Category Archives: Not Reviewed

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

 Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Book by Peter Parnell. Blackout Theatre Company. Pioneer Theatre, Castle Hill. May 19 – 27, 2023

Seen (not reviewed) : 26 May, 2023

Photo : Maria Gorelik – Light Up Photography

 

 

A Christmas Carol

By Hilary Bell. Songs Composed by Phillip Johnston. Ensemble Theatre, Sydney. Directed by Damien Ryan. 27 November 2022 – 9 January 2023

Seen : 4 December, 2022

Photo : Jaimi Joy

Not reviewed by Carol; however Carol says this is an excellent production and well worth the travel to Milsons Point. With John Bell and Valerie Bader, how could it not be! A very unusual telling of the tale; exciting use of a small set; juxtaposition of period costume and current technology (told with a laugh), puppetry, and some clever audience involvement (not to mention community singing!). Extremely difficult direction, probably only successful because of the high quality of the cast.

A play which focuses on stagecraft, humour and the easy and comfortable relationship between the cast members (and crew too, at one point).  Very suitable for young people (maybe late pre-teens and above – the subtlety and humour might be lost on very young children).

Kinky Boots

Book Harvey Fierstein, Music: Cyndi Lauper. Packemin Productions, Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. Director: Jessica Fallico. September 9 – 24, 2022.

Viewed : September 17, 2022

Photo : Grant Leslie Photography

Not reviewed by Carol Wimmer. She says  “A great production by Packemin, as usual”.

See review by Lynn Belvedere in Sydney Arts Guide

Moulin Rouge – The Musical

Book by John Logan. Presented by Carmen Pavlovic, Gerry & Val Ryan and Global Creatures. Capitol Theatre. From June 2022

Previously reviewed : June 3, 2022

Photo : Michelle Grace Hunder

Review

Her Brilliant Career

By Alice Spigelman; Moira Blumenthal Productions; directed by Moira Blumenthal; Gallery Room, State Library of NSW; 16 – 19 June, 2022.

Seen : 19 June, 2022

Illustration : website

Presented as a staged reading at the State Library. Performed by James Bean, Annie Byron, Jessica Patterson and Wendy Strehlow. Dramaturg :Tim McGarry

Her Brilliant Career looks through the prism of Miles Franklin’s explosive relationship with her mother, as the play brings to life Miles’ stellar rise to fame as a young girl and why she was never able to repeat that success. We see her refusal to commit to marriage; her years in Chicago working alongside the Suffragettes, and why she had to stay away from Australia for close to 30 years yet remained a trenchant nationalist who joined a nationalist/pro-fascist group on her return. Haunted by poverty and failure, she established the Miles Franklin Award, which remains Australia’s highest literary prize.

The State Library was a home away from home for Miles where she often arranged to have tea with one of the librarians. It was to the State Library that she bequeathed her papers, journals and diaries.