Author: Nanci Nott
Review: MJ The Musical Has Perth On Its Feet
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★★★★★ Over seven million people have attended MJ The Musical since it opened on Broadway in 2022, and for good reason. This is not a tribute show with a token plot baked into it. This is an entrancing musical mirage that explores the complex psyche of a musical revolutionary. Functioning as a…
Film Review: Buffalo Kids Brims With Heart & Adventure
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★★★★☆ Inspired by a true sibling relationship, Buffalo Kids is a wholesome animated adventure film that contains just the right amount of slapstick humour to delight young audiences. It begins with a slip-sliding action sequence as a ship docks in New York. Among those on board are two young orphans, Tom (Conor…
Review: Dracula The Ballet Delivers Dark Theatrical Magic
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★★★★★ West Australian Ballet’s Dracula has returned to Perth with as much bite as ever, in co-production with Queensland Ballet. Drawing inspiration from both Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 film, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this atmospheric production is dramatic in all the right ways and is sure…
Review: WAAPA’s Renascence Sings With Heart & Fire
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The Australian premiere of Renascence is a metaphysically autobiographical exploration of one of the greatest American poets of the twentieth century, Edna St Vincent Millay. Directed by Katt Osborne and written by Dick Scanlon – with music from WAAPA alumni Carmel Dean – Renascence utilises Millay’s own words, transforming twentieth-century…
Review: Anastasia Casts Its Spell Over Perth
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★★★★★ Written by Terrence McNally and directed by Darko Tresnjak, this powerful production of Anastasia breathes potent new life into a beloved old tale. The award-winning creative team includes the composer and lyricist from the 1997 animated movie (a childhood staple to many) and features five songs from the film in…
Review: Now You See Me Live Astounds Perth
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Created by Tim Lawson and Simon Painter, Now You See Me Live contains bona fide magic of the highest degree, guaranteed to astound. This spectacular stage production reimagines the Lionsgate franchise, eliciting a quality of awe rarely experienced beyond early childhood. The first surprise appears mere seconds into the show, closely followed by…
Review: Cats Pounces On Perth With Pure Purr-fection
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If you like your cast cat-like, your kicks high, and your fourth wall broken, you won’t want to miss CATS. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical has been seen by 81 million people since it opened in 1981. Now, its 40th Anniversary Australian tour – starring Gabriyel Thomas, Todd McKenney, Mark…
Coffee, Cats & Conversation: A Chat With Lucy Maunder
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The first time I saw Lucy Maunder, she was playing Roxie Hart in Chicago, at Crown Theatre Perth. The second time was via Zoom last Thursday morning, in the context of an interview about her role in CATS. Both of us were in morning mode, with our respective offspring somewhere in…
Review: Corteo Is A Celebration Of Life In Full Colour
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Created and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, Corteo by Cirque du Soleil has enthralled millions since it premiered in 2005. Now, Corteo is kicking off its Australian tour in Perth. Corteo makes the impossible look easy, and the possible look spectacular. Combining elements of traditional Italian circus with late 14th century commedia dell’arte, Corteo uses circus…
Review: Beauty And The Beast Has Perth Under Its Spell
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Beauty and the Beast is deeply ingrained in our cultural zeitgeist. Multiple generations across countless cultures have resonated with some form of archetypal narrative about the transformative power of empathic love. Disney’s 1991 animated classic, Beauty and the Beast, is by far the most beloved, alongside its 2017 live-action remake, and the…
Review: Whalebone Blurs The Lines Between Science And Magic
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Whalebone exudes quirky fun the entire family can enjoy. Written, directed, and performed by Jens Altheimer, this immersive experience blurs the lines between science and magic – not to mention the boundary between physical and virtual worlds – through clever set design and comedic storytelling. The show begins with bureaucratic…
