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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 7, 2016 - Page 41
Observer Showbiz
Local Theatre With Cheryl Threadgold
‘Robinson Crusoe’ at Ormond The Wizard of Oz
● Christina Savopoulos, David Peters, Simon Nixon, Mathew Arter and Robbie Nicholson rehearse The Wizard of Oz. Photo: Rebecca Bassett ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company presents the HTC Youth production The Wizard of Oz from December 9 – 18 at 36 Turnham Ave., Rosanna. Based on the Frank Baum classic, adapted by Ryan Purdey, Erich Fordham and Karenna Dhaliwal, this show will be directed by Morgan Thomas-Connor and Julian Adams. Performances: December 9 – 18 Times: December 9, 10, 16, 17 at 7pm; December 10, 17, 18 at 2pm Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children Bookings: www.htc.org.au or box office 9457 4117 and door sales.
KORALY ■ La Mama presents Koraly, written, produced and performed by Koraly Dimitriadis with direction by Cypriot dramaturg Olga Aristodemou. A poet, writer, performer and filmmaker and credited with bestselling anthology Love and F**K Poems and, Good Greek Girl, Koraly makes her much anticipated theatre debut at La Mama Courthouse with this one-woman show. Koraly’s words “I say the wrong thing all the time” sets the scene for this story of her life growing up in a close-knit Greek Cypriot family and being a good Greek girl until, through desperation leading to depression, she undertakes a journey of selfdiscovery. She shoulders this age-old problem facing children of immigrants as she sheds shackles and re-builds her identity while risking irretrievable separation from her family. Her honest performance unearths a potent talent to depict raw emotions through her words, voice and nonverbal expression as she exposes her vivid feelings of anger, submission, happiness, confusion and acceptance. We are left in no doubt that this is her story as we are pulled back and forth between contemporary and traditional forces of the family, church and community. Presenting the audience with a large tray of kourabiethes, Koraly humorously portrays her mother with typical traits of wanting her daughter to be a good girl, have a successful career, marry a Greek, have children and be the perfect Greek kitchen wife. This scene is aptly accompanied by Christian Bianco’s song ‘Take some biscuits’ and as we take biscuits and, we too, are seduced by cupboard love. This production includes film footage of ritual, Cypriot wedding preparation and of the migrant ship Patris arriving at Station Pier and is enhanced by lively modern and traditional songs and dance Sexual references, recommended for 18 years and over. Performance dates: Until December 11 Times: Wed. 6.30pm, Thu. Fri. Sat. 7.30pm, Sun. 4pm Venue: La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St, Carlton Tickets: $25 Full, $15 Concession. Bookings: www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6948 - Review by Sherryn Danaher
OUR TEAM ■ ■ Theatre reviews in the Melbourne Observer are contributed by an honorary team including Mark Briggs, Rita Crispin, Martin Curtis, Barbara Hughes, Lyn Hurst, Kathryn Keeble Beth Klein, Deborah Marinaro, Graeme McCoubrie, Catherine McGregor, David McLean, Maggie Morrison, Jill Pageand Elizabeth Semmel. These reviewers provide their own time, and cover their own transport costs, with the aim of fostering the non-professional theatre sector in Victoria.
Melbourne
Observer ‘F’ BY RIOT STAGE
SHOWS ■ The Adelphi Players Theatre Company: Robinson Crusoe (by Fred Rome) Until December 11 at the Booran Road Hall, 264 Booran Rd., Ormond. Director: Michael Mace. All tickets $10. Bookings: 9690 1593. ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company/Heidelberg Youth Theatre: The Wizard of Oz from December 9 - 18 at 36 Turnham Ave., Rosanna. Directors: Morgan Thomas-Connor and Julian Adams. Tickets: $10/$5. Bookings: www.htc.org.au ■ PLOS Musical Productions: Wicked December 31 - January 7 at the Frankston Arts Centre, Davey St., Frankston. Tickets: $52/$42 U16 $37. Bookings: http://artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au/ Whats_On_-_Buy_Tickets/Wicked
AUDITIONS ■ PEP Productions: Is There Life After High School? December 7 7.30pm - 10.30pm at Wantirna Primary School, 120 Mountain Highway, Wantirna. Director: Justin Cleaver; Musical Director: Stephen Amos. Audition Bookings: https:// www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummar y.aspx?eid=242557 ■ Frankston Theatre Group: The Importance of Being Earnest (by Oscar Wilde) December 13 and 14 at the Mt Eliza Community Centre, Canadian Bay Rd., ■ MLOC Productions Inc: Footloose January 31 - February 5 in Parkdale. Director: Leah Osburn; Musical Director: Malcom Huddle; Choreographer: Natalie Heels Audition bookings: www.mloc.org.au
