SPIDER'S WEB (PLAY)

Written by Agatha Christie

Directed by Ylaria Rogers

Canberra REP production

Canberra REP Theatre, Acton to 9 August

 

Reviewed by Len Power 25 July 2025

 

Once again, you’re unlikely to guess the killer in this Agatha Christie murder mystery.  The Queen of Crime cleverly leads you through an intricate plot involving hidden doorways, true and false confessions, a butler and a gardener, the Ace of Hearts and invisible ink.

As well as her many famous novels and stories, Christie wrote a number of plays for the theatre. Spider’s Web, an original play, was written in 1953 at a peak in her play-writing period. Two other plays written by her, The Mousetrap and Witness For The Prosecution, were still running when this one opened in 1954 in London’s West End. It ran for 774 performances.

When Clarissa, the wife of a diplomat, finds a dead body in her drawing room, she needs to hide the body before her husband arrives home with an important politician. Enlisting the help of some guests, she soon finds herself caught up in an increasingly tangled web of deceit with the unexpected arrival of a detective, Inspector Lord. Even when she confesses how and why she hid the body, she finds that the police don’t believe her.

Christie’s play provides both suspense and humour as this early 1950s plot unfolds. Much of the humour comes from the eccentricities and reactions of the characters involved. As Clarissa, Siân Harrington is very amusing as the perfect hostess who descends into nervous panic as the plot tightens around her.

Siân Harrington (Clarissa) and Nathan McKenna (Henry)

There is good work, too, from Terry Johnson as the Alfred Hitchcock-like Sir Rowland, Adele Lewin as Mildred Peake, the garrulous gardener, David Bennett as the stuffy butler, Elgin, Manasa Kannan as the young daughter, Pippa, Leo Amadeus as Inspector Lord and the rest of the large cast.

Cast members of 'Spider's Web'

On the vast and cosily decorated drawing room set designed by Sarea Coates, director, Ylaria Rogers, moves the action along swiftly, bringing out the humour in the plot very well while ensuring the many characters are played with skill and depth.

Audiences enjoy trying to solve an intricate murder mystery and will have fun trying with this one!

 

Photos by Cathy Breen

 

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 26 July 2025.

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

 

  

JULIUS CAESAR (PLAY)

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Caitlin Baker

Presented by Chaika Theatre

ACT HUB Theatre, Kingston to 2 August

 

Reviewed by Len Power 23 July 2025

 

As Caesar poses for the Press and conspirators plot to kill him for the perceived good of the people, this contemporary staging of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” has an unsettling relevance to the world of today. Individuals can be convinced by false information to take part in a hideous crime and the peoples’ attitudes can be changed by a single speech. The far-reaching effects of their actions plunge the ordered society of the play into civil war.

Chaika Theatre’s first Shakespeare production is impressive. The action takes place on a raised runway down the middle of the theatre with a large poster of Caesar towering over it and the audience seated on both sides of the action. Costumes and uniforms are contemporary, and the use of mobile phones, walkie-talkies and other modern-day devices brings the play clearly and logically into the 21^st Century.

Director, costume and set designer, Caitlin Baker, brings a remarkably clear vision to the play and ensures that the action flows smoothly throughout. The use of audio, designed by Paris Sharkie and Neville Pye, provides an effective sense of vast crowds witnessing these events. The fight choreography by Lachlan Ruffy is intense and effective.

Michael Sparks (Julius Caesar)

There are many fine performances in the show. Michael Sparks cleverly shows the many sides of Julius Caesar. He seems charming for the most part, but he is quick to anger and his interaction with the Press shows a man who revels far too much in publicity. Lachlan Ruffy is a standout as Brutus, a good man conflicted with doubts. His sensitive and thoughtful performance brings out all facets of this fascinating character. Colin Giles gives Mark Antony a strength and quiet determination and his “Friends, Romans, Countrymen” speech is strongly and persuasively given.

Lachlan Ruffy (Brutus) and Yanina Clifton (Cassius)

There is good work also by Yanina Clifton as Cassius, Karen Vickery as Casca and Amy Kowalczuk in multiple roles including the wives, Portia and Calpurnia. The rest of the cast give convincing performances.

Joshua James (Octavius) and Colin Giles (Mark Antony)

Too often we hear directors trying to convince us that their production of a classic play has relevance for today, but in this case, Caitlin Baker’s production gives Shakespeare’s play an almost startling contemporary relevance, showing the parallels with world problems that we are grappling with today. It’s also entertaining and satisfying theatre.

