly an ode to the nostalgia and memories that come from household objects. Watching it (before reading the program), I was a little confused about what these three plays had in common. It’s not the most obvious triple bill, but after sleeping on the show and starting to write this review, I realised how these audiences are connected: four older characters reflecting and obsessing over their past: the good, the bad and the ugly.
Review: Benefactors at Ensemble Theatre
Frayn’s script, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 1984, explores these two intersecting debates— fixing ‘broken’ housing and fixing ‘broken’ relationships— through the complex relationship between four wealthy middle-aged friends in 1960s London.
The narrative is told through alternating monologues and flashbacks… which meant that, despite Frayn’s obvious ability to write smart, punchy dialogue, it was very hard to get ‘sucked in’ to the drama of the play.
Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox at Roslyn Packer Theatre
Never have I seen a children’s storybook rendered on stage so effectively, while maintaining the colour and personality of the source material. I got a ticket based off the dynamic trailer alone, and I was not disappointed.
Review: Fences at STC Wharf 1
Wilson’s writing is soulful and monologue-heavy—this is one of those ‘Mount Everest’ roles for actors at the top of their careers, and LaBonté and Newman live up to the challenge brilliantly.
Review: CAMP at the Seymour Centre
As a young person in my twenties, many of my peers see Mardi Gras as another excuse to party. It was powerful to be reminded of Mardi Gras’ origin as a protest, particularly considering I saw the matinee show on the day of Mardi Gras. As a piece of theatre, CAMP isn’t particularly groundbreaking, but it is an important story that everyone should watch to learn about this crucial piece of Australia’s history.
Review: Sex Magick at Griffin Theatre Company
Brown and Greene have created a bold and brash story that combines social satire with a deeper reflection on masculinity and queer love across Australian and Indian cultures, although those two story elements aren’t weaved together as effortlessly as they could have. If you like your theatre provocative, risqué and loud, this is the show for you.
Review: Hubris and Humiliation at STC
Treston’s writing is witty and intelligent, paying homage to Austen while also creating a fun, campy story that stands on its own. Director Dean Bryant has delivered an energetic laugh-out-loud production—Hubris and Humiliation is a joy— a sparkly, fizzy delight.
Review: Chef at KXT
Ultimately, Chef was not for me. I found it hard to sit through the show’s grim tone and violent subject matter. While Birbara’s performance has been widely praised, I struggled to connect with her character and her performance.
Review: Australian Theatre Live & Emerald City
Australian Theatre Live has arrived and it’s the perfect compromise if you find yourself unable to go to the theatre for whatever reason (geographic, financial, Covid-19, etc). The new theatrical streaming service takes it inspiration from the success of National Theatre Live in the UK, offering high quality video recordings of mainstage theatrical performances. The…
The Monologue Collective Mini-Review
These monologues successfully captured the feeling of being 17, with all the angst and humour and romance that comes with it. These young writers are ambitious and in-tune with the concerns of their peers. The topics explored included young queer love, the pressures of high school, grappling with grief as a teenager, and young women’s relationships to their mothers.
Scribbles of Stage and Screen 