THE WHARF REVUE - THE END OF THE WHARF AS WE KNOW IT

Created by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott

Musical Direction by Phillip Scott

Directed by Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe

Presented by Canberra Theatre Centre & Soft Tread Enterprises

Canberra Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre to November 2

 

Reviewed by Len Power 26 October 2024

 

If politics is the beast we must have, at least we’ve had the Wharf Revue at the end of each year to put it all in a better and hilarious perspective. After 25 years, this year’s show is to be the last. Nothing goes on forever, but the full house at the Canberra Theatre on opening night gave the performers a well-deserved sendoff.

Once again, the quality of the humour and political satire was up there with the best. The creators and performers, Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsyth and Phillip Scott, with the addition of the other cast members, Mandy Bishop and David Whitney, presented a bewildering number of sketches, songs and film clips in which no-one in the political arena was safe from their incisive humour.

Jonathan Biggins as Paul Keating

The show commenced with Jonathan Biggins in his uncanny persona as Paul Keating, who assured us that “the age of enlightenment never happened”. Miriam Margolyes, farts and all, with a tipsy Joanna Lumley gave us “Mad Ducks And Englishmen” and Annabel Crabb hosted the TV’s “Hindsight”, a continuing theme in the show on various hot topics.

Mandy Bishop (Joanna Lumley) and Phillip Scott (Miriam Margolyes)

Trying to list every personality presented in the course of the show is impossible but there were nicely devastating portrayals of Bob Katter, Tony Abbott, Gina Reinhardt, Clive Palmer, Geoffrey Robertson, Julia Gillard, Alan Koehler, Anthony Albanese, Bob Hawke, Kevin Rudd and many others.

Mandy Bishop as Jacqui Lambi

Highlights were Jonathan Biggins singing in a skimpy sparkling dress as Angus Taylor Swift, David Whitney as Peter Dutton declaring “Nuclear’s Here” and Mandy Bishop singing up a storm as Jacqui Lambi. There were also Phillip Scott’s “I’m A Boomer”, Drew Forsyth’s delightfully edgy and cross Pauline Hanson talking about skulbuggery and King Charles’ chlorination and the clever film and song on the state of America was a thoughtful and chilling change of pace.

Drew Forsythe as Pauline Hanson

The high quality of the scripting, the frantic pace of the production, Phillip Scott’s musical direction and the clever costuming and wigs made this a superbly executed entertainment.

Running over 90 minutes without an interval, the show came to an end all too soon with a farewell song to the tune of “Seasons Of Love” from the musical “Rent”. It was hard to believe this was the last Wharf Revue but, with luck, maybe they were bending the truth like the politicians they satirise so well.

 

Photos by Vishal Pandey

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

 

LOVE FROM A STRANGER (PLAY)

Written by Agatha Christie

Directed by Jon Elphick

Tempo Theatre Inc production

Belconnen Theatre, Belconnen to November 2

 

Reviewed by Len Power 25 October 2024

 

Opening in London in 1936, Love From A Stranger is based on Agatha Christie’s short story Philomel Cottage, which was first published in 1934. It’s the story of a woman who breaks off her engagement and impulsively marries a stranger, only to suspect him of dark deeds in his past.

This play is more of a Will-He-Do-It than a Whodunnit, but anyone thinking this is a more straight-forward mystery than usual, will be caught napping as Christie stealthily controls the minds of her unsuspecting audience yet again.

Elphick has assembled a fine cast of 8 to tell this story. It’s notable for the depth of character work that he and the cast have achieved to bring these 1930s people convincingly to life.

Lilliana Cazabon-Mitchell brings a believable innocence to the role of Cecily Harrington, a typical middle-class young woman of the period. Eloise Willis, as her friend, Mavis Wilson, quickly establishes herself as the more worldly of the two women. George Belibassakis gains audience sympathy with his nicely controlled performance as the jilted fiancé, Nigel Lawrence.

Bradley Jones (Bruce Lovell) and Lilliana Cazabon-Mitchell (Cecily Harrington)

Bradley Jones as the man of mystery, Bruce Lovell, is convincingly charming when he first meets Cecily and carefully adds layers of darkness to his character as the play progresses. Some of the later psychological aspects of his character show that this is a play of its time, but Jones plays the threatening behaviour at a believable level.

Debra Byrne  (Auntie Loo Loo) and Eloise Willis (Mavis Wilson)

Debra Byrne excels with her humorous character study of the interfering and bigoted middle-aged Auntie Loo Loo and there is especially strong support by Chris McGrane as a very funny gardener, Hodgson. Jessica Slusser as the maid, Ethel, and Kim Wilson as Dr. Gribble also give finely etched characterizations.

The women’s costumes and hats are attractive and nicely in period and the design of the two settings is artfully handled to give the impression of two completely different locations.

The entire cast of 'Love From A Stranger'

Renowned world-wide for her record number of murder mystery novels, Agatha Christie also wrote quite a number of plays. Jon Elphick, the director of Christie’s Love From A Stranger, has now directed 12 of them, which must be some kind of record, too.

 

Photos by Peter Butz - Methinks Creative

 

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 26 October 2024.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

 

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (PLAY)

Written by Rick Ellice

Based on the novel “Peter and the Starcatchers”

by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Music by Wayne Barker

Directed by David Morton

Dead Puppet Society, Glass Half Full Productions,

Jones Theatrical Group and Damien Hewitt Production

The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre to 27 October

 

Reviewed by Len Power 24 October 2024

 

J.M. Barrie’s much-loved play and novel about Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, has been a powerful story that we remember fondly from childhood. “Peter and the Starcatcher”, a prequel of sorts to Barrie’s work, takes us back once again to that magical world, telling a story of Peter and how his faith in himself gave him the ability to fly.

Re-imagined from the 2012 Broadway production that won 5 Tony Awards, this new and lavish Australian production is a crazy and magical ride full of colourful characters and situations with a strong and emotional message of yearning and wish-fulfilment.

The orphans - Otis Dhangi (Boy-Peter), Benjin Maza (Ted) and Morgan Francis (Prentiss)

The large ensemble cast skilfully play orphans, British subjects and sea-farers. Outstanding in the cast are Colin Lane as Black Stache, the pirate Captain, Otis Dhagi as the orphan boy who becomes Peter, Olivia Deeble as Molly, the Starcatcher, Pete Helliar as the pirate, Smee, and Ryan Gonzalez as Fighting Prawn, the leader of the Mollusks, a group of ship-wrecked Italian chefs.

Underwater magic

The design work in this show is breath-taking, creating a world full of imagination. Magical effects and puppetry enhance the show at every turn and it moves at a frenetic pace. Designer and director of the show, David Morton, clearly had a vision which he has impressively realized.

The original and tuneful music of Wayne Barker is played by an onstage ensemble led by James Dobinson. The songs are performed very well by the cast, especially a very funny number sung by mermaids at the start of the second act.

The mermaids

“Peter and the Starcatcher” is a delightful and very funny show. Its powerful message reminds us that a sense of wonder is still there in the child in all of us.

 

Photos by Daniel Boud

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.