Adelaide Theatre Guild Student Society. Little Theatre. 16 Sep 2023
George Orwell’s 1984 should be on every university student’s must-read list, along with The Hobbit, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, A Separate Reality, Brave New World, and George Orwell again, Animal Farm. English writer Orwell’s fable, Animal Farm, was penned when WWII was barely over in August 1945 to illustrate how fascism takes root, ie: Hitler and Germany. Four years later, 1984 is a cautionary tale of dystopian totalitarian Britain. Orwell’s nemesis this time was Russia’s communism. These themes earned Orwell his own descriptive adjective: Orwellian. And first-time Adelaide Theatre Guild Student Society’s director Oswin Kwan may know something about this, having re-located from Hong Kong in 2018 after the failed Umbrella Movement of 2014. The Chinese government has recently disappeared its foreign and defense ministers.
Californian Michael Gene Sullivan wrote this adaptation in 2006. While the novel is chronologically linear, Sullivan chose to set the action during the interrogation of the hapless Winston Smith with the context and events leading up to that point weaved in as flashback, often abstractly, using physical movement and multiple role-playing.
The topic is important, and the novel is famous so the play should be seen, but there are many theatrical elements that let the show down. Party members are suitably dressed alike in blue jumpsuit-type outfits suggesting blind unity and alienation (costumes: Jehosheba Manoa). We’ll get to The Interrogator later, but our protagonist, Winston Smith, played by Liam Warmeant, is dressed in a white get-up resembling Indian traditional dress. As the audience takes seats before lights up, Warmeant lounges for a considerable time on a platform that one may guess is wired up for torture. That may have overly relaxed him; his Smith often sits cross-legged and looks as blissed out as a yoga instructor. Nothing seems to ruffle him, not all the shouting that’s going on, not his desperate predicament, not what should have been a torrid and excitingly furtive relationship with Julia, played with nearly equally unsuitable equanimity by Veronika Wlodarczyk. Ooooooommmmmm. The sparks of humanity never catch fire and they seem to suffer from dissocia.
The party members, played by Henry Chipperfield, Rajiv Paranavithana and Lily Watkins, are performed without nuance but with extraordinary volume that frequently strains enunciation. Watkins presented a lovely character in the shopkeeper. Abstract physical movement often seems pointless or is a poor replacement for some real action (movement director: Deli Cooper).
Adam Bullmore was a very welcome addition late in the piece. After a decade in the army, Bullmore’s gone arty. His Interrogator is nattily attired, and he performs with an intimidating panache that reminds of Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet. Although a very nuanced, suave and intelligent performance, it was all hard work for Bullmore as Warmeant’s Smith remained relatively unfazed, even when confronted with a diabolical torture that should have caused him unimaginable fear and anxiety and turned stomachs over in the audience.
Although Sullivan may not have made the best choices in his adaptation, there is a whole lot more to get out this script.
David Grybowski
When: 14 to 17 Sep
Where: The Little Theatre
Bookings: Closed
State Opera South Australia. Her Majesty’s Theatre. 7 Sep 2023
State Opera South Australia’s current production of Verdi’s Macbeth is a visual and aural feast: the costuming, setting, lighting, singing (both solo and ensemble), and orchestra are all first rate, dramatic, and importantly, empathetic to the storyline. The fundamental elements are all there, in abundance, but the production doesn’t land a killer punch because the drama is often wasted through ‘stand and sing’ blocking, particularly in Acts 1 and 2.
State Opera have chosen to present the original 1847 version of Verdi’s masterpiece from his early compositional period, rather than the 1865 revision that was specifically tailored for a French audience. The modifications were numerous: the aria of Lady Macbeth at the beginning of the second act, the dances and the duet between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the third act, the chorus of the exiles and the final hymn of victory were all changed. Arguably, the 1847 version is more satisfying.
