360

360 (4.0/5)
Sydney Dance Company
(Choreography: Rafael Bonachela)
Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane.
25th April 2009

Exciting! Very strong contemporary dance, no story just vivid movement at times hectic at other times delicate and gentle. No set as such, just a back wall of mirrors, reflecting the dances and giving a different (360) perspective. Set to a powerful soundtrack with which the choreography is well matched.

The Boat That Rocked

The Boat That Rocked (2.0/5)
(Director/writer: Richard Curtis)
Dendy Cinema, Circular Quay, Sydney
12th April 2009

A critical moment in music radio history - the end of pirate radio and beginning of BBC Radio 1. Curtis and his ensemble cast brilliantly portray an eclectic mix of stereo-typical DJ's. That, and a few good gags, is sadly all there is. A weak story isn't helped by peculiar editing into a series of loosely connected sketches. Whilst, legendary 60's music goes to waste in a contrived soundtrack.

Firebird and other legends

Firebird and other legends (3.5/5)

Australian Ballet

(Les Sylphides: choreography: Mikhail Fokine, music: Chopin, dancers: Robert Curran, Lucinda Dunn, Lana Jones, Laura Tong)

(Petrouchka: choreography: Mikhail Fokine, music: Stravinsky, dancers: Daniel Gaudiello - Petrouchka, Gina Brescianini - Ballerina, Paul Knobloch - Moor, Damien Welch - Showman)

(Firebird: choreography: Graeme Murphy, music: Stravinsky, dancers: Lana Jones - Firebird, Kevin Jackson – Tsarevich, Danielle Rowe – Tsarevna, Chengwu Guo - Kostchei)

Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House.

8^th April 2009

A well complimented trio. Curran is ideal as the partner and only male in the beautifully executed classical ballet of Les Syphides. By contrast Petrouchka emphasises character, the three puppets are delightfully brought to life. Firebird edges gently into a more contemporary style that whilst enjoyable might have benefited from more drama.

Welcome to the Sticks

Welcome to the Sticks (3.0/5)

(Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis)

Waiheke Island Community Cinema, Auckland, New Zealand.

6^th April 2009

(Director: Danny Boon. Stars: Kad Merad, Dany Boon, Zoe Felix)

Pleasant light comedy from France. The transfer of Merad’s post office manager from the desirable south of France to the cold north provides a pretext for Boon to mock the type of regional prejudices common in many countries. Superb subtitles fully exploit the Chitis (northern) dialect with great humour as touching relationships develop between the manager, his staff and his distant wife. The rustic venue strewn with sofas added to the evening’s charm.

The Cherry Orchard

The Cherry Orchard (1.5/5)

The Bridge Project

(Adapted by Tom Stoppard from Chekhov. Director: Sam Mendes. Sinead Cusack - Ranevaskaya, Simon Russell Beale – Lopakhin, Rebecca Hall – Varya, Ethan Hawke - Trofimov)
ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland, New Zealand

04^th April 2009

A bridge too far. This production makes little of either the comedy nor the tragedy of aristocratic ineptitude. Problems abound, lack-lustre adaption and direction, uneven performances from the Anglo-American cast and a venue that is more concert hall then theatre. Cusack and Beale are admirable, though if the Bolshevik’s had all been as uninspiring as Hawke’s student then the revolutionaries would still be fretting on their next move. This worthy enterprise needs better suited material.