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October 25, 2024

OzAsia Festival Dance/Theatre : Scored in Silence

Filed under: Archive,Current,Festival,Theatre

The title is a paradox –Scored in Silence. There is no music, in fact, at crucial moments no sound at all. But its message is loud and clear. OzAsia opens with a visually intriguing theatrical experience that reminds us to hearken to the lessons of history.

Written by Murray Bramwell

This solo performance by Japanese performer/choreographer, Chisato Minamimura (who is herself deaf) is a description of the dropping of the A-Bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, as experienced by …

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October 20, 2024

Chameleon Man

Filed under: Archive,Current,Music

Herbie Hancock
Festival Theatre.
October 20.

It was (almost) fifty years ago today that Herbie Hancock got the band to play : Head Hunters. The million-seller jazz fusion break-out of 1974. It was a much acclaimed album along with the first releases from Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra and indicative of Hancock’s versatility and keen sense of the way the wind was blowing.

A classical prodigy, at the age of eleven he played a Mozart piano concerto with the …

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September 26, 2024

Theatre: The Almighty Sometimes

Filed under: Adelaide Companies,Archive,Australian Texts,Current,Theatre

While mental illness is often a “sometimes” thing, it is managed with debilitating treatments which are total and often life-diminishing. This memorable production from Theatre Republic powerfully depicts both the human cost and the fleeting triumphs.

Written by Murray Bramwell

In an epigraph to her outstanding stage debut, The Almighty Sometimes , Australian playwright, Kendall Feaver cites a medical textbook on The Bipolar Child which quotes advice from a nine year old, outlining what should be done when a child …

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September 15, 2024

Adelaide Guitar Festival: Rolling Stones Revue

Filed under: Archive,Current,Festival,Music

The Rolling Stones Revue gathers some of Australia’s best and fairest singers and instrumentalists for the celebration of a classic album and a non-stop, knees-up eisteddfod of Greatest Hits.

Written by Murray Bramwell

Last year’s Adelaide Guitar Festival featured an excellent tribute to the incomparable Jeff Beck. This time around it is the pre-eminent rock and roll guitar band, The Rolling Stones. Sixty years on, and they are still out there on the (gold paved) road, filling stadiums like there …

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September 05, 2024

Theatre: Shore Break

Filed under: Archive,Australian Texts,Current,Theatre

This solo work, written and brilliantly performed by Chris Pitman, explores how, in our midst, the lives of many are beached and marooned.

Written by Murray Bramwell

“I have tried to write a version of this story for many years but was never quite able to finish. A solitary figure, unable to connect, abandoned at the edge of the world.”

In Shore Break Chris Pitman has undoubtedly succeeded with this succinct monologue which crests and breaks like the intimidating waves …

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August 09, 2024

Musical Theatre Chicago

Filed under: Archive,Current,Music,Theatre

Harking back to the Jazz Age of the late 1920s, Chicago is full of fizz and low comedy, great song and dance performances, and has a shrewd edge intended to make us think, even as we enjoy the razzle dazzle.

Written by Murray Bramwell

“This is a story of greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery. All those things we hold near and dear…” Before the curtain even goes up we know there are no red shoes, and this is …

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June 19, 2024

Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes

Filed under: Archive,Cabaret,Current

Adelaide Cabaret Festival

Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes

Patti LuPone comes back to Adelaide to perform a program of memorable songs and show us what timeless cabaret looks and sounds like.

Written by Murray Bramwell

She’s back. Better than ever. New York singer Patti LuPone returns to the Cabaret Festival with a crisp new show featuring songs that made her name as a Broadway star ,as well as other personal favourites that inspired and shaped her progress. You could …

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June 16, 2024

Hopelessly Devoted – A Celebration of Olivia Newton John

Filed under: Archive,Cabaret,Current,Music

Adelaide Cabaret Festival

Hopelessly Devoted- A Celebration of Olivia Newton John

With Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

With four outstanding singers and the ASO at its expansive best, this celebration of an Australian music legend is a Cabaret Festival highlight.

Written by Murray Bramwell

The more time passes, the more extraordinary are the accomplishments of Olivia Newton John. Forty six years ago, Grease became the highest grossing movie musical ever, and the soundtrack still breaks all records. In 1981 “Physical” topped the …

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June 08, 2024

Adelaide Cabaret Festival – The 2024 Variety Gala

Filed under: Archive,Cabaret,Current,Festival

Presided over by exuberant Artistic Director, Virginia Gay, this year’s Variety Gala – featuring an array of amazing women (and also some excellent blokes) – is one of the briskest and best we have seen for a while.

Written by Murray Bramwell

It’s that time again. A week into June, just when winter starts to bite, and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival convenes for the 24th year. And, as old as the festival itself, is the Variety Gala. They are …

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April 19, 2024

Music: James Taylor

Filed under: Archive,Current,Music

For more than two hours, with a brilliant band and a portfolio of songs that have conquered time, James Taylor reminds us that we have still got a friend.

Written by Murray Bramwell

“I’ve got my RM’s on,” muses James Taylor, staring at his boots. And from that very first moment he endears himself to the audience in the Entertainment Centre. They, or I should say, we are very predominately of a certain age. We are here to listen again …

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