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Adaptation is hard, particularly when it comes to adapting beloved movies to the stage. Some shows like Legally Blonde do a wonderful job of taking what was good in the source material and creating something new. I cannot say the same for Sister Act. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if the composers of Sister Act had only ever read a synopsis of the movie. Nevertheless, this show has broad appeal and name recognition, and so it exists. I like to preface when my opinion of the m

There is something especially satisfying about seeing a community theatre company take on a large, familiar musical and make it work within the honest limits of the space available. Mosman Musical Society’s production of Oliver!, staged at the Zenith Theatre in Chatswood, does exactly that. It is warm, disciplined, well-paced and performed with obvious care by a very large cast who understand both the charm and the darkness of Lionel Bart’s much-loved musical. I should also d

As an English teacher, I went into this production with curiosity and a fear that flipping the script on the classic Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet would lack depth — but Penrith Musical Comedy Company and the vision of John Forbes delivered an absolutely stellar, joyful and hilarious production. & Juliet is based on the question: what if Juliet never died over Romeo? Being a millennial English teacher, the Shakespeare references, 90s bangers and sprinkled rhyming couplets ha

I have never said "hey, that is where that song is from" more than seeing Hornsby Musical Society's production of Sweet Charity. Numbers like Big Spender and If My Friends Could See Me Now have transcended the show, and so often people encounter them removed from their original context. Normally when this happens, seeing the show makes the song richer and often makes more sense; however, if I am honest, I really dislike Sweet Charity. On paper it has some good songs, great mu

I am often late to the party when it comes to new musicals. You name a new and exciting show and I guarantee you I was months, if not years, behind. Ride the Cyclone had never really been on my radar; when I asked someone what it was about I was told it is kind of like Six, but spooky. They were not entirely wrong, and of course it was a simplification, but they were not quite right. Both shows are one-act pieces that give the characters an individual story beat in order to w

Clever staging and a talented cast create the perfect ‘icy’ setting for a heartwarming rendition of ‘Frozen Jr’ with North Shore Theatre Company. The Zenith Theatre at Chatswood is packed with an enthusiastic audience, there to support the opening performance of the Snowflakes cast. Little ones in Elsa and Anna dresses all around me are suitably impressed with the visual growth and character development that occurs seamlessly on stage, as Young Anna and Young Elsa grow up bef

I have seen a lot of theatre in the last few years, and one thing I have learnt is that I have a shocking blind spot for classic shows. When I started getting into theatre, they weren't at the forefront of the zeitgeist. But every now and then one of them pops back into rotation and I get to fill in the blanks. All I had ever known about Guys and Dolls before making my way to Rockdale Town Hall to see the Regals' latest production were the songs Sit Down, You're Rockin' the

As a timeless tale and a huge part of my childhood, I went into this production with high expectations—and Willoughby Theatre Company exceeded them in every way. Their exceptional and truly spine-tingling staging of Beauty and the Beast was nothing short of mesmerising. Director Court Cassar should be immensely proud of this masterstroke. From the casting and choreography to the seamless music, lighting, special effects, transformative set design, and incredible makeup and co

For those who aren’t as familiar with musical theatre, a song cycle is a collection of songs coupled together where they all represent a particular theme, topic or point of concern to address. Some of them are poorly written, whilst other’s themes are vague and not clear to interpret. Neither of these things describe Carmel Dean’s “Well Behaved Women” however as it is a powerful and active collection of works that is malleable to use and opens much discussion from audiences b

The classic 2013 Disney film “Frozen” was an absolute hit amongst audiences of all ages for many years after its original release and lives on as a classic staple children’s film for many households worldwide. Therefore, when I found that it was turned into a musical for the stage 5 years later, I was absolutely over the moon. I am so glad that this show has finally transferred into amateur theatre companies across Australia over the coming years and I am privileged to be abl

As the countdown begins, you lay out the cookies, milk and carrots for Santa and see the Christmas lights as you drive down the street… a brand new Australian theatre show called “Believe – A Christmas Musical” has opened at the Lounge within the beautiful Chatswood Concourse. Within it, it tells the amazing story of the origin of Santa Claus and how he went from being a humble toy maker to being that big jolly man in red and white that we know and love! Under the director Ch

In the years I have spent seeing various theatre productions across the world, my fondest memories are always of seeing shows that just click. From the second the house lights go down the audience are taken on a journey that above all else, is fun . Fun can be a scary word for performers to see in a review, often worrying that it masks criticisms that the reviewer is too kind to give. However, in the case of Holroyd Musical and Dramatic Society’s latest theatrical endeavour,

I was so excited on Friday, 7 November to be attending the opening night of The Hunchback of Notre Dame , produced by the Hills Musical Theatre Company. It is my favourite musical because of the amazing score by Alan Menken and the heartfelt lyrics by Stephen Schwartz — and who doesn’t love a Disney film adaptation? But the main reason is that while I have been in the show, I have never seen it live. Photos courtesy of Grant Leslie With fingers crossed that it would be as bri

A wonderful blast of nostalgia from when we grew up; You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown presented by Beacon Musical Society, previously Eastwood Uniting Church Musical Society, is sure to delight the young and the young at heart with a production full of heart and love. Utilising a larger cast then traditional, director Penny Wilson, has shown a clear adoration for the original comic strip by Charles M. Schulz by incorporating a whole range of characters not in th

I have always wanted to see Greece in the summer time. Going on a beautiful Mediterranean holiday has always been something I have dreamed of doing but could never afford. However, with the current state the economy is in, I have come to the realisation I may not get a euro summer vacation any time soon… Photography courtesy of Grant Leslie To satiate this wanderlust while on a budget I have instead taken a staycation in my backyard and have found the perfect substitute to ca

Los Angeles, the land of glitz, glamour and greed. City of Angela is jazzy and wonderful. It tells the story of a film writer, woven together with a few love stories along the way. You can tell that Aiden Smith, the musical director, has worked hard with this cast because the singing was absolutely brilliant and pitch-perfect. I didn’t hear a single wrong note from any of the cast members. Starting off the show was great choreography planned out by Lauren Oxenham. Throughout

Stephen Sondheim’s Company is a targeted reflection on love, commitment and what it really means to be “alive”. It’s an intriguing story but, in the lead up to opening night, I couldn’t help but wonder whether its origins within a 1970s Manhattancontext would translate well to the interests and perspectives of an Australian audience in 2025. And while I’m always excited to see a young director’s debut, my Gen X brain was curious as to how the experiences of a single person t

Tick Tick…Boom, originally created as a solo work, tells the story of an aspiring composer named Jon, (Jonathan Larson) the Broadway...

As an English teacher, I’ve spent many lessons wading through Romeo and Juliet with my students, trying (and often failing) to summon...

I believe there is a three-point criterion that must be met before a musical can be called iconic: cultural relevance, memorable music,...