 

Photos by Jane Duong

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

 

THE ENTREPRENEUR (CONCERT)

Salut! Baroque

Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest July 18

 

Reviewed by Len Power

 

Celebrating 30 years of the best of baroque music, Canberra group Salut! baroque’s latest program celebrated one of the baroque period’s star composers, Georg Philipp Telemann.

The most famous composer in Germany in his day, Telemann composed over 3,000 compositions that demonstrated an uncanny sense of popular musical trends. Skilled on eleven instruments, he also absorbed and incorporated music from throughout Europe and boasted that he could compose in the Italian, French, English, Scottish and Polish styles. He was a brilliant promoter of his own publications, amassing hundreds of subscribers – quite the entrepreneur!

Ten outstanding musicians playing baroque instruments – recorder, flute, violin, cello, double bass, theorbo and harpsichord – presented a large program of works by Telemann and his contemporaries including Handel, C.P.E. Bach, Buffardin, Rameau, Corelli and Roman.

Performers' list from the program

There’s usually a refreshingly different angle to Salut! baroque’s concerts and for this one, Telemann himself resplendent in full costume and wig appeared and offered witty and wise narration for the various works played. He even sang one of his own compositions, an aria from the “cantata for an artistically skilled canary whose death brought the greatest sorrow to his owner”. He even brought the dead canary in a cage as evidence as well as the cat. Canberra actor and singer, Colin Milner, gave a delightful performance as Telemann.

Colin Milner (centre) with Salut! Baroque musicians

Four works by Telemann were played, showing his skill at composing in different styles. The French inspired work, Modéré from Paris Quartet in E Minor, with its beautiful, wistful melodies played superbly by Sally Walker on flute, was one of the highlights of the concert.

Other highlights in this memorable concert included C.P. E. Bach’s Allegretto from Symphony in B minor, Buffardin’s Allegro con molto from Concert in E minor and Corelli’s Concerto Grosso Op. 6 no. 8 Christmas Concerto.

 

Photo by Len Power

 

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 19 July 2025.

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

  

LA BOHEME (OPERA)

Directed by Dean Bryant

Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Music by Giacomo Puccini

Opera Australia

Conducted by Simon Bruckard

Canberra Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre to 19 July

 

Reviewed by Len Power 17 July 2025

 

‘La Boheme’, has achieved a much-deserved iconic status these days. This tale of the soaring spirit of young love, told with the stirring music of Giacomo Puccini, never fails to affect the emotions of audiences.

First produced in 1896 in Turin, Italy, it has become part of the standard repertoire of opera companies world-wide. Set in Paris, but with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, it tells of a group of bohemians living in Paris. Rodolfo and Mimí meet and fall in love, but their time together will be brief, due to Mimí’s increasing illness.

Directed by Dean Bryant, this Opera Australia touring production had an economical, but effective touring set and colourful contemporary costumes designed by Isabel Hudson. The onstage action and scene changes were deftly handled by the director, Dean Bryant, who also achieved a nice depth in the characterisations of the main characters.

The camaraderie of the four young men sharing the garret in Paris was particularly well-performed. At the opening night performance, they were played by Michael Lampard as Schaunard, Kiran Rajasingam as Colline, Andrew Williams as Marcello and John Longmuir as Rodolfo.

Act 2 from 'La Boheme' 

Mimí was given an appealing performance by Danita Weatherstone. The growing love between Mimí and Rodolfo was realistic as well as touching. Both performers sang Puccini’s music with precision and a fine level of emotion. Their arias and duet in the first act were particularly well sung.

Cathy-Di Zhang (Musetta)

As Musetta, Marcello’s former love, Cathy-Di Zhang gave the role an initial sexy playfulness and showed the real depth of her character in later scenes with Marcello and the final scene in the garret. She sang this colourful role very well.

Michael Lampard as Schaunard and Andrew Williams as Marcello sang and played their roles very well and Kiran Rajasingham as Colline gave a nice performance of the ‘Old Coat’ aria.

The orchestra, conducted by Simon Bruckard, gave the beautiful score a sensitive performance.

This much-loved opera was beautifully sung and performed very well by the entire cast. There would not have been a dry eye in the theatre by the end.

 

Photos by Jeff Busby

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