Jade Kops - Page 56

From attending the New Theatre 2015 season launch, it is clear from Artistic Director Louise Fischer's introduction that New Theatre is a "family" with a passion for what they create. The 2015 line up continues the company's legacy of staging productions that will challenge ideas and discuss issues, and even the plays that were written in other eras remain relevant to the current society.

Darlinghurst Theatre Company is the latest theatre company to re-stage the work of Nick Enright, this time with the clever and humorous DAYLIGHT SAVING. Director Adam Cook brings new life to this work that, in covering the challenges of careers, relationships, desire and "wanting it all", remains as relevant today as it was when it was first staged in 1989.

Sydney Theatre Company brings Edmond Rostand's CYRANO DE BERGERAC to life with a new staging of Andrew Upton's adaptation of the classic love story. The fast paced, witty interpretation starring Richard Roxburgh, as the soldier poet with the unfortunate nose, Cyrano De Bergerac, had the audience roaring with laughter at the clever dialogue and moved with emotion at the unfolding love story.

Mitchell Butel returns to the cabaret stage with KILLING TIME, first performed at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2010. The award winning busy actor and singer is taking Sunday nights off from his role in EMERALD CITY and television and movie work to share this updated show with Sydney audiences. Butel has given the 90 minute show a few tweeks, added some new songs and updated references, keeping it fresh so even if you've seen the 2010 version, or bought the CD, it's worth seeing this incarnation.

Sydney Theatre Company's latest offering, SWITZERLAND, by Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith draws on the life of Texan native Patricia Highsmith, famous for writing psychological thrillers with her most famous character being Tom Ripley, to create an insight into the writer's reclusive life and place her in a mystery of her own.

The Griffin Theatre Company's production of David Williamson's EMERALD CITY is an amazing piece of theatre that captures the complexity of surviving in 1980's Sydney beautifully.

THE WHARF REVUE: OPEN FOR BUSINESS is a fast paced, cleverly scripted and superbly delivered political satire where all the players in the current political landscape are fair game, and even a few old names are included.

The one act, 90 minute, MIRACLE CITY is a humorous jab at television evangelists whilst exploring humanity's darker side and exposing the truths beneath the bright shiny orchestrated images. It provides an enjoyable evening of laughs, strong singing and some plot twists which ensure that the musical is still relevant and relatable to 2014 audiences as it was in 1996.

CELTIC LEGENDS is a high energy taste of Irish culture, showcasing some of Ireland's talent. With a simple set of 6 lit banners topped with a celtic knot, the 6 piece band drive the show from the rear of the stage with both their own musical features and providing music for the 18 dancers.

Squabbalogic's production of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM helps to answer the question that the NEW YORK magazine posed in 1994, "Is Stephen Sondheim God?". The revue of Sondheim's work, originally conceived and directed in 2010 by James Lapine, who has had a long connection with the composer, takes the audience on a journey through Sondheim's life, his creations, and creative process, all narrated by Sondheim himself by way of video recordings and archive footage projected onto a large screen above the stage.

Well recognised British actor David Suchet is joined by an international cast to bring Roger Crane's mystery, THE LAST CONFESSION, to Australian audiences with the right mix of emotion, passion and humour. Crane explores the sudden death of Pope John Paul I, 33 days after his election in this cleverly constructed play that draws on factual events and challenges beliefs.

Peter Rutherford and James Millar's LOVEBITES is a witty musical that explores a number of different types of relationships from the perspectives of new love and the effect of time with the occasional twist. This latest staging makes good use of the intimate space at Hayes Theatre and is a tight and polished performance that incites laughter, knowing groans as the audience relates to the cliches, and tears as the show proves that love is complicated.

The historic State Theatre in Sydney was filled with John Denver fans on Sunday night and they were not disappointed. New Zealander Bevan Gardiner recreates Denver's sound beautifully and even looks like the man he pays tribute to with blonde hair and western shirt. The show, produced with John Denver Management approval and support from Denver's personal manager and friend Harold Thau, is a mix of concert and documentary of Denver's life with projections of archival footage, voice over and live music.

The Helpmann Awards, which has recognised the achievements in live performance in Australia since 2001, is the Australian industry's equivalent of the Tony Awards and the Olivier Awards.

The Helpmann Awards are Australia's version of Broadway's Tony Awards and London's Olivier Awards. The annual awards recognise achievement in live performance including musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, cabaret, opera, classical music, theatre, dance and physical theatre.

Michael Griffiths delves into the love and life of award winning singer and songwriter, Annie Lennox, in his latest cabaret SWEET DREAMS: SONGS BY ANNIE LENNOX in this beautifully crafted tribute.

Whilst many may have come to see DAVID CAMPBELL SINGS JOHN BUCCHINO based on David Campbell's local profile, the audience was treated to a wonderful insight into the man behind the music, the award winning, John Bucchino. The show was very much Bucchino's story and Campbell was the voice for the music. It was a delight to see these long-time friends partner for this show and their album, also called, DAVID CAMPBELL SINGS JOHN BUCCHINO.

The final weekend of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival bought the incredible Darlene Love's concert An Evening with Darlene Love to an enthusiastic Adelaide audience for a one night only engagement.

In a white dinner jacket and striped waistcoat, toting a violin case Mark Nadler sets the mood for his new show Runnin' Wild - Songs and Scandals of the Roaring 20's with his own arrangement of Cole Porter's Lets Misbehave, and Lets Do It and Harrington Gibbs, Joel Grey and Leo Wood's Runnin' Wild as he transports his audience to the sex, drug and alcohol fueled era of prohibition. The medley, with a pared back self accompaniment on the piano, highlights the cheeky wide eyed enthusiasm synonymous with Nadler's performance style that draws the audience in so effectively. Nadler is joined by Sophia MacRae on clarinet, appropriately dressed in flapper dress and feathers and Rob Chenoweth on Trumpet.

Adelaide local Megan Doherty brings her next instalment of her personal growth to the stage with her new show DIRTY THIRTY.