The story of Macbeth is well known and hardly needs recounting. In brief, Macbeth is told by witches that he will soon become King of Scotland. On hearing this, Lady Macbeth - his wife - urges him to take matters into his own hands and expedite the prophesy. So, he murders King Duncan, becomes the new king, and, guilt ridden and becoming increasingly paranoic, he murders even more to protect his position. Similarly conscience-stricken, Lady Macbeth is driven to madness and kills herself as Civil war erupts which results in Macbeth’s own demise. The essence of Shakespeare’s story is preserved in Piave’s libretto, but by necessity the text is pared right down. Even so, the opera comes in at around one hundred and fifty minutes. A major challenge for any production of Macbeth, whether it be of the original play or of the opera, is to clearly dramatize the mental and emotional consequences of unchecked naked ambition. In the opera, the libretto and Verdi’s powerful score only go part way to assist in this. The lion’s share of the challenge rests with the director, but Stuart Maunder tends to have his principal cast members largely stand and deliver presumably in the belief that the text, music and singing of itself is sufficient to convey the psychological drama that should be playing out on stage. On occasion, the transition from one scene to the next was stilted, leading to incongruities such as jolly music overlapping the preceding solemn scene of the murdered king’s body being ceremoniously removed.
The ingredient that is often missing, especially in the first half of the performance, is explicit characterisation, of which the talented cast is more than capable. The opening night audience seemed to be aware of this, and applause was often muted. However, Acts 3 and 4 were a different ball game, and the production truly hit its straps with deservedly enthusiastic responses from the audience.
José Carbó delivers a stoic yet calculating Macbeth. He sings Verdi extremely well, and his energetic and powerful depiction of Macbeth as a self-destructing and obsessed despot in the closing scenes are riveting. His Pietà, rispetto, amore is sublime. As Lady Macbeth, Kate Ladner is at her best in the iconic sleep walking scene, and her rendition of Una macchia è qui tuttora is almost unnerving. Oh, that Carbó and Ladner would unleash similar intensity in Acts 1 and 2!
Pelham Andrews plays an imposing and dignified Banquo and his Studia il passo mio figlio is sung with grave conviction and a sense of foreboding, almost as a portent of his own murder. Impressive.
Paul O’Neill is an impressive Macduff. His O figli, o figli miei … Ah la paterna mano is incredibly touching. We see him lamenting the murder of a king and wrestling with the fact that he must himself avenge that death by murdering a king as well, albeit an illegitimate one. The audience gave him the biggest applause for the night up to that point.
The State Opera Chorus played multiple roles and were at their best as the innocent victims of war as they sang the heart rending Pattria oppressa chorus at the start of Act 4. Every syllable of every word could be clearly heard as if it was being sung by just one person. Credit to Chorus master Anthony Hunt. Their costuming, designed by Rodger Kirk, underlined their downtrodden status as an oppressed people, and Trudy Dalgleish’s lighting complemented the visual imagery superbly, as it did throughout the production. Indeed, the set design (also by Kirk) and the lighting were highlights. The overall design was deceptively simple, but incredibly commanding, versatile, and effective. The apparition of the parade of kings before Macbeth was especially effective, with the imposing movable columns that comprised the essence of the set being used to mask the ghostly spectres. Genius really.
Finnegan Downie Dear conducted the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra with clarity. Of course, as an audience member one is always aware of the sound that emerges from the orchestra pit, but it shouldn’t always be the primary focus. It needs to complement the action, rather than being a driving or motivating force itself. That is how he conducted. He understands the intent of the poetry of the libretto, and how Verdi’s score draws out the meaning. When it was appropriate that the music take centre stage, Finnegan Downie Dear unleashed the forces of the ASO with vigour without losing musicality.
This Macbeth is a co-production with the West Australian Opera. It was first performed in Perth in 2019, and was to be performed in Adelaide in 2020, but COVID ended that plan. Finally, three years later Adelaide audience get to see Macbeth put to the sword. Good things are worth waiting for!
Kym Clayton
When: 7 to 16 Sep
Where: Her Majesty’s Theatre
Bookings: ticketek.com.au
The Adelaide Repertory Theatre. Arts Theatre. 1 Sep 2023
Make ‘em laugh. It’s a showbiz catch-cry. For comedic actors, audience laughter is a veritable drug.
But, high comedy is the hardest of the arts, not only in the need for extremely skilful writing but in the timing, timing, timing of the actors.
Noises Off may be the ultimate test case. Written by the master of English farce, Michael Frayn, it is an insanely busy play with an awful lot of doors and props plus a complex reversible set.
In three acts, it depicts a comedy called Nothing On in rehearsal and in production with one act devoted to that same show on tour as seen from backstage.
