reviews – Page 4 – TINSEL and TAP SHOES

Review: Smile 2 (2024)

Minor SPOILERS!

Writer/director Parker Finn’s Smile, released in 2022, was a surprise hit upon release. Originally intended as a streaming release, it was so good that it demanded a theatrical release instead and ended up making more than $200 million at the worldwide box office.

A sequel was inevitable, but thankfully Finn has given us a follow-up that feels both of a piece with the original and its own thing entirely, and has a bigger budget to play with and more elaborate horror sequences to delight and scare us with.

Review: ‘Me, My Mother and Suzy Cato’ at Melbourne Fringe Festival

Following a sell out season at Auckland Fringe where it won the award for ‘Outstanding Performance by an Individual’, Me, My Mother and Suzy Cato is playing at the Melbourne Fringe Festival until October 20th at Trades Hall, Music Room.

A delightful, touching, nostalgia-filled trip back to the turn of the millennium, a time where Y2K paranoia ran rampant and the only thing a mobile phone could do was send a text; Me, My Mother and Suzy Cato is the brainchild of talented New Zealand actor, writer and producer, Florence Hartigan, who has crafted a sweet and nuanced coming of age tale.

Review: ‘Terrifier 3’ (2024)

SPOILERS for Terrifier 1-3 (2016-2024) and All Hallows’ Eve (2013).

Terrifier franchise director, writer and producer, Damien Leone first created Art the Clown for his 2006 short film The 9th Circle. A second short film titled Terrifier (2011) expanded into the 2013 anthology film (and Leone’s feature film directorial debut) All Hallows’ Eve (starring Mike Giannelli as Art and Katie Maguire, who went on to play talk show host Monica Brown in T1).

Terrifier (T1) was released in 2016, and, despite its low budget of $35,000 and mixed reviews, the film quickly rose to cult film status. Its 2022 sequel Terrifier 2 (T2) became an unexpected box office success, grossing well above its estimated $250,000 budget. The highly anticipated Terrifier 3 (T3) will be released in Australian cinemas from tomorrow, October 10, 2024.

Review: ‘TINA – The Tina Turner Musical’ at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre (2024)

More akin to a rock concert at times than a traditional musical, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is positively overflowing with energy and toe-tapping brilliance. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who isn’t a fan of the late, great Tina Turner, with Australia always being one of her most successful and enduring markets.

The phenomenal local success of this musical, which premiered in Sydney in 2023 after debuting on the West End stage in 2018, is a testament to Turner’s icon status and is proof that her legacy and popularity will endure for a long time to come.

Review: ‘Elegies: A Song Cycle’ at fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne (2024)

Elegies: a song cycle is a show for a very specific theatre goer. It is for the ones who don’t need showiness, rather, those who appreciate the simplicity of engrossing vocalisation and lyricism.

News: Lead Cast and Melbourne Season Announced for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’

A Melbourne season has been announced as part of the Australian tour of the award-winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar. The production will play at the Princess Theatre from March, following seasons at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre and Perth’s Crown Theatre.

Opinion: Broadway’s ‘The Heart of Rock and Roll’ Is Closing – What Went Wrong?

It has been announced that Broadway’s The Heart of Rock and Roll is closing after only two months. At the time of closing, the show will have played 24 previews and 72 performances.

REVIEW: The Woman In Black at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre (2024)

Playing at the Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne until July 6, Canberra Theatre Centre from July 9-14, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre from July 17-21, Newcastle Civic Theatre from July 23-27 and Theatre Royal Sydney from July 30-August 17.

More Info and tickets can be found at: thewomaninblack.com.au

Interview with Shane Jacobson and Todd McKenney from The Odd Couple

The Odd Couple is playing in Melbourne for a limited season before heading to the Theatre Royal Sydney on June 27. It stars actor, presenter, producer and entertainer Shane Jacobson as Oscar Madison; acclaimed performer of stage and screen Todd McKenney as Felix Ungar.

Tickets and further information can be found at theoddcoupleplay.com.au.