Theatre Reviews

The ArkThe ArkDavid O'Brien

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Raucous Behaviour. House and Grounds, Carclew. 16 Mar 2024   There’s [ ... ]

Skye Scraper: The Life and Times of a Drag Queen AccountantSkye Scraper: The Life and Times of a Drag Queen A...Kym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Bally, Gluttony. 17 Mar 2024   Sky Scraper (aka John Hugo) is [ ... ]

Time MachineTime MachineKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Elizabeth Streb & Streb Extreme Action. Her Majesty’s Theatre. 16 Mar 2024   Time [ ... ]

BerlinersBerlinersKym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Studio, Holden Street Theatres. 16 Mar 2024   Berliners is a [ ... ]

WayfinderWayfinderArna Eyers-White

Adelaide Festival. Dance North. Space Theatre. 14 Mar 2024   Waiting in an overheated foyer for [ ... ]

Antigone in the AmazonAntigone in the AmazonSamela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Mio Rau/NT Gent & MST. Dunstan Playhouse. 15 Mar 2024   Implanting Sophocles' [ ... ]

MarrowMarrowAlex Wheaton

Adelaide Festival. Australian Dance Theatre. Odeon Theatre. Choreography: Daniel Riley. 13 Mar 2024   An [ ... ]

The BacchaeThe BacchaeSamela Harris

★★★1/2 Riverland Youth Theatre. The Arch, Holden Street Theatres. 12 Mar 2024   Brush up [ ... ]

MoistMoistKym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Bunker at Fool's Paradise. 7 Mar 2024   If it ain’t broke, [ ... ]

Qui a tué mon père (Who killed my father)Qui a tué mon père (Who killed my father)Samela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Schaubuhne Berlin & Theatre de las Ville Paris. Dunstan Playhouse. 9 Mar 2024   Despite [ ... ]

The PromiseThe PromiseJohn Wells

Adelaide Festival. Wende and the Royal Court Theatre. The Space. 7 Mar 2024   This shouldn’t [ ... ]

Station J – An MI6 ComedyStation J – An MI6 ComedyKym Clayton

★★★ Adelaide Fringe. The Arch, Holden Street Theatres. 7 Mar 2024   It is almost axiomatic [ ... ]

Daylight Express - Anthony Romaniuk: PerpetuumDaylight Express - Anthony Romaniuk: PerpetuumKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Elder Hall. 7 Mar 2024   Perpetuum is part of the Adelaide Festival’s [ ... ]

Is this the gate?Is this the gate?Chris Reid

Adelaide Festival. Nicholas Lens and JM Coetzee. Elder Hall. 8 Mar 2024   Elizabeth Costello is [ ... ]

I Am The BossI Am The BossAlex Wheaton

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. 0471 Acro Physical Theatre & Cluster Arts. The Bunker, Fool’s [ ... ]

VirtuosoVirtuosoKym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Basement. 6 Mar 2024   Virtuoso is a one-man comedic routine [ ... ]

Diana Nguyen: Sunny Side UpDiana Nguyen: Sunny Side UpArna Eyers-White

★★★★ Diana Nguyen. Spiegel Zelt. 5 Mar 2024   Bodily functions (of various permutations) [ ... ]

The Threepenny OperaThe Threepenny OperaSamela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Berliner Ensemble. Her Majesty’s Theatre. 6 Mar 2024   No longer the “Wunderkind”, [ ... ]

The Ukulele ManThe Ukulele ManArna Eyers-White

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Marcel Cole. Star Theatres. 5 Mar 2024   In his heyday, the music [ ... ]

The Rest Is PoliticsThe Rest Is PoliticsJohn Wells

Adelaide Festival / Adelaide Writers Week. Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart with Sarah Ferguson. Adelaide [ ... ]

Meredith ArwadyMeredith ArwadyKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. In recital with Michael Ierace. Daylight Express. Elder Hall. 4 Mar 2024   I [ ... ]

GuurandaGuurandaSamela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Insite Arts & Adelaide Festival. Her Majesty’s Theatre. 2 Mar 2024   Here [ ... ]

007 Voices Of Bond007 Voices Of BondKym Clayton

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Regal Theatre. 2 Mar 2024   007 Voices of Bond is a celebration [ ... ]

The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of OzArna Eyers-White

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Adelaide Academy & Theatre Bugs. 1 Mar 2024 (Oz cast)   There [ ... ]

The Nightingale and Other FablesThe Nightingale and Other FablesKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Festival Theatre. 1 Mar 2024   From the moment the performance of The Nightingale [ ... ]

