The joy of finally returning to live theatre in Melbourne is exponentially magnified by the heart lifting humanity of the first musical to reopen, Come From Away.
Mates blogger: Simon Parris
Simon Parris is one of over 45 theatre bloggers who are part of the MyTheatreMates collective. This page features Simon's posts on MyTheatreMates. Take a look at our full list of theatre bloggers and our aggregated feed of all our Mates' posts. We’re always looking for new theatre bloggers. Could that be you? Learn about how to join us.
Simon is a Melbourne-based theatregoer and critic, who reviewed for many years for Theatre People and the Sunday Herald Sun. He has also acted, directed and choreographed, and has served on the boards of the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Committee and The Opera Studio Melbourne. In addition to productions in Melbourne, on his extensive travels, Simon reviews shows in Sydney and on annual trips to Broadway and the West End. He now blogs independently at simonparrismaninchair.com.
The latest from Simon on MyTheatreMates
FROM DOWN UNDER: Chicago in Melbourne
Set to dazzle and divert, the Broadway revival of Chicago returns for its third Melbourne sentence with as sexy and sinewy a company of dancers as could possibly be wished for.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Opera Australia’s Faust in Melbourne
In a production as spectacularly staged as it is intelligently conceived, Faust is another mighty achievement from Opera Australia, demonstrating the full extent of their resources to sterling effect.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Jekyll & Hyde 25th Anniversary Concert in Melbourne
Well worth the 25 year wait, this was the Moment, not just for Anthony Warlow to actually play Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on stage, but also for Australia to finally see a professional production of Jekyll and Hyde.
FROM DOWN UNDER: The Australian Ballet’s Sylvia in Melbourne
Brilliantly bolstered and boosted, Stanton Welch’s new Sylvia enlivens and enhances the 1876 original for an evening of pure theatrical enchantment.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Thoroughly Modern Millie
Whoopee baby! Thoroughly Modern Millie returns in a splashy, starry staging that distils the very essence of musical comedy into an evening of unabashed joy.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Come from Away in Melbourne
Offering the pure joy of musical theatre at its unadulterated best, Come from Away is a breathless celebration of the finest qualities of humanity.
ON BROADWAY: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! is a ‘cynical practical joke on theatregoers’
An Off-Broadway show with the nerve to charge Broadway prices, the “Bard Summerscape Production of” Oklahoma! plays out like a cynical practical joke on theatregoers. The egregious experiment is a blight on 75-plus years of American musical theatre.
ON BROADWAY: Moulin Rouge is ‘a feast for the eyes & ears’
A truly spectacular spectacular, Moulin Rouge burns through the budget of a hundred musicals, all in the quest for extravagant entertainment.
ON BROADWAY: Beetlejuice the Musical is a ‘sassy, crowd-pleasing guilty pleasure’
Pure escapist fun, new Broadway musical Beetlejuice runs high on daffy hilarity with an irresistible undercurrent of snarky wickedness.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Melbourne Theatre Company’s Storm Boy
Storm Boy is theatre for children and yet it is not children’s theatre. As memorable family entertainment it is very hard to beat, with the additional benefit of possibly inspiring follow-up conversations on deeper issues.
FROM DOWN UNDER: The Australian Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in Melbourne
The Australian Ballet heads straight back down the rabbit hole, returning award-winning 2017 hit Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to the Melbourne stage for a very welcome encore season.
FROM DOWN UNDER: The Production Company’s Lazarus
Lazarus is unlikely to appeal to lovers of traditional musical theatre, but for those seeking theatre with an edge the production more than lives up to its tantalising promise.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Opera Australia’s Così fan tutte in Melbourne
Intelligently conceived and handsomely staged, David McVicar’s production of Così fan tutte matches elegance and wit with the simple pleasure of Mozart’s heavenly music.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Opera Australia’s Rigoletto
Verdi’s richly melodious tragedy glistens again as Opera Australia returns its much loved Moshinsky staging of Rigoletto to the Melbourne stage.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Melbourne Theatre Company’s Così
Given the resources regularly lavished on revivals of international classic plays, this season of modern Australian classic Così is as welcome as it is deserving.
‘Kirby Burgess gives her most memorable musical theatre performance to date’: FROM DOWN UNDER – Barnum in Melbourne
An all too rare independent musical theatre production, the new Australian staging of Barnum sees Todd McKenney embrace the chance to play iconic huckster P. T. Barnum.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Opera Australia’s West Side Story in Melbourne
Opera Australia complements their dazzling new outdoor production of West Side Story in Sydney with the return of this traditional staging to Melbourne, differentiating the casting by showcasing a new generation of fresh young triple threats in this (indoor) Australian tour.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Muriel’s Wedding the Musical in Melbourne
Imaginatively conceived, ingeniously written and lavishly produced Muriel’s Wedding is surely the most impressive original musical ever created in Australia. Brimming with imagination, inspiration and joy, Muriel’s Wedding is compulsory viewing for all lovers of musical theatre.
FROM DOWN UNDER: West Side Story – Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour
A brilliant choice for the first musical to be presented as the annual Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, West Side Story is given lavish, large scale treatment in what is essentially a highly respectful, traditional production.