Music, literature and arts journal

Welcome to a blog of warped arts reviews, potpourri poetry, quirky and weird thoughts from the gentle mind of a versatile Gemini.

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Saturday 21 July 2007

Triple Threat - theatre review


Brendan Rock, Carmel Johnson and Elena Carapetis in Central Park West. Photo:Matthew Nettheim




State Theatre Company of South Australia continues to produce and present innovative works to Adelaide audiences, with their latest venture 'Triple Threat' at the Dunstan Playhouse.

The production consists of three one-act plays from different playwrights whose works are renowned and popular. Presented with fifteen minute intervals between the plays, the best is left for last with Woody Allen's Central Park West the highlight, following Caryl Churchill's Hot Fudge and opens with Tennessee William's little known Talk To Me Like The Rain And Let Me Listen. It's as though 'Triple Threat' becomes an artistic avalanche rolling downhill, gathering momentum and excitement with each play becoming more entertaining than the previous offering.


Thrice As Nice by Linh


The action and characters in Tennessee Williams' Talk To Me Like The Rain And Let Me Listen reflects the play's title. The mood is dreary, the situation between the characters is bleak and they seem to be lost in their own world rather than engaging in dialogue. The monologues further draw the characters apart despite their close physical proximity to each other.

The play is set in a hotel room where a couple are in love and despair, with Kate Box giving a compelling performance as the woman and Nathan O'Keefe is equally mesmerising as the man. Yet the talented pair and director Netta Yashchin struggle to make the piece rise out of its doldrums and capture the audience's interest. It's a play that goes nowhere...just like raindrops have nowhere to go but down.

Caryl Churchill's Hot Fudge is upbeat with engaging characters, featuring Elena Carapetis as the clever swindler Ruby and Brendan Rock as Colin, her new love interest. They both have secrets to hide and lie to each other to gain trust and approval. Kate Box gives a brilliant display of hurt, jealousy and obsession as Colin's alcholic ex-wife, who exposes Colin as a fraud and liar, before Ruby also confesses. Elena Carapetis' portrayal of Ruby is convincing with a solid interpretation of Ruby's motives. Brendan Rock is relaxed in the role of Colin and plays the character with enough depth and understanding to allow the audience to share in Colin's frustrations. The supporting cast is superb and provides plenty of laughs earlier in the play. Director Geordie Brookman does well to maintain the play's momentum for an interesting yet anti-climatic ending.

The finale of 'Triple Threat' is worth the wait, as Woody Allen's Central Park West proves to be extremely hilarious from beginning to end.
The play is set in an upper class apartment in Central Park West, home to the overly suspicious psychoanalyst Phyllis, who suspects her friend Carol is having an affair with her husband Sam. Little does she and Carol know that Sam is in love with Phyllis' former patient Juliet. Woody Allen's comedic touch and clever quips on marriage, men and dysfunctional love/relationships are well delivered from all in the cast.

Carmel Johnson is the standout performer in Central Park West who portrays Phyllis as a jaded woman yet with a cynical attitude to her husband's bed-hopping habits. Elena Carapetis is stunning in a Marilyn Monroe hair-style and pouty lips, delivering a fine performance as the ditzy friend Carol. Brendan Rock plays Carol's slightly loopy husband Howard, with an eccentric yet gentle nature to great effect. Rob MacPherson plays Phyllis' husband Sam with enough conviction, you'll soon warm to his character's dilemma. Kate Box makes a brief and memorable appearance as Sam's latest lover Juliet, who literally fires the parting shot.

Under Hannah Allert's fine direction, Central Park West had the audience roaring with laughter throughout for an enjoyable and entertaining end to three hours of an eclectic theatre experience.

Sunday 15 July 2007

Disney's High School Musical; musical theatre review

Promotional photograph from the smash hit film 'High School Musical'.


Teen Sensations by Linh

South Australia's newly formed musical theatre company Creative Souls Theatre does a brilliant job with the Adelaide premiere of Disney's 'High School Musical'.

'High School Musical' is a fresh take on musical elements of 'Grease - the Musical' fused with similar high energy dance sequences. The story follows two young lovers, Troy Bolton the jock and basketball star, and Gabriella Montez the highly intelligent new girl at East High. They share a secret passion to sing and fall in love when they meet at a Karaoke contest. Their attempts to audition for the high school musical 'Juliet and Romeo' are thwarted by envious drama queen Sharpay Evans and other class mates.

Sixteen year old Harry Breese plays the affable and physically flexible Troy, whose duets with Gabriella are showstoppers. Harry shows vocal maturity with fluid musicality in What I've Been Looking For and Start Of Something New, and brings humour and fine athletic abilities during Getcha Head In The Game while simultaneously dancing and bouncing basketballs.

Young performer Lucy Russell has the velvety vocals to play a sweet and determined Gabriella Monez. Lucy successfully conveys her character's emotions through song and movement in the duet I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You with Troy and for When There Was Me And You.

The standout performer is seventeen year old Emily Clark, who plays the conniving drama queen Sharpay Evans. A member of the Power Funk Squad, the hip hop team for Port Adelaide Football Club, Emily shows star quality on stage as well as on the field. Emily gives a brilliant bitchy edge to Sharpay and belts and bops her way through Bop To The Top with Ryan, and ignites the stage with a combination of funky dance steps and exquisite voice in the jazzy version of What I've Been Looking For also with Ryan.

Multitalented Josh Sanders plays Ryan Evans, the long suffering dance and singing partner to Sharpay and her fraternal twin, with gentle understanding and patience. Ryan is the calming Yin to Sharpay's raging Yang, but they are superb when both talents are combined for their audition duets. Josh's voice has rich tonal qualities and blends well with Emily Clark's to create gorgeous harmonies to rival Troy and Gabriella. When Josh isn't performing on stage, he's directing, producing, designing sets or illuminating the stage with his lighting skills.

Other notable mentions are Linda Ellis who plays extravagantly attired drama teacher Ms Darbus, with passionate overtures for performing arts, Chris Buhagia as Coach Bolton, the competitive and demanding basketball coach, and the wonderful supporting cast provide some laughs throughout.

Director Judy Sampson manages the ensemble cast of 58 teenagers and two adults, with the amazing talents of youths aged from 10 to 20, to create a stellar production consisting of memorable tunes, fabulous costumes and excellent performances.

Choreographer Becci Schembri works her magic to provide the intricate dance sequences and cheerleading routines which complements the production's catchy musical score.

Under the musical direction of Ria Loof, the audience kept the toes tapping and applause continuing following every song and dance scene.

'High School Musical' is a special family treat during the school holidays and is not just for the young, but also for the young at heart.