Uke Springsteen – Nebraska & The HitsUke Springsteen – Nebraska & The HitsArna Eyers-White

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Ben Roberts. Grace Emily Hotel. 29 Feb 2024   During this performance, [ ... ]

Goodbye, LinditaGoodbye, LinditaJohn Wells

Adelaide Festival. Dunstan Playhouse. 29 Feb 2024   In a sparsely-furnished, grey-walled room, [ ... ]

BlueBlueKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. State Theatre Company South Australia and Celsus in association with Adelaide Festival [ ... ]

ApricityApricityAlex Wheaton

★★★★★
Adelaide Fringe. The Vault at Fools Paradise. 27 Feb 2024   It is the hottest [ ... ]

RailedRailedArna Eyers-White

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Head First Acrobats. The Vault, Fool’s Paradise. 27 Feb 2024   Money, [ ... ]

Jon & Jero: Stuff!Jon & Jero: Stuff!Arna Eyers-White

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Kingfisher at Gluttony. 25 Feb 2024   As the Neighbourhood [ ... ]

Future CargoFuture CargoAlex Wheaton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Future Cargo at Garden of Unearthly Delights. 21 Feb 2024   The [ ... ]

Behind the SongBehind the SongSamela Harris

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Sandi McMenamin. The Arch, Holden Street Theatres. 25 Feb 2024   Perchance [ ... ]

DemagogueDemagogueKym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Studio, Holden Street Theatres. 23 Feb 2024   Demagogue is a [ ... ]

OrpheusOrpheusKym Clayton

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. The Yurt at The Courtyard of Curiosities, The Migration Museum. 17 Feb [ ... ]

Two of ThemTwo of ThemChris Reid

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Shifting Lives Theatre. Lecture Gallery at MOD, University of South [ ... ]

Yuck CircusYuck CircusArna Eyers-White

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Umbrella Revolution, The Garden of Unearthly Delights. 22 Feb 2024   There’s [ ... ]

Sh!t-faced ShakespeareSh!t-faced ShakespeareArna Eyers-White

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Roundhouse, Garden of Unearthly Delights. 21 Feb 2024   If [ ... ]

GodzGodzAlex Wheaton

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Head First Acrobats. The Vault / Fools Paradise. 20 Feb 2024   One [ ... ]

Circus The ShowCircus The ShowArna Eyers-White

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Showmen Productions. The Moa, Gluttony. 19 Feb 2024   The Moa is [ ... ]

Signor BaffoSignor BaffoArna Eyers-White

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Interactive Theatre International. Ukiyo, Gluttony. 18 Feb 2024   The [ ... ]

Justin’s BIG Balloon ShowJustin’s BIG Balloon ShowArna Eyers-White

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Presented by Showmen Productions. The May Wirth, Gluttony. 18 Feb 2024   As [ ... ]

Crème de la CrèmeCrème de la CrèmeAlex Wheaton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Vault / Fools Paradise. 17 Feb 2024   After queueing for quite [ ... ]

Fafi D’Alour UncutFafi D’Alour UncutAlex Wheaton

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Ukiyo / Gluttony. 17 Feb 2024   This is burlesque in a pure and [ ... ]

Hamlet in Fifteen MinutesHamlet in Fifteen MinutesSamela Harris

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Holden Street Theatres, Barbara Hardy Garden. 18 Feb 2024   No [ ... ]

Ham and PineappleHam and PineappleSamela Harris

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Holden Street Theatres, The Arch   Peter Goers is back doing [ ... ]

We Have All the Time in the WorldWe Have All the Time in the WorldDavid O'Brien

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. SAYarts. The Gallery at The Courtyard of Curiosities, Migration Museum. [ ... ]

England & SonEngland & SonKym Clayton

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. The Studio, Holden Street Theatres. 17 Feb 2024   England & [ ... ]

Music Reviews

Symphony Series 2: HorizonsSymphony Series 2: HorizonsKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 22 Mar 2024   The physical horizon is almost mystical. [ ... ]

Gladys Knight: Farewell TourGladys Knight: Farewell TourAlex Wheaton

Frontier Touring. Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre. 21 May 2024   This might be one of [ ... ]

Víkingur Ólafsson: Goldberg VariationsVíkingur Ólafsson: Goldberg VariationsKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Adelaide Town Hall. 15 Mar 2024   Every now and then, one is fortunate enough [ ... ]

Recitals on the Fringe: Esmond ChoiRecitals on the Fringe: Esmond ChoiChris Reid

★★★★★ Recitals Australia. Esmond Choi, Piano. North Adelaide Baptist Church. 24 Feb 2024   A [ ... ]