Escalating mayhem is the shortest description. The characters are classic old school thespians complete with offstage relationships and quirks. There’s lots of luvvie and darling and ego massaging; quite close to the bone, really.
As an unfunded non-professional company with a small crew, the Rep has been wildly ambitious in staging this monster of theatrical silliness, but David Sinclair is a seasoned and seemingly fearless director who has designed the English country house set with its two floors of doors and its very important garden window. It all sort of works and even if it doesn’t, it is grist for the mill of a play about everything going wrong.
There are some lovely performances in this production in which bad performances are good. Outstandingly terrible and utterly adorable is Cassie Gaiter as Brook, the shrill and wooden ingenue. Wide-eyed with big batting eyelashes and wearing high white boots and sexy black undergarments, she stands out like a traffic light. Her character is there for a naughty weekend with the handsome young letting agent who thinks the house is empty. But, of course, it already contains the trusty, crusty factotum, Mrs Clackett, who, aptly embodied by Julie Quick, is being played by an old darling of the stage who has endless trouble remembering her cues and props. Sardines will never be the same again.
So, because each actor is playing an actor, there are double cast names and even a program within the program. And the “empty” country house is a scene of double trysts and lots of twists.
Thomas Filsell gives a breathtaking performance in the shoes of the romantic rental agent. Heart-in-your-mouth prat fall department. Truly.
Peter Davis gives authority to the role of the exhausted director with Brad Martin properly a complete pain as the complete pain, Freddie Fellows, and Robyn Brooks hilarious as the stereotypical over-informed, over-helpful cast member. Then there’s beloved old stalwart Ian Rigney playing the beloved old stalwart with a drinking problem who, in turn, is playing the burglar. He has some of the best lines in the play.
Last but never least are Maxine Grubel as the actress playing the assistant stage manager, Polly, and Jamie Wright as her hapless senior - both called upon to go far beyond the line of duty.
If all of this is not quite clear, bad luck.
The play itself is there to be seen in The Arts. Complete with awful wigs and a character wearing unlucky green onstage.
Whatever wasn’t working on the first night is sure to be working on the next night. If one can work out what is meant and not meant to work.
It can only get faster and funnier as the season runs in.
Samela Harris
When: 1 to 9 Sep
Where: The Arts Theatre
Bookings: trybooking.com
Therry Theatre. Arts Theatre. 18 Aug 2023
The play’s title only really makes sense after one has seen the play. And it is unlikely anyone has bought a ticket on account of it.
But the company and director Jude Hines believed enough in the play to put it up there and, indeed, lavish an extravaganza of production details upon it.
Because it is worth it.
Home, I’m Darling is a spiffingly good piece of contemporary theatre.
Playwright Laura Wade is swiftly emerging as a “someone” on the British drama scene and the adventurous cultural layering of this play signals why. It intermeshes a wealth of rather serious themes while retaining a bright, satirical spirit. The characters are interesting and likeable. There are surprise plot twists. There are meaty arguments. And, oh, my dear, the frocks are lovely.
The play depicts the odd domestic life of a retrenched finance executive fulfilling a lifelong little girl dream of living in the 1950s. Her hapless real estate agent husband goes along with it and, fastidiously, they recreate a 1950s house complete with 60-year-old refrigerator, bread crock, and housekeeping manual. Thus, with cocktails and hot dinner there to greet her husband as he comes home from work, does Judy recreate the lifestyle of yore. She has the most gorgeous vintage wardrobe to go with it. Theirs is picture book marital bliss. For years.
A potential promotion and a new boss at Johnny’s work slowly nibble at the edges of this carefully confected lifestyle along with friends who are a bit over it. Judy’s zeal, determination, and feminine ingenuity inevitably are challenged.
Alicia Zorkovic is a compelling Judy. It’s a lithe and nuanced performance. Similarly, Stephen Bills as Johnny makes a meal of milquetoast as he finds his way towards some semblance of normality. What with their best friends, divertingly characterised by Jessica Corrie and Adam Schultz, they roll forth the full catastrophe of the old sexist mores of yore, bringing the audience to gasps and cheers.
The action rolls along and the audience rolls with it, clearly having a good time. Everyone soon is singing along to the well-chosen fifties musical timepieces which disguise the perhaps overly long scene changes.
