murraybramwell.com

November 01, 1989

New Theatre Australia

Filed under: Adelaide Companies,Archive,Theatre

1989

South Australia

Round Up

Murray Bramwell

A number of Adelaide’s purpose-built companies have been active lately. Junction Theatre Company toured in August and September with their latest production, Wild About Work. Written by Anne Brookman, it traces the working lives of five women- two of them receptionists, one a secretary, the other two in childcare and textile processing. Catherine Fitzgerald made her debut as director with design by Cath Cantlon and music by Sue Ridgeway. Performer Anna Linarello …

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Wodehouse Playhouse

Filed under: Archive,State Theatre Company,Theatre

1989

Hedda Gabler
By Henrik Ibsen
State Theatre Company
Playhouse, October, 1989.

Reviewed by Murray Bramwell

Ibsen’s plays, including the great works of his last phase of writing in the 1890s, operate on two levels – they are convincingly anchored in middle and upper class life in 19th century Europe at the same time as being dramas of what in classical literature is called psychomachia, the conflict of the soul.

Hedda Gabler is a Grade A example. In his copious, …

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October 01, 1989

No Class Please, We’re British

Filed under: Archive,State Theatre Company,Theatre

1989

Shirley Valentine
by Willy Russell

State Theatre Company/
Sydney Theatre Company
The Playhouse,

Reviewed by Murray Bramwell

Playwright Willy Russell not only touched the zeitgeist with his stage hit, Educating Rita, he also hit paydirt. The screen version launched Julie Walters as a performer with presence and showed there could be life after flab for Michael Caine. Essentially, Educating Rita was Pygmalion Revisited with just a smidge of feminism to keep it a la mode. On film, at least, …

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No Class Please, We’re British

Filed under: Archive,Interstate,Theatre

1989

Shirley Valentine
by Willy Russell

State Theatre Company/
Sydney Theatre Company
The Playhouse,

Reviewed by Murray Bramwell

Playwright Willy Russell not only touched the zeitgeist with his stage hit, Educating Rita, he also hit paydirt. The screen version launched Julie Walters as a performer with presence and showed there could be life after flab for Michael Caine. Essentially, Educating Rita was Pygmalion Revisited with just a smidge of feminism to keep it a la mode. On film, at least, …

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September 01, 1989

Cold Comfort Farm

Filed under: Archive,Australian Texts,Theatre

1989

Lost Weekend

By John Romeril

State Theatre Company

Space, August, 1989.

Reviewed by Murray Bramwell

John Romeril has been writing for the theatre for more than twenty years. Beginning with the APG at the Pram Factory in Melbourne he was central to their importance and success with  a new Australian drama which, to coin a furphy, was temper socialist,bias offensively Carlton. During that time and since Romeril has cranked out a lot of work, of which, Mrs Thally F …

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New Theatre Australia

Filed under: Adelaide Companies,Archive,Theatre

1989

Art of the States

South Australia

Review – Murray Bramwell

Road

by Jim Cartwright

Red Shed Company

Wetpack Theatre

Living Arts Centre

July 27-August 9

Adelaide’s Red Shed Company is going from strength to strength. Their latest production, Road by Lancashire- based writer Jim Cartwright is further proof of the company’s versatility and commitment. For one thing it was enterprising of the company to secure a theatrical property of this calibre and to offer it, if not as an …

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August 26, 1989

Home Truths on the Range

Filed under: Archive,Australian Texts,Theatre

1989

Lost Weekend by John Romeril

State Theatre Company

The Space, Adelaide.

August, 1989.

A new work by John Romeril is always worth a look  and his latest for South Australia’s State Theatre Company is no exception. Lost Weekend is a quirky piece though, and neither its co-directors John Gaden and Ian Watson nor some of the performers seem to have quite got its measure. Even Romeril doesn’t seem to have decided how his ingredients should finally shake down. Perhaps …

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August 04, 1989

Streetwise

Filed under: Adelaide Companies,Archive,Theatre

1989

Road

by Jim Cartwright

Red Shed Company

Adelaide

With their latest production, Road, the Red Shed Company further consolidate their claim as Adelaide’s pre-eminent alternative theatre group. In little more than three years they have produced a creditable range of works – some devised by company members, others, like their current production, intelligent choices from the progressive repertoire.

First performed at the Royal Court in London in 1986, Jim Cartwright’s Road played widely in the provinces and has now …

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August 01, 1989

Professional Foul

Filed under: Archive,Australian Texts,State Theatre Company,Theatre

Top Silk
by David Williamson
Playhouse ·

According to David Williamson, barristers are better value than the Tooth Fairy. There’s nothing that their silky talents can’t achieve. If you are a media tycoon these scriveners can get around the anti~ Trust laws, they can also help out when you get caught with more than a recreational amount of an illegal substance. Then, when they’ve done that, they’ll be your next Premier. That is, if they can be bothered.

In recent …

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July 22, 1989

Heading for Hong Kong

Filed under: Adelaide Companies,Archive,Theatre

1989

Murray Bramwell talks with Chris and David Erskine, better known as the Fools Company, about their forthcoming participation in the International Arts Carnival in Hong Kong.

Fools Company have been making friends with young audiences at schools, shopping malls, kids’parties and  community celebrations, as well as conventional theatre venues, for rthe past seven years. They have become well-known both in South Australia and interstate and at the end of this month they will be presenting their show, Galloping Grabbas, …

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