The Lion King, 19 Feb 2015 ****1/2

Music and lyrics by Elton John & Tim Rice; additional music & lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, Hans Zimmer;
Book by Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi;  
Adapted from the screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, & Linda Woolverton
Regent Theatre, until (no closing date yet)
Reviewer: Kate Herbert on Thursday 19 Feb 2015
Stars:  ****1/2 
Reviewed this at opening, Thurs 19 Feb, 2015. Full review also ran in News pages of Herald Sun tomorrow, Fri 20 Feb, and on line on Arts page same day. 

See next blog for clip of the Herald Sun News pages review.

 Buyi Zama as Rafiki

It’s the opening night of the triumphant return of The Lion King in Melbourne, and the crowd gapes and cheers as an impressive parade of exotic, African animals sashays and chants along the aisles of the Regent Theatre.

Circle of Life (with Nants’ Ingonyama), the African-influenced opening chorus, is perhaps the most rousing of Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs in this spectacular, family musical based on Disney’s 1994 movie.

The African musical influences of call and response encourage the audience to sway, hum and toe-tap in their seats and the orchestra, under Richard Montgomery, is outstanding.

The most remarkable element of Julie Taymor’s production is its design that includes vivid and sensual masks, costumes and puppetry (Taymor and Michael Curry) that create the illusion of an African animal kingdom utilising the rich ochres, reds and greens of savannah and jungle.

The audience is immersed in a unique world of proud lions, yipping hyenas, prancing cheetah, leaping antelope and birds soaring overhead.

The Flying Dutchman (reviewed by Joe Calleri 14 Feb 2015)

OPERA

Music & libretto by Richard Wagner 

by Victorian Opera

The Palais Theatre, St. Kilda: 14, 17, 19 February 2015

NB: I was unable to review this on Saturday night but Joe Calleri reviewed it. See Herald Sun, Monday 16 Feb 2015 in print and online.

Jumpy, 5 Feb 2015 ***

By April de Angelis, Melbourne Theatre Company 
MTC Southbank Theatre, the Sumner, 5 Feb until 14 March 2015
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars: ***
 Full review later when it is published in Herald Sun online and then in print. KH

 David Tredinnick & Jane Turner

Having an adolescent in the house can be like living with a rampaging, uncaged beast – so how do they grow up like that and why do parents tolerate their appalling behaviour?

In Jumpy, by UK playwright April De Angelis, poor, beleaguered Hilary (Jane Turner) wrestles with her wayward and rebellious 15-year old daughter, Tilly (Brenna Harding), lurching from one chaotic episode to another in her life.

Hilary is turning 50, losing her job as a Literacy teacher and dealing with bouts of panic, a failing marriage and the sense of creeping redundancy and invisibility of the middle-aged woman in a society that values youth.

In Pamela Rabe’s production, Turner brings her eccentric charm and comic sensibilities to the under-confident, insecure Hilary who she portrays as being in a perpetual state of bewilderment and barely controlled despair and anger.

Strictly Ballroom, 1 Feb 2015 ****

 Saw this on Sunday 1 Feb, and it was a hoot. The dance is its strength with the the highlight  being the Flamenco dancer and the dance ensemble. Loved Rohan Browne as Kenny Railings and thought Pheobe P was a terrific new musical theatre talent. 
 More when I get a chance to write. KH
K