Review
A Doll’s House review: Nora breaks the shackles, but not our hearts
Joanna Murray-Smith has done a shrewd job of updating Ibsen’s play, without bruising its essence.
- by John Shand
Latest
★★★★
Arts
The glory and ugliness of showbiz laid bare in this razor-sharp show
There’s no one better to take us behind the curtain of Australia’s musical theatre world than Christie Whelan Browne.
- by Cameron Woodhead
So that was our first Rising arts festival. Did it live up to the hype?
Dance lovers had plenty of reasons to kick up their heels, the music program was expansive – but theatre was patchy and the White Night side was a damp squib.
- by Cameron Woodhead
★★★★
Rising Festival
Manifesto: when high-concept contemporary dance meets cheerleading
This dancing manifesto created by Melbourne-based choreographer Stephanie Lake is a call for more flash and more sizzle. And it’s thumping good fun.
- by Emma Sullivan, Carla Jaeger, Andrew Fuhrmann and Cameron Woodhead
★★★★★
Arts
Yes, Dorian Gray is that good. It’s tour de force theatre you mustn’t miss
This show is a timely reminder that – even during a pandemic – Australia can produce world-class theatre capable of taking the West End and Broadway by storm.
- by Cameron Woodhead
From the Archives, 1972: Bolder than bold ballet
Gone were the days when “Hair” was the boldest thing about town and frontal nudity had to be motionless.
- by Romola Costantino
★★★★
Arts
Four stars for a lavish, lovely, chocolate box Cinderella with gowns to die for
No expense was spared to make this musical as spectacular as possible, with opulent sets, magical transformations and a flying fairy godmother.
- by Jesse Lane, Cameron Woodhead and Tony Way
★★★★
Arts
You won’t believe your eyes with this magical Mary Poppins
A delightful new stage production brings the classic child’s tale to stunning life.
- by Cassie Tongue and John Shand
★★½
Arts
Can great drama come from climate catastrophe? Or is it just too hard?
“Cli-fi” – climate fiction – is a growing category, with two new stage shows on this week. But can coherent drama come from the big issue of our age?
- by Mary Varvaris, Tony Way, Cameron Woodhead and Jessica Nicholas
★★★★
Arts
Thinking about seeing the new, shorter Harry Potter? Here’s our critic’s review
It’s still a must-see, though cutting this epic production from two performances down to one meant losing some of the emotional depth.
- by Cameron Woodhead
★★★
Arts
A Letter for Molly: Four generations bring womanhood into focus
Brittanie Shipway’s new play stumbles across issues of identity, agency, and choice – with a delicacy of touch that is to its credit.
- by Harriet Cunningham