Author: Stephen Parthimos

Theatre Review: Rent’s narrative lacks impact, but the iconic songs stand strong

The streets of New York’s East Village are bustling with love, art, culture and spirit. Despite oppressive powers threatening to break friendships and crush dreams, this resilient group of friends celebrate the power of the human spirit, bringing people together to stand up for what they love. This is Rent. Jonathan Larson’s hit musical has…

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Theatre Review: Grease the Musical is a non-stop extravaganza of electrifying hits

Calling all gals and guys – welcome to Rydell High, where romances are flourishing, tensions are rising, and most importantly, grease is the word. Grease the Musical has grooved its way back to Australian shores, and this time it’s bigger, slicker and sexier than ever before. Sandy, Danny, the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies all…

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Theatre Review: Choir of Man celebrates the good vibes of the humble pub

You’ve never been to a pub quite like this. Where music, mates and good times collide, Choir of Man is more than a musical – it’s also a play, a concert and a celebration of the pub as a place to share a laugh, some banter and your feelings. From creatives Nic Doodson and Andrew…

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Theatre Review: A Christmas Carol is the must-see festive event of the year

Journey to Victorian London and immerse yourself in the joys of Christmas with this stunning Old Vic revival of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. A truly unique theatre experience, this production encompasses the heart, soul and meaning of what makes the festive season so special. After travelling through London, Broadway and across the US, winning five…

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Theatre Review: Elvis: A Musical Revolution is a (mostly) rockin’ good time

Leather jacket? Check. Guitar? Check. Blue suede shoes? Uh-huh. Get ready to relive the life and music of Elvis Presley, the global phenomenon who would go on to birth a musical revolution. Going from his upbringing in Tupelo, Mississippi all the way to his iconic 1968 NBC Comeback Special, Elvis: A Musical Revolution tells the…

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Theatre Review: 2:22 A Ghost Story is a good, not great, slow-burn supernatural thriller

Do you believe in ghosts? Keep an open mind and uncover the truth in 2:22 A Ghost Story – a supernatural thriller play that’s transformed Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre into the innards of a potentially haunted house. Belief and skepticism clash when Jenny (Gemma Ward) senses a strange presence in her home, but her husband…

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Grease the Musical announces its Melbourne and Sydney cast

Your summer nights are sorted! Grease the Musical is coming back to Australian shores just in time for the New Year, and has recently announced cast and ticket details for its Melbourne and Sydney runs. From a Broadway mainstay to an iconic film starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, Grease has stood the test of…

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Elvis

Elvis: A Musical Revolution will be in the building (Sydney and Melbourne) from August

Lace up your blue suede shoes and get ready to relive the storied life of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley in the premiere of a brand new bio-musical – Elvis: A Musical Revolution. Following successful Australian runs of The Wedding Singer and Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical, David Venn Enterprises presents a…

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Review: Once is a touching story of love, life and music at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre

From the big screen to the stage, the story of Once has struck a chord with audiences all around the world since its inception in 2007, evoking tears of laughter, tears of joy and tears of sadness. Making its long-awaited return to Melbourne, this award-winning production from Darlinghurst Theatre Company is a truly enchanting musical…

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Theatre Review: & Juliet is a complicated remix of a complicated relationship

You know the classic ‘boy meets girl’ tale – now witness the remix that flips the script on the conventional and gives Juliet the opportunity to be the leading lady of her own life’s story. What if Romeo & Juliet didn’t end with Juliet taking her own life? What if she embarked on a journey…

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Theatre Review: Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is still a must-solve mystery 70 years later

Calling all budding detectives! There’s been a murder in London and we need your expertise to find the killer before they claim their next victim. Put your wits to the test and feast your eyes on the world’s longest-running play, The Mousetrap. Born from the incredible mind of Agatha Christie, this genre-defining murder-mystery has astonished…

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Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical is back in Melbourne for an encore season

Yes, you read that right – the nostalgia party that swept Melbourne back to the good old ’90s is returning this month! After taking Australia by storm and garnering rave reviews, including a glowing 5/5 review from us, Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical is rounding out its Australian tour with one last romp through the…

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Mary Poppins

Theatre Review: Mary Poppins is a dazzling, practically perfect musical

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Mary Poppins descending on Melbourne’s own 17 Cherry Tree Lane for an unforgettable night of splendour. Adapted from the beloved writings of P.L. Travers, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present this new and improved Mary Poppins production highlighting an all-Australian cast. The magical narrative follows Mr and Mrs Banks,…

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Christmas Caroll

Theatre Review: A Christmas Carol is a deeply moving and wonderfully immersive theatre experience

Journey to Victorian London and immerse yourself in the joys of Christmas with this stunning Old Vic revival of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. A truly unique theatre experience, this production encompasses the heart, soul and meaning of what makes the festive season so special. After travelling through London, Broadway and across the…

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Dance Review: The United Ukrainian Ballet bring Tchaikovsky’s exquisite Swan Lake to Australia

Prepare to witness one of the world’s most beloved ballets, Swan Lake, as performed by the immensely talented United Ukrainian Ballet, which only formed less than six months ago. From the brilliant mind of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, reimagined by Elena Glurjidze and assisted by Sara Knight, this captivating production tells a classical tale of good…

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Tickets to the Melbourne season of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap are on sale now!

