Space Theatre 6-16 Feb 2008
A Local Man is the story of Australia’s 16th Prime Minister, Ben Chifley.
Based on factual events, with elements of poetic license to move the story along the monologue, with Tony Barry in the title role, is an insight into the very public, well documented and transparent ‘political’ career of Ben Chifley, as well as his feelings, thoughts and less scrutinized private life.
The evening is set in Chifley’s modest Bathurst home in 1951, 2 months after the Labor defeat by Menzies and just prior to his death. It’s Saturday evening, his wife Elizabeth is out for the day playing Bridge with friends, and Chifley is working at home, preparing his retirement speech – likely to be delivered at tomorrow’s Labor conference. He records into a Dictaphone, switching back and forth between the speech and his intended political memoir, leaving reference points for his secretary Phyllis. Chifley is not well, suffering from what his family calls ‘the usual’. He is on his second heart attack, having already outlived his father and grandfather in years, both of whom also died from heart failure – thus coining the phrase.
This is a pragmatic portrayal of a flawed hero, which reveals both his successes and failings, notably the development of the national airline Qantas, The Joint Coal Board, restructuring and expansion of the CSIRO, the Australian National University and the development of the Holden car. But also as Prime Minister, the ‘unionist hero’ who sent in the army to break up the coalminers' strike instigated by the Union he formed, and the bank nationalisation disaster and subsequent ‘communist challenge’, that cost him government in 1949.
Tony Barry is poignant and affecting as Chifley – jumping from political strength to personal anguish. Images are projected cleverly onto a screen to let the audience visually reminisce with Chifley as he tells his story, and music is used to translate emotions felt by the hardened and firmly grounded former Prime Minister. Lighting designer Jason Bovaird has created a beautiful light-scape which helps the show along, highlighting appropriately where the story is coming from and in some cases where the story is going – a power outage twice in the show allows for the comic in Chifley to come out, as he declares to the darkness “bloody Liberal Government!”
Barry is clearly passionate about the message that audiences will take from the portrayal of this honorable and idealistic man. He addresses the audience after production, vowing to take the show on the road and spread the good that this one man had done. He proclaims in finale “Australia needs another Chifley” and in Chifley’s words “Fight for the right, and truth and justice will always prevail.”
Paul Rodda
Her Majesty's Theatre
When you are attending a production of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, you can often say with conviction that you know what you are in for. This however is not the case with A Dash Arts Production of the Bard’s famous comic work.
Playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre for the Adelaide Festival Season 2008, director Tim Supple has produced a work of Shakespeare unlike any seen before. The dazzling production made up of a cast entirely of Indian and Sri Lankan performers has everything from acrobatics, dance and traditional music to fight sequences, love scenes and song. But there is a twist! At least 80% of the dialogue is NOT traditional Shakespearian English – the actors use their native tongue and deliver lines in Bengali, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Marathi, Sinhalese and some Sanskrit.
This inventive way of altering dialogue to fit with a more cultural portrayal of the piece serves to both enhance and distract from the piece.
Although this is not the first time Shakespeare has been spoken in another language, it is the first time it has been delivered to a predominantly English speaking audience without the aid of subtitles. Any audience member unfamiliar with the production could be forgiven for losing the plot (no pun intended) and it was evident how the lack of understanding alienated some theatre goers who decided not to return after the interval.
But for lovers of the work it was an unforgettable experience! The production was lively, exciting, colorful and invigorating. At times it was sexually explicit, in stark contrast to the Yohangza Theatre Company’s Korean production of the piece in 2007, and the unfamiliar dialect forced the audience to concentrate on the action.
The cast consists of acrobats, dances and actors both classically and traditionally trained who where hand selected from auditions of over 800 performers in 9 cities across India and Sri Lanka, and there diversity and skill speaks volumes.
The set was a bamboo construction covered in white paper through which the fairies propelled themselves early in the first act, slowly removing all the paper throughout the show to reveal the structure behind. Musicians were placed either side of the earth stage creating ambient rhythms with crude and professional percussion instruments and the actors were clad in colorful Bollywood style gowns both extravagant and simple in their elegance.
Outstandingly good was Ajay Kumar as ‘Puck’ and Philostrate. Kumar’s ‘Puck’ played visually with the lovers during their fight scene to great effect – involving and drawing the audience into his mischief. Joy Fernandes as ‘Bottom’ was also a crowd pleaser, delivering his character quite straight he still managed to win the audiences affections, not to mention waves of laughter and applause.
If you are familiar with A Midsummer Night’s dream this production will be an enjoyable and refreshing variation to whet your Shakespeare appetite, if not, then read up on the plot before you venture into the theatre! 4 STARS
Paul Rodda
Make Deadshits History - Arts Theatre
The non-traditional theatre going audience really enjoyed Heath Franklins hilarious impersonation of Chopper, and complete with beer and … more beer, poured into the auditorium to listen to what this foul mouthed character had to say about making ‘dead shits history’. Franklin creates the perfect atmosphere for his character and the impersonation is spot on, audience members with the privilege of meeting the man after the show soon realise that the modest mannered man who portrays this cruel and exciting character is nothing like the man he creates.