Symphony Series 1: MajestySymphony Series 1: MajestyKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 9 Feb 2024   The ASO’s first Symphony Series [ ... ]

FragmentationFragmentationKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Grainger Studio. 2 Feb 2024   The Adelaide Symphony orchestra’s [ ... ]

Eternal BeautyEternal BeautyKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Grainger Studio. 8 Dec 2023   “Welcome to this unique listening [ ... ]

Smoke And MirrorsSmoke And MirrorsKym Clayton

Adelaide Wind Orchestra. Elder Hall. 25 Nov 2023   The Adelaide Wind Orchestra is a musical gem [ ... ]

Wildschut & BraussWildschut & BraussKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 15 Nov 2023   What does it mean to compose a piece of music for [ ... ]

A Symphony of SpaceA Symphony of SpaceKym Clayton

Woodville Concert Band. Woodville Town Hall. 20 Oct 2023   Community arts is alive and well in [ ... ]

Considering Matthew ShepardConsidering Matthew ShepardKym Clayton

Soundstream New Music. Elder Hall. 14 Oct 2023   Considering Matthew Shepard is billed as a “…modern [ ... ]

Vision String QuartetVision String QuartetKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 12 Oct 2023   On occasion you know that what you are hearing in [ ... ]

Symphony Series 7: DreamsSymphony Series 7: DreamsKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 22 Sep 2023   What’s in a title? The ASO’s [ ... ]

Emily Sun in RecitalEmily Sun in RecitalKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide. 9 Sep 2023   Violinist Emily [ ... ]

Matinee Series 3: CarefreeMatinee Series 3: CarefreeKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Elder Hall. 9 Aug 2023   This reviewer has previously remarked that [ ... ]

A Stroll Around EuropeA Stroll Around EuropeKym Clayton

James Huon George & Philippa McAuliffe. Urrbrae House. 30 Jul 2023   There is a relatively [ ... ]

Symphony Series 5: VitalitySymphony Series 5: VitalityKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 28 Jul 2023   After a measured performance of [ ... ]

Chopin’s PianoChopin’s PianoKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 26 Jul 2023   Chopin’s Piano is Musica Viva’s current [ ... ]

Symphony Series 4: EmbraceSymphony Series 4: EmbraceKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 7 Jul 2023   Tonight’s audience for the [ ... ]

Matinee Series 2: EleganceMatinee Series 2: EleganceKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 28 Jun 2023   The second concert in the ASO’s [ ... ]

Symphony Series 3: SkywardSymphony Series 3: SkywardKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 23 Jun 2023   Styled Skyward, the third concert [ ... ]

Garrick OhlssonGarrick OhlssonKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 8 Jun 2023   Garrick Ohlsson speaks from the stage at various [ ... ]

Henry Rollins - Good To See YouHenry Rollins - Good To See YouAlex Wheaton

Thebarton Theatre. 8 Jun 2023   I’ve attended Henry Rollins performances for over 30 years [ ... ]

UtopiasUtopiasKym Clayton

Australian String Quartet. Adelaide Town Hall. 22 May 2023   The power of music is indisputable. [ ... ]

Among The Birds And The TreesAmong The Birds And The TreesKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 26 Apr 2023   Musica Viva can be relied upon to present the uncommon, [ ... ]

Symphony Series 2: WildSymphony Series 2: WildKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 21 Apr 2023   Dubbed Wild, the second concert [ ... ]

Matinee Series 1: RadianceMatinee Series 1: RadianceKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Elder Hall. 5 Apr 2023   Presented in the recently refurbished Elder [ ... ]

Symphony Series 1: PanoramaSymphony Series 1: PanoramaKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 31 Mar 2023   The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s [ ... ]

CelestialCelestialKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. St Peter’s Cathedral. 15 Mar 2023   The Adelaide Chamber Singers is one [ ... ]

Music for other WorldsMusic for other WorldsSamela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Alex Frayne and Paul Grabowsky. Adelaide Town Hall. 15 Mar 2023   Adelaide Town [ ... ]

Kronos Five DecadesKronos Five DecadesKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Festival Theatre. 13 Mar 2023   The Kronos Quartet is not your usual string [ ... ]

Cédric TiberghienCédric TiberghienKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Adelaide Town Hall. 6 Mar 2023   Presented in association with Musica Viva, [ ... ]

Visual Arts Reviews

Between the Details: Video Art from the ACMI CollectionBetween the Details: Video Art from the ACMI Colle...Chris Reid

Flinders University Museum of Art, Bedford Park. 15 Mar 2024   Between [the] Details is an engrossing [ ... ]