Don your trusty fedora and slip into your trench coat as you prepare for the arrival of Agatha Christie’s timeless murder mystery, The Mousetrap. After hitting London’s West End back in 1952, The Mousetrap has gone on to captivate millions of budding detectives around the world, amassing over 28,500 performances in the last 70 years….

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Theatre Review: Come From Away is still as moving, uplifting and hilarious as ever (Melbourne)

Three years ago, Come From Away crash-landed on Australian shores to rave reviews praising everything from the performances to the music. Now, the Tony award-winning musical has returned to Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre to spread its infectious joy and poignant narrative to new and returning audiences. This is one of those shows where every individual element…

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Theatre Review: Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical is a sexy, energetic and nostalgia-fuelled blast from the past

Whip out your retro windbreaker, rock the double denim look and prepare to relive the good old ’90s in all their glory with the nostalgia-fuelled Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical. Following successful runs across the US and the UK, garnering rave reviews from original film stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Reese Witherspoon, this throwback musical…

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Theatre Review: Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is a stunning contemporary retelling of a timeless fairytale

Experience the timeless Cinderella story you know and love, now with a contemporary spin in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a Tony Award winning Broadway musical from the minds behind The Sound of Music. After captivating audiences across the US, this spellbinding production has floated into Melbourne, lighting up the famous Regent Theatre with dazzling costumes…

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Cruel Intentions

Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical brings the retro party to Melbourne this May

Prepare to be sent on a nostalgia-fuelled ride back to the good old ’90s as Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical premieres down-under in May. Presented by David Venn Enterprises (The Wedding Singer, Bring It On: The Musical), this beloved production will be shuffling its way onto Australian shores in 2022, premiering at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre…

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Theatre Review: An American in Paris is a magical fusion of ballet and musical theatre

The worlds of ballet and musical theatre collide in An American in Paris, creating an extraordinary blend of timeless music, breathtaking choreography and a captivating love story set against the romantic backdrop of Paris. Inspired by the 1951 Oscar-winning film of the same name, and incorporating music from George and Ira Gershwin, An American in…

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Theatre Review: The Wedding Singer keeps the party going with a dazzling encore season

An 80s-lover’s neon-filled fantasy, come to life! After selling out performances across Broadway and the UK, and lighting up the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne in 2021, The Wedding Singer brings its neon lights, flashy perms and dazzling choreography to The Arts Centre’s State Theatre – updating the already brilliant performance with spectacular new sets and…

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Theatre Review: Moulin Rouge! is a wonderfully lavish musical experience like no other

Put on your finest dress, button up your best tux and step into an extravagant world of glitz, glamour and romance at the Moulin Rouge! Based on Baz Luhrmann’s iconic 2001 film, it tells the story of an aspiring composer, Christian (Des Flanagan), who falls in love with Satine (Alinta Chidzey), a prominent cabaret actress and…

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The Wedding Singer

Theatre Review: The Wedding Singer lights up Melbourne with a burst of energetic 80s nostalgia

An 80s-lover’s neon-filled fantasy, come to life! After selling out performances across Broadway and the UK, The Wedding Singer brings its neon lights, flashy perms and dazzling choreography to Melbourne – filling the Athenaeum Theatre with a sense of resounding joy and classic 80s nostalgia. Based on the beloved Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore romantic comedy, The…

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Circus Review: The Dumtectives in Cirque Noir is a dazzling blend of acrobatics, slapstick and adult comedy

A perfectly stupendous amount of ‘Dum’! The critically acclaimed and globally touring Australian circus company, Dummies Corp, lights up the stage at The Famous Spiegeltent in Melbourne with their first adult-themed circus comedy – The Dumtectives in Cirque Noir. As part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, this show blasts you into a world of…

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Melbourne’s Musical Theatre Scene Revived: 5 shows not to miss in 2021

Melbourne’s theatre scene is back! If you’ve missed the feeling of sitting in one of Melbourne’s lavish theatres, enjoying snacks and a drink from the bar while enjoying a show to remember, get excited because there’s a stellar lineup of shows ready to blow you away. From the Comedy Theatre to Her Majesty’s, Melbourne’s best…

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Theatre Review: War Horse dazzles audiences with phenomenal puppetry and a deeply moving story (Melbourne)

Based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse returns to Melbourne to dazzle audiences at the newly refurbished Regent Theatre. The play exhibits a deeply moving and emotional story about the bond between a boy and his horse during the outbreak of WWI accompanied by stellar puppetry, captivating lighting…

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Theatre Review: Come From Away arrives in Melbourne for a night of endless fun and laughs

This Canadian musical kicked off in Ontario back in 2013 before finally making its way to Broadway in 2017. Now, in 2019, the town of Gander has landed in Melbourne for its Australian premiere at the Comedy Theatre. Come From Away takes place in the week following the 9/11 attacks, where 38 planes and almost…

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Theatre Review: Todd McKenney is the greatest showman in Barnum: The Circus Musical (Melbourne)

After thirty seven years, Barnum: The Circus Musical – which debuted on Broadway in 1980 – has returned to Australia for a strictly limited season. This astounding blend of musical theatre and circus acts lights up Melbourne’s iconic Comedy Theatre and fills it with laughs, awe, and magic for a night of pure fun. Set…

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Theatre Review: West Side Story‘s limited run in Melbourne highlights why it is still the best of the best

Widely regarded as one of the greatest musicals of all time, the original 1957 production of West Side Story stunned audiences and changed the game for American musical theatre going forward. Since then there have been a multitude of productions focused on retelling this timeless story to new audiences. In 1961 it received a film…

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