Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
February 26, 2023 by Alex First
Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical sizzles with powerhouse performances and a rousing score. Read more
The Mousetrap: a theatre review by Alex First
February 23, 2023 by Alex First
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap opened in London’s West End on 25th November 1952 and has been running continuously (save for the COVID lockdown) ever since. Read more
Josh Piterman talks to J-Wire
February 22, 2023 by Alex First
Popular musical theatre performer Josh Piterman has just landed one of the roles of his life. Read more
Art: Alex First reviews Rone – Time
February 20, 2023 by Alex First
Geelong-born, Melbourne-based former street artist Rone (birth name Tyrone Wright) has crafted a remarkable time capsule three years in the making. Read more
Nosferatu, a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
February 17, 2023 by Alex First
The play starts with a heartfelt warning from one of the characters that only tragedy puts you on the map. Read more
Coming Out: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
February 16, 2023 by Alex First
Showmanship, humour, pathos, anger, overt messaging and song are part of this well-meaning but noticeably stretched offering. Read more
Prima Facie: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
February 13, 2023 by Alex First
Tessa Ensler (Sheridan Harbridge) is a successful barrister. Read more
Wittenoom: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
February 9, 2023 by Alex First
Wittenoom, the former town and declared contaminated site in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, was, in short, a death trap. Read more
Spoiler Alert: a movie review by Alex First
February 9, 2023 by Alex First
As the title suggests, the outcome is writ large at the start of the film, which is based on a best-selling memoir by Michael Ausiello. Read more
Mary Poppins: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
February 5, 2023 by Alex First
In a word, Mary Poppins is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Read more
The Whale: a movie review by Alex First
February 3, 2023 by Alex First
The Whale is the film that excites me more than any other since lockdown. Read more
My Old School: a movie review by Alex First
February 1, 2023 by Alex First
The true tale of 16-year-old Scott Brandon Lee (not the actor son of Bruce Lee) is remarkable. Read more
True Spirit: a movie review by Alex First
January 31, 2023 by Alex First
The story made world news. Read more
What’s Love Got to Do with It? A movie review by Alex First
January 26, 2023 by Alex First
Jemima Khan, the former wife of Pakistani cricket captain and politician Imran Khan, has written a cross-cultural romantic comedy. Read more
Tar: a movie review by Alex First
January 25, 2023 by Alex First
Surely an Oscar awaits Cate Blanchett for her extraordinary multilingual, piano playing performance in Tar. Read more
Sunday: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
January 23, 2023 by Alex First
Sunday Reed is a firecracker. Read more
Babylon: a movie review by Alex First
January 19, 2023 by Alex First
Sodom and Gomorrah might be a more appropriate title for a film all about excess and depravity. Read more
Legends in Concert: A musical review by Alex First
January 18, 2023 by Alex First
Energy and enthusiasm are the hallmarks of a slick tribute show to some of the greatest musical artists the world has seen. Read more
M3gan: a film review by Alex First
January 15, 2023 by Alex First
When the most advanced “toy” in history goes rogue, lives are at stake in the engaging horror sci-fi thriller M3gan. Read more
Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre – a movie review by Alex First
January 15, 2023 by Alex First
A rollicking, globe-trotting actioner, director and co-writer Guy Ritchie has a lot of fun and keeps things moving in Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre (ruse of war). Read more
Emily: a film review by Alex First
January 12, 2023 by Alex First
Tense throughout, Emily is a fictitious account of lauded 19th-century writer and poet Emily Brontë (Wuthering Heights), a role filled by Emma Mackey. Read more
Motherlod_^e: a theatre review by Alex First
January 10, 2023 by Alex First
Sixty-five minutes of glorious mayhem. Read more
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: a film review by Alex First
January 10, 2023 by Alex First
Marcel is an extraordinary, original work with Best Animated Feature at the Oscars written all over it. Read more
Madagascar The Musical: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
January 6, 2023 by Alex First
A musical for the littlies – I speak of preschoolers and primary school age children – Madagascar The Musical is based on the successful animated motion picture. Read more
The Fabelmans: a movie review by Alex First
January 4, 2023 by Alex First
Master filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s searing personal memories are illuminated on the big screen in The Fabelmans. Read more
Blueback: a movie review by Alex First
January 3, 2023 by Alex First
With a strong environmental message, Blueback is a feel-good story about protecting and saving the reef. Read more
A Man Called Otto – a movie review by Alex First
January 1, 2023 by Alex First
Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) seems like anything but a nice man. He likes to keep to himself and is curt to the point of rudeness. In fact, he is known for it. Read more
Slava’s Snowshow: A theatre review by Alex First
December 30, 2022 by Alex First
Vanya Polunin is to clowning what Sir Donald Bradman was to cricket – a genius. Read more
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat: a theatre review by Alex First
December 29, 2022 by Alex First
A new Pharoah has stepped into Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Read more
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (PG): a movie review by Alex First
December 28, 2022 by Alex First
Puss in Boots (the voice of Antonio Banderas) first appeared in Shrek 2 in 2004 before showing up again in a couple of other Shrek sequels and then a standalone film in 2011. Read more
