Climbers – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
June 4, 2023 by Alex First
It’s all good, clean, innocent, engaging, adventurous and flirtatious fun, until it isn’t. Read more
The World According to Dinosaurs: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
June 2, 2023 by Alex First
Having just sat through The World According to Dinosaurs, I am sorry to say I can’t really tell you much about the narrative, save for an extinction event.
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Jacky – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
May 30, 2023 by Alex First
Racism, disadvantage, “the mob” and money collide in the incendiary new work from Declan Furber Gillick, five years in the making. Read more
Back in Oz: Mamma Mia!
May 29, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
This show is not for you if you hate ABBA’s music, great singing, great dancing, great production and a custom-built heart-warming story incorporating lyrics sung by the Swedish four. Read more
Worstward Ho: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
May 27, 2023 by Alex First
Irish writer and Nobel Prize winner Samuel Beckett’s works can be difficult to get your head around. Read more
Catch Me If You Can: The Musical – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
May 25, 2023 by Alex First
Tony Burge, who assumes the role of lead FBI agent Carl Hanratty chasing boyish con man Frank Abagnale Jr. excels in Cloc’s production of Catch Me If You Can. Read more
Verdi’s Requiem: A concert review by Shirley Politzer
May 24, 2023 by Shirley Politzer
Verdi’s Requiem, his largest and most significant choral work, performed recently by the Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus and Orchestra, is a musical setting of the Catholic funeral mass for four soloists, a double choir and orchestra. Read more
I Wanna Be Yours – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
May 23, 2023 by Alex First
Navigating the vicissitudes in a relationship can be tricky at the best of times, but cross-cultural unions, more often than not, face additional difficulties. Read more
Beautiful Highness: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
May 22, 2023 by Alex First
Today, deteriorating mental health is spoken about far more often than it used to be, which is a good thing, but what does it look like up close and personal? Read more
A blend of the familiar, the unfamiliar and the new: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 18, 2023 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Having Wolfgang in your name would seem to direct your destiny towards musical composition. It certainly did with Erich Wolfgang Korngold, (1897 – 1957) whose only symphony was played by the SSO last night. Read more
Book Club: The Next Chapter – a movie review by Alex First
May 14, 2023 by Alex First
Book Club: The Next Chapter is a feel-good sequel to the 2018 film Book Club. Read more
This middlebrow concert was a sheer delight – a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 12, 2023 by Fraser Beath McEwing
While my reviews usually concentrate on the Emirates Master Series because that’s supposed to attract the most musically sophisticated crowd, last night’s SSO program of the Rach 2 and a Respighi tone poem was a delicious diversion. Read more
Once (Darlinghurst Theatre Company) – A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
May 10, 2023 by Alex First
A brilliant slice of musical theatre, Once has an inspiring, ear and eye-pleasing balance of heart and humour. Read more
Happy Days (MTC) – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
May 8, 2023 by Alex First
Absurdist and existential, Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days is a play strictly for selective tastes. Read more
The Critical Marriage – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
May 7, 2023 by Alex First
A new Australian work, The Critical Marriage by Mark Andrew, is the inside story of a relationship between a couple of intellectual heavyweights. Read more
Driftwood The Musical – reviewed by Alex First
May 5, 2023 by Alex First
Set against the backdrop of the Holocaust, Driftwood The Musical is a deeply moving tale of tribulation and triumph. Read more
Australian Whitney Tribute Show – I’m Every Woman: Reviewed by Alex First
May 2, 2023 by Alex First
The plaudits are mind-blowing, the statistics staggering, the downfall tragic, but her musical legacy lives on. Read more
Selling Kabul: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
April 30, 2023 by Alex First
We are in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2013, as the US troops are starting a major withdrawal from the country. Read more
True West – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
April 28, 2023 by Alex First
Cain and Abel – biblical brothers at loggerheads. Read more
Michael Shafar – Well Worth the Chemo: as reviewed by Alex First
April 27, 2023 by Alex First
He’s such a naturally funny guy, quick-witted, endlessly talented and responsive. With his boyish charm and relaxed attitude, he welcomes audience interaction. Read more
A Good Person: a movie review by Alex First
April 24, 2023 by Alex First
Broken, bruised and beaten. Read more
Beau is Afraid: a movie review by Alex First
April 23, 2023 by Alex First
Beau Wasserman (Joachim Phoenix) has issues and is having a very, very bad few days. Read more
The Marvellous Elephant Man – The Musical: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
April 21, 2023 by Alex First
Nominated for eight Oscars, David Lynch’s 1980 dramatic biographical film The Elephant Man – featuring Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft and John Gielgud – remains seared into my consciousness. Read more
Berlin: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
April 21, 2023 by Alex First
Joanna Murray-Smith’s remarkable insight, attention to detail and writing prowess are front and centre in a captivating production of Berlin at Melbourne’s The MC Showroom. Read more
Music that imposed itself: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
April 20, 2023 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Turley’s Mirage, Elgar’s cello concerto and Shostakovich’s 10th symphony provided a rich blend of styles at the Opera House last night. Read more
Pear-Shaped: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
April 11, 2023 by Alex First
Having closely watched all 75 minutes of Pear-Shaped, I remain utterly confused about what I just saw. Read more
Handel’s Samson: A music review by Shirley Politzer
April 10, 2023 by Shirley Politzer
Cheering, foot stomping, loud clapping, and a standing ovation were how Handel’s Samson oratorio was received at the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House. Read more
Rolling Thunder Vietnam (Australian tour) reviewed by Alex First
April 10, 2023 by Alex First
Rolling Thunder Vietnam is a deeply emotional, richly rewarding musical and narrative experience that takes you to the heart of the highly divisive Vietnam War. Read more
Julia: A Sydney theatre review by Alex First
April 6, 2023 by Alex First
Brilliantly performed by Justine Clarke, who, as the 27th Australian Prime Minister, displays determination, indignance and frustration, I would suggest one’s political predilection will have a fair say in how Joanna Murray-Smith’s words go down. Read more
Linoleum – a movie review by Alex First
April 5, 2023 by Alex First
A quirky, feel-good, sci-fi comedic drama, Linoleum concerns a decent man of science in Ohio who has always aspired to become an astronaut. Read more