CALIBAN ■ Edge Ensemble’s Caliban is a fresh, new take on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Set in a dystopian world in the near future, the narrative confronts climate change and colonisation in a reworking of the Shakespeare classic and also reflects the diverse cultural backgrounds of the cast ranging from Samoa, South Sudan, Croatia, Afghanistan and Ghana in its re-telling. The story has shifted to a Pacific Island under siege from rising sea levels. Here, Prospera (Natalie Lucic), a brilliant inventor, has found refuge with her adopted daughter, Miranda (Achai Deng). Prospera begins work on her new invention: the ultimate artificial device, Ariel (Piper Huynh). Prospera then uses Ariel to entice Ferdinand (Abraham Herasan), a rich oil baron, to the island. Caliban (Oti Willoughby), an island inhabitant, plots with Phano (Rexson Pelman) to thwart Prospera’s best laid plans. Lucic’s Prospera and Herasan’s Ferdinand both give convincing, robust performances. Deng not only puts in a solid performance as Miranda, but also sings. Willoughby is excellent as the brooding Caliban. Along with Pelman, he provides fabulously timed physical theatre and comedy to the role. Huynh’s Ariel combines other-worldliness and techno elements to convince us of the rise of the machine. Ensemble Edge is made up of performers who got their start with Western Edge Youth Arts. Most of the cast joined Western Edge as teenagers while still in high school. Original musical accompaniment is provided by Callum Watson, another alumnus of Western Edge. The production played to a packed audience of millennials who were clearly enjoying it. Devised in collaboration with writer Georgia Symons and directed by Tariro Mavonda and Dave Kelman, this is a terrific production and can hold its own against any mainstream company and undoubtedly deserves a longer run. Let’s hope it gets it. - Review by Kathryn Keeble
● Sunny Chiron. Photo: Sarah Walker ■ Since 2010, Riot Stage has collaborated with independent professional artists and teenagers to create innovative, dangerous, thought provoking work inspired by the experiences of young people. “F” is certainly that. “F”s catalyst is the controversial 1891 classic, SpringAwakening by Frank Wedekind exploring the ramification of sexual oppression and a lack of sexual education at the turn of the 20th century. Where teenagers of the day were forced to navigate their coming of age on their own as adults withdrew from any discussion or understanding, seemingly to ”protect” their children from a subject assumed to be above their heads. Now a century later Riot Stage as part of the Poppy Seed Festival through “F” elucidates growing up in the age of the internet, web-cams, sexting, home-made porn videos and the consequences of social media. Director Katrina Cornwell, writer Morgan Ross and Assistant Director Amelia Newman worked with a group of 12 teenagers that through their candid conversations, gutsy improvisations and anonymous online surveys revealed the issues they face and how technology informs their “awakening”. Bringing it to the stage, although no names are used or actors identified were (in alphabetical order) Bonnie Brown Charlie Brown, Sunny Chiron, Sarah Conroy, Ross Daniels, Todd Kingston, Elise Louey, Alanna Marshall, Thi Minh Chou (Blair) Phan, Bert van Rijn, Taylor Seagal, Izzy White and Jack Zapsalis. Using multi-media the confident cast put a lot of effort and sincerity into their performance dealing with topics such as, does sex hurt, masturbation, pubic hair, consent and gender equality. The set was fairly basic in the New Ballroom while at times it was under lit and some lines delivered softly. Rated 15+ “F” certainly should attract teenagers seeing their peers relating topics close to their hearts. Dates: Until December 11 Cost: $20/$35 Venue: Trades Hall New Ballroom. 2 Lygon Street Carlton Bookings: on line, enquiries@poppyseed.net.au - Graeme McCoubrie
EARLY BURLY
PENELOPIAD ● From Page 11 This was a wonderful ensemble piece with the story unravelling through a combination of song, narration and reenactments. At different times different cast members represented Penelope, while others were her maids. Interspersed were quite marvellous circus acts with rope and trapeze choreographed by Mia de Burca. The creative team of Karen Berger, Mia de Burca, Steph Kehoe, Sim Sheridan, Franca Stadler and Devon Taylor, did a fabulous job working the large ensemble cleverly and thoughtfully through the women’s experiences. Penelopiad was an engaging and compelling piece of theatre performed at the Drill Hall. It was also inspiring to see a group of women coming together to support and look after each other, all the while making thoughtprovoking and meaningful art. - Review by Beth Klein
● Caterina Vitt, Adelaide Everheart and Petra Dish. ■ Early Burly is a vaudevillian circus of a night, showcasing Melbourne’s finest burlesque and comedy artists. Award winners and strip-teasers alike will tread the boards of the Butterfly Club from December 14 – 18 at 7.00pm . Clad in a tuxedo, top hat and stilettos, á la Marlena Dietrich, host Adelaide Everheart will present a star-studded selection of Melbourne’s burlesque, vaudeville, sideshow, comedian and drag artistes. Bookings highly recommended. Dates: December 14- 18. Time: 7pm. Cost: $25-32. Venue:The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne. Tickets: thebutterflyclub.com