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Review: ‘Jagged Little Pill – The Musical’ at Comedy Theatre, Melbourne (2022)

Now playing at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne until March 16 Playing at the Crown Theatre, Perth from May 14-June 5 and returning to Sydney’s Theatre Royal in July 2022

Jukebox musicals are often a risky proposition. Crafting a narrative out of a collection of songs from a specific era or artist is a difficult thing, and for every Mamma Mia! or Rock of Ages, there are countless other musicals which have adopted this technique but haven’t quite pulled it off.

Thankfully though, Jagged Little Pill, using Alanis Morrisette’s landmark 1995 album as its basis, is one of the best examples of how to do this type of show correctly. With a book by Diablo Cody (Juno, Young Adult), and featuring hits such as You Oughta Know, Ironic and Hand in My Pocket, this story of a fractured family is a moving and heartfelt one, and the characters are all well-realised and three dimensional.

Review: Adults Only Magic Show

As part of the 2021 Melbourne Magic Festival

Playing at the Houdini Theatre @ Arrow On Swanston, from July 6-10

The brainchild of a supremely talented Melbourne-based magic duo – Sam and Justin – Adults Only Magic Show is exactly what it says on the tin, but while it does get quite raunchy at times, it’s also unexpectedly sweet and a vigorously good natured show pulled off with aplomb by two master magicians. Even with an 18+ warning on the posters, it’s highly unlikely anyone would find anything to get upset about in this hilarious show.

Review: ‘Drummer Queens’ at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre (2021)

While the clever pun of this show’s title went right over my head until I said it out loud, there’s certainly nothing subtle about the show itself, a rollicking, floor-rumbling 90-minute all-female drumming extravaganza that constantly finds ways to reinvent itself and keep the performance fresh and innovative.

Melbourne Comedy Festival Review: The Dumtectives In Cirque Noir

The Dumtectives In Cirque Noir is a dazzling hour of breath-taking slapstick and comedic brilliance. The brainchild of local circus company Dummies Corp, Dumtectives, staged at the Famous Spiegeltent in the Arts Centre forecourt, uses the framework of a 1940s film noir as a springboard for acrobatic stunts, cheeky stripteases, bawdy burlesque, marvellous mime, astounding juggling feats and innovative puppetry, all incorporated into what is a largely dialogue-free show.

Review: War Horse

Playing at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne until February 8
The Lyric Theatre, Sydney from February 15-March 15
The Crown Theatre, Perth from March 24-April 12
https://warhorseonstage.com.au/

There’s certainly one thing audiences will remember above all else from this incredible production – the incredible horse puppets which are simply astounding. But even though the horses are the undisputed stars of the show, the emotional core of this wartime story is still strong and this is an incredibly emotional production that that most people will shed a tear to while viewing.

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Review: ‘The Choir Of Man’ at The Playhouse, Melbourne (2020)

Playing at The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne until January 12

Tickets: https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/2020/contemporary-music/the-choir-of-man

Tour dates and more info: https://choirofman.com/

It’s not often you attend a show and before you can take your seat, you’re invited up to the stage to join the cast in a friendly pint from an actual working bar on the stage floor. But that’s what happens to attendees of The Choir of Man, a rollicking 90-minute singing session with a troupe of likeable British lads who instantly win over the crowd with their warm and friendly demeanour, and have the audience on side even before they start singing, even without the free beer.

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Review: Chicago The Musical

What: Chicago The Musical
Where: The State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne

Performances run until February 23, 2020
For more information, please visit https://chicagothemusical.com.au/

A truly iconic musical, Chicago has graced the stages of Melbourne many times in the past, but this current revival, just having opened in Melbourne after sell-out runs in both Sydney and Brisbane, will surely rank amongst the very best of them.

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Helpmann Award Nominations Announced

On Tuesday June 11th, Melbourne’s iconic Princess Theatre, currently housing the local production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II, pulled double duty by also playing host to the Helpmann Awards Nomination ceremony, ahead of the Awards ceremony itself, to be held at Melbourne’s Arts Centre on July 14th and 15th.

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Review: Peter Pan Goes Wrong

What: Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Where: The Playhouse, The Arts Centre

Performances run until 27 January, 2019
For more information, please visit www.peterpangoeswrong.com.au

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