They meet Johnny’s new boss, Alex, very smoothly embodied by Lani Geri, and also, most significantly, there’s Judy's long-suffering mother, Sylvia, from whom there is an utterly memorable performance by Deborah Walsh. She delivers the defining moment of the show drawing together all the questions and pointers that the plot has been eliciting. Nostalgia. What’s it all about?
It’s tour-de-force stuff but not over the top. Director Hines has embraced an easy naturalistic style for the dialogue. It works. The whole production works. It is clever, pithy, pertinent, engrossing - and fun.
The only element that perhaps upstages the story and the acting is the set. It is a huge, two-storey lifesized doll’s house with bathroom and bedroom upstairs, living room and very busy 50s kitchen downstairs. From the hand painted wallpaper to the shining taps, no detail is omitted. It is 1950s Good Housekeeping Magazine in technicolour 3D.
And, talking of loving husbands and wives and the 1950s, this marvel of a retro dream home was the creation of none other than the director’s own husband, Gary Anderson.
Samela Harris
When: 18 to 26 Aug
Where: The Arts Theatre
Bookings: trybooking.com
Watercooler Talent & The Harbour Agency. Dunstan Playhouse – Adelaide Festival Centre. 12 Aug 2023
The show was just about to start and you could cut the tension with a knife! Many audience members – in eager anticipation - donned colourful Hans-like costumes topped with Tyrolean hats. But Hans had to wait a wee moment. People were on the edge of their seats, clustered in groups around mobile phones, thrilled by the sudden death penalty shot round of the Matildas vs France quarter-final game. Then a cheer rang through the theatre; people stood up and hugged with joy and relief. This was the best possible mood for Hans to continue the celebrations with an energetic and highly entertaining disco party.
Hans is an Adelaide cabaret stalwart, and he has broken through the Fringe barrier, this weekend playing two sold-out nights in the big tent. The theatre was full of Hansophiles accumulated from a 25-year career. And Hans has something to celebrate besides the Matildas. About a year ago, he drifted off the stage during a show on a cruise ship in the Aegean and fell four metres into the orchestra pit thereby fracturing five vertebrae and a foot. Aside from singing a couple of songs in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Gala and receiving the festival’s Icon Award, this is his comeback show which will tour SA and Queensland (he may need a safety net) after this weekend.
Hans is Hans and Hans is great fun. He’s a strange brew of a transvestite-looking act with self-parody, stand-up comic, terrific audience rapport, self-promotion and chutzpah - all backed by multiple musical talents.
He wears a girdle to protect his broken and healing spine, but it tops off mid-chest and creates an unflattering misshape highlighted by his trademark show-all skin-tight jumpsuits. Best to consult the costume department.
Definitely a disco theme with whacky psychedelic and constantly whizzing graphic lighting coeval with the ‘80s pop covers with terrific new disco-ised arrangements. Hans is helped by a couple of dancers in costumes from the last century who double as chorus and also sing admirable duets during Hans’s costumes changes. The choreography is not special though the bass guitarist and drummer seemed an orchestra.
The disco fever was interspersed with tales of Hans’s tribulations suitably told with nautically inspired songs, eg: Rock The Boat, sound and lights, as well as lovely banter with the audience. Anticipating his audience anticipating some Hans favourites, he indeed brings out the accordion, tickles the piano, and conducts a few singalongs including Edelweiss. Hans works an audience with gusto, and he picks on a lucky six whom he refers to for the duration of the whole show - they eventually seem like old friends. Two lucky men got pulled on stage, then off into the wings presumably for a bit of coaching. They reemerged in tutus and were compelled to dance in the most wildly successful audience participation schtick I have ever seen! That says a lot for Hans’s camaraderie and for creating a safe, yet still highly volatile situation.
The show’s energy constantly increases, culminating in a crescendo of dance, disco and balloons. You have to hail Hans as unstoppable. There is a familiarity that breeds mutual admiration. He’s self-labelled, “the Taylor Swift of the 5AA audience.” He loves that audience and they love him. I wish I could be in north Queensland when he is unleashed there with all his flamboyance.
Bravo!
David Grybowski
When: Touring 16 Aug to 2 Dec
Where: Various Locations around Australia
Bookings: hansofficial.com