Billy Connolly
Festival Theatre
Reviewed by Murray Bramwell
Despite disconcerting colour pix in TV Week recently revealing that Billy Connolly had sheared off his hair and beard for a filum, his familiar trademarks were mostly back for his return Australian tour. All the same, he was still a bit dubious about the reduction in fungus- I look like a fucking social worker, he roared and then off he went for two and a half hours of rumination, digression and comic …
Continue Reading Back to topArchaos
Wayville Showgrounds
Any display of pyrotechnics depends on precision and planning, and Archaos, Cirque Revolutionaire from France, has an especially fearful symmetry to it. What makes this show remarkable is the intelligence that drives it – hardly a gesture or joke is without reverberation, every sign is significant. Archaos offers many signs for the times.
Not that we are talking dry semiotics here. Stunt riders hurling 44 gallon drums, vandals with chainsaws, pyromaniacs and menacing clowns, spin in …
Continue Reading Back to top1990
Harry Dean Stanton and the Repo Men
Tivoli Hotel
Reviewed by Murray Bramwell
With a distinguished list of flakey, downbeat movie roles to his credit, Harry Dean Stanton has moved from screen to stage for a whistlestop tour with his band the Repo Men. Comprising Jim Leslie on bass, drummer Stephan Mugalian, Jimmy Intveld on lead Fender and Nashville cat, Billy Swan as frequent lead singer, songwriter and general factotum, Harry Dean’s band is more like the Wild Bunch …
Continue Reading Back to top1990
Adders : A Very Venomous Revue
Sheridan Theatre, May 1990
Reviewed by Murray Bramwell
With so many theatres dark at present, the opening of a new one is a signal event. The extensive refurbishment of the Sheridan on McKinnon Parade has brought a highly idiosyncratic intimate theatre space back into use. Decked out in maroon with gilt trim, the Sheridan not only has a well-rigged acting area it has more fibreglass statuary than the Pantheon. Derek Jolly has created …
Continue Reading Back to top1990
The Comedy of Errors
by William Shakespeare
State Theatre Company
Playhouse, April 1990
Reviewed by Murray Bramwell
The Comedy of Errors might have been entitled The Comedy of Preposterous Situations. I mean, really. Twin boys are born in Ephesus and, at the same time in the same household, twin servants- both pairs identical. Then, in some nautical kerfuffle both sets of twins are separated and, before you know it, they have grown up in different cities unaware of each …
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