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There is disconnect between three members of the one family, a husband, wife and daughter who live in regional Australia and are struggling. It is not as if they want it that way, but that is what they are living with. Photos by Sarah Clarke They speak about their thoughts and feelings. They dare to dream and live out nightmares. The man speaks of his love for his wife and yet doesn’t read her cues. He also plays out his pain and anguish, and is suicidal. The woman i

The Great American Songbook – being the most influential popular songs and jazz standards, primarily from the 1920s to 1960s – is ripe for the picking. And so it is that Rhys Tolhurst – a most mellifluous crooner and songwriter, who was a finalist on Australia’s Got Talent in 2012 – let loose for the first time at Hamer Hall. He was joined by guest vocalist Nina Ferro, an internationally acclaimed vocalist, songwriter and performer, whose golden tonsils are equally intoxica

What unadulterated, elongated malarkey! Do not waste your time or money on seeing what is unquestionably one of the greatest disappointments of the year. Don’t be drawn into seeing the film just because Anne Hathaway, who I usually really like in movies, is in it. It gets down to a pitiful script and direction by David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) that no amount of fulsome acting could possibly rescue. Mother Mary (Hathaway) is a world-famous music star. The stage

Set against the backdrop of The Troubles* in Northern Ireland, this searing debut play for Australian writer Grace Chapple tells of the personal fallout for a group of friends. With explosions heard at close quarters, events take place in Belfast, near the border, over three time frames. Besties Dierdre (Enya Daly) and Niamh (Ella Ferris) are about to be separated because Niamh is moving to London. They are together at Dierdre’s place the night before Niamh is due to lea

I entered the theatre really wanting to like the new Australian comedy The Last Parma Night, but I am afraid I didn’t even get close to doing so. In fact, I struggled greatly with it. It suffered from a slow start and, in my eyes, it never gained a foothold. The storyline concerns a bloke, Tommy Gibson (Max Meaden) and his mates who, from their school days, used to frequent a pub known as The Unruly Maiden. Now, all these years later, he is back there, trying to reliv

Megan Wilding is a force of nature in a serious contender for play of the year. Game. Set. Match. is a dark comedy with a confronting sting in its tail and Wilding is both the writer (her first time for the main stage) and one of two outstanding performers. Photos by Gianna Rizzo She plays 27-year-old Yarrai, while Rick Davies is cast as Joshua, 38. We are introduced to the pair as Joshua surprises Yarrai when he enters a space filled with tennis memorabilia. He is ther

The full glory and emotional heft of Giuseppe Verdi’s fraught and dramatic love story La Traviata is magnificently captured by Opera Australia. I am in awe of the spine-tingling efforts of Australian/Mauritian soprano Stacey Alleaume, who is utterly captivating in the lead role. Her rich and rounded vocal tone reaches remarkable heights in a bravura showing that must be seen and heard. It is no exaggeration to suggest this is one of the truly great operatic performances

One has been there and done that, knows which way is up and is stuck in her ways. The other has the world at her feet. She has plans to forge ahead with life and make the most of it. They are known as Old One (Caroline Lee) and Young One (Eva Seymour). Photos by Darren Gill Young One takes a job on the deli counter at a supermarket, intending to stay no longer than six months, but Old One is sceptical. Addressed by Old One as “good for nothin’” and “freshman”, she is im

The desire to break free of an abusive relationship is at the heart of Waitress, which is based on a 2007 independent film of that name, which starred Keri Russell. Jenna Hunterson works as a waitress and prolific baker at Joe's Pie Diner in a small town in America’s South. Photos by Jeff Busby She is trapped in an unhappy marriage to Earl, who treats her shamefully and expects her to hand over all her earnings, when she falls pregnant to him. Jenna goes to the doctor,