Audience participation was a key successful component in this production, and the embarrassed audience members dragged up on stage were no-doubt grateful for the ‘Dutch courage’ they had swallowed in the foyer before the show, as Franklins Chopper cajoled and humiliated them for the audiences entertainment. The production featured a cutaway to a projector screen where Chopper had pre-recorded footage serving as an interval, segue and break for Franklin between ‘sets’. This show is and will continue to be a sellout so if you don’t want to miss it, be sure to book early! 4 STARS
Paul Rodda
Thebarton Theatre
Dave Hughes leaped to fame on television shows such as the ABC’s now axed ‘The Glass house’ and regular spot on Channel 10 variety Show ROVE.
He has also starred in episodes of The Panel for the same network and for a short stint on Football TV in ‘Before the Game’ but although
Hughes commercial brand comedy was appealing to most of the 1800 strong crowd it seemed to have lost its edge. The Thebarton Theatre was bulging at the seams with hundreds of fans as they crammed in tighter than sardines in a can to witness the ‘Holden means a great deal to
Australians’ legend deliver his Australianised version of comic genius, but it seemed as though Hughesy has settled into the comedy a bit much. The difficulty with becoming such an nationally recognized icon is that audiences attend the performance with a high level of expectation and often that can lead to disappointment if that expectation is not met. However regardless of the opinions of the minority who failed to raise a smile let alone laugh throughout the performance, Hughes’ foul mouthed humor ruled, and the majority of the audience loved it! Enjoy Australia. 3 STARS
Paul Rodda
Mars Bar - March 2008
Bursting onto the stage in hot pants, purple hat and feather is Hans, star reporter for NOVA 91.9 and burlesques performer. Hans is…. Well Hans is Hans, camp, outrageous, conceited and fabulous! Matt Gilbertson who plays the character could be forgiven for forgetting where Matt ends and Hans begins.
Supported by the Ungrateful Bastards, a backup band comprising members of well known Adelaide cover band Triple Score, and flanked by 2 gorgeous dancing girls, sisters Kendall and Courtney, Hans takes popular songs, re-writes the lyrics and weaves them into a story full of one liners and audience expense jokes – and it works! Light hearted entertainment that left the audience tapping their feat and shaking their booty. 3 STARS
Paul Rodda
Nova Cinema 2
Careful, here comes Jeff, and he might just make you laugh with his dry wit and vulgar humor. Outstandingly funny is this Brit comedian who uses observations of some of life’s most awkward moments to reel his audience into fits of laughter. Jeff Green manages to find that line that’s not meant to be crossed with his audiences – then he dances on it! Playing at the NOVA cinema 2 for the length of the Fringe season this is a must for fans of quality British comedy! 3 STARS
Paul Rodda
Nova Cinema 2
Mark Watson’s comedy flows like lava from the lip of an erupting volcano, each joke coming thick and fast and every quip hotter than the next!
It’s very easy to watch this seeming hypochondriac burst into life with fits of energy as he flails almost uncontrollably through his dialogue, but don’t be fooled, what appears to be an act careering wildly out of control is really the awesome wit and power of Mark Watsons well rehearsed and faultless characterization.
He brings much of himself to the comedy, often appearing to lose the story on a tangent - adlibbing as he goes – but you can be guaranteed that the road you are travelling is a hilarious one and you will soon be back on track for a great night of comedy! 4 STARS
Paul Rodda
Chris De Havilland has created a story based on the character Kevin A Legend, who is a musician from the humble Australian town of Doyaflyup. He tells us how he as met and given songs to many of great singers in history – these include the Bee Gees, Roy Orbison, ABBA, Cher and Tom Jones. As he tells his story of fame and fortune Legend sings for us some of the numbers he wrote to help these legends of music take their careers to the top. The self confessed ‘world’s greatest impersonator’ take his show full circle, it could be said that sometimes it’s so bad - its good, and with his ‘dad joke’ humor Havilland does a pretty good job of keeping his audiences smiling. He is supported by the Sizzle sisters, who offer back up harmonization and occasionally lead the female numbers, but at times they appear unrehearsed and the performers keep looking to each other for timing and direction. Technically there were a few issues and overall the show did feel like it went a little long, it may have benefited from some cuts and fine tuning to the comedy but generally and entertaining evening. 2 STARS
Paul Rodda
Fat Lip Productions
Based on the true story of what happens to a family after the influence of drugs takes the life of someone you love. The show is played in a venue called ‘The Lipodome’ which unfortunately is acoustically poor, and with so much yelling from the actors, the dialogue is often completely inaudible. The cast however works very hard and there are standout performances by lead actor Vince Fusco as ‘Ben’ and Megan Morgan in the title role of ‘Stacy’, Ben’s sister, who dies. The rest of the cast were placed nicely in their roles and with the run of the season will become more comfortable in their parts.
The show was incredibly intense and could have benefited from more light and shade, the intensity however was not mistaken on the faces of several audience members who were moved to tears by the productions power. A promising show, with some great performances set in a disappointing venue. 2 ½ STARS
Paul Rodda