Dana AwartaniDana AwartaniWendy Walker

Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. 12 Mar 2024   The Samstag Museum of Art reopened [ ... ]

NeotericaNeotericaChris Reid

Adelaide Festival. Northeastern Concourse, Adelaide Railway Station. 7 Mar 2024   Adelaide railway [ ... ]

Eighteenth Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art – Inner SanctumEighteenth Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art – I...Chris Reid

Inner Sanctum. Art Gallery of South Australia. 4 Mar 2024   Title image: Lawrence English. Photo [ ... ]

News & Opinion

Interview: Another Stroll in the ParkInterview: Another Stroll in the ParkMurray Bramwell

Murray Bramwell with Ian Scobie and Annette Tripodi. 20 Feb 2024   As WOMADelaide 2024 draws closer, [ ... ]

Story: Womadelaide 2024Story: Womadelaide 2024Paul Rodda

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Interview: Vonni Brit Watkins on Priscilla, The MusicalInterview: Vonni Brit Watkins on Priscilla, The Mu...Samela Harris

She's known simply as Vonni. Vonni Brit Watkins is Adelaide’s most vivacious transgender identity. Indeed, [ ... ]

Interview: The World Returns to Botanic ParkInterview: The World Returns to Botanic ParkMurray Bramwell

Murray Bramwell talks with Director Ian Scobie and Associate Director Annette Tripodi about the rapidly [ ... ]

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It was 28 years ago that we lay beneath the starlight in Botanic Park carried into a reverie as an ethereal [ ... ]

Interview: WOMAD musician shares the joyInterview: WOMAD musician shares the joySamela Harris

There he is, in home territory, Mumbai, sharply depicted against a pristine Zoom greenscreen. But it [ ... ]

Opinion: David O’Brien’s 2022 Top TenOpinion: David O’Brien’s 2022 Top TenDavid O'Brien

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Interview: Laughter expected on the Reps 23rd floor this monthInterview: Laughter expected on the Reps 23rd floo...Samela Harris

Post covid lockdowns and pre a predicted new wave, what we really need is laughter.   And who best [ ... ]

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Interview: Kelly Vincent on UnSeen and disability advocacyInterview: Kelly Vincent on UnSeen and disability ...Samela Harris

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How seriously do we dare to take the promises of the cosmetics industry? And, what is beauty, anyway? Such [ ... ]

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Road Movie

Adelaide Town Hall, Prince Alfred Room. 27 Feb 2012

Road Movie is a stunning one-man show about earnestly searching for love and the despair when it is cruelly snatched away by an insurmountable enemy.

Dirk Hoult plays Joel, a gay New Yorker, who is desperately trying to find himself through the love of another person.  He has lost a small part of himself along the way, somewhere, and his is desperately trying to retrieve it.  Tragically he has AIDS and he habitually looks in the wrong places. 

But this is not just another AIDS story.  There is a very real risk that it could be self-pitying and an anthem for the tragedy of an underserved disease and wasted life, but the writing leaves such overworked themes well behind.

Joel finds himself down and out in San Francisco and meets Scott who is attracted to him.  They form a relationship but it ends when Joel returns to NY.  Joel misses his new lover terribly and after a period of trying to make the best of a long-distance romance, he decides to return to SF and heads off on the five day road trip to get there.  At various stopovers on the way he meets a number of quite peculiar characters, who each share with him very personal aspects of their lives, and through these encounters he learns more about himself and about meaningful love.  However, when he arrives in SF and looks for Scott he is greeted by tragic news.

Hoult’s performance is remarkable and very moving.  The text largely comprises a number of episodic dialogues – the solo actor speaking both parts – separated by narrations, and Hoult moves effortlessly and convincingly between the numerous characters;  a different smile and set of the head for one character; a different lilt and accent for another.  His characterisations were hip and humorous when they needed to be, and heart achingly sad at other times.  The intimacy of the venue allowed him to seemingly look his audience members in the eye and share Joel’s pain and joy with them.

The text by Godfrey Hamilton is exceptional.  It is richly described without being overwritten or laboured.  The numerous characters are quickly established, but there is enough substance in each of them for Hoult to develop.  The writing in the final scene – where Scott’s drugged-out flatmate explains that each piercing in her face is a memorial to a friend and that the most recent one is still painful to the touch – was incredibly moving and poignant.

This is the sort of theatre that you can very easily go back to and see again, and again.

Kym Clayton

When: 28 Feb to 3 Mar
Where: Adelaide Town Hall, Prince Alfred Room
Bookings: www.adelaidefringe.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

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