Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre
Suite Surrender
It’s 1942, and two of Hollywood’s biggest divas have descended upon the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel, assistants, luggage, and legendary feud with one other in tow.
Everything seems to be in order for their wartime performance. that is, until they are somehow assigned to the same suite.
Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double extenders, and a lap dog named Miss Boodles round out this hilarious riot of a love note to the classic ’30s and ’40s.
Season: Thursday June 27 – Saturday July 13.
Bookings: 9735 1777
Burrinja Theatre
351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey
Greece Lightning – Garry Star
An overzealous idiot attempts to perform all of Greek Mythology in order to save his Hellenic homeland from economic ruin.
Never before has Medusa been looser, Achilles more sillies or Uranus so heinous. Having single handedly saved the performing arts in 2918 with his multi-award debut show Garry Stan Performs Everything, comic wunderkind Garry returns with another anarchic masterclass not to be mythed.
Season: Thursday June 13 at 7.30pm
Venue: Lyric Room
The Mind Field – Arj Barker
All of reality. As we can ever possibly know it exists exclusively in our minds. Armed with this knowledge, Arj sets out to answer some of Life’s biggest Questions. Why are we here? Are we alone in the Universe? Why does it hurt when we pee?
You’ll laugh and you’ll learn, but you can never look at anything the same once you enter.
Season: Friday June 21 at 8pm
Venue: Burrinja Theatre
The Round Theatre
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Presented by Babirra Music Theatre
Based on the 1994 film of the same name Priscilla, Queen of the Desert follows the journey of three drag performers as they drive across the Australian outback in their bus named Priscilla.
The bus, Priscilla, really featured onstage. Congratulations to the set builders for a terrific job on the bus. It was open on one side and on the other, there were various lights illuminating the side. The front was a regular bus with headlights, the name Pricsilla in the destination board and when the scene with a singer on top of the bus with the trailing costume the bus lost the rear end for the scene. To move the bus the stagehands were dressed in helmets and overalls as if they were mechanics.
The open side showed the interior and the three drag queen’s driving and resting.
Zac Alaino played Tick (Mitzi) who really captured the role of drag queen and father. A great performance. Mark Monroe was the ageing drag queen and his character was with Les Girls. He played the elder character and found true love. A wonderful portrayal of such a character.
The third drag queen was Adam (Felicia) played by Andreas Katsiroubas. Andreas gave a stirling performance in the role and particularly in the scene in the little town between Broken Hill and Sydney.
The musical was added to by the three divas, Jodie Webber, Marina Martin and Cassidy Capraro. The acted and sang kike a Greek Chorus throughout the ev4ening which added to the entertainment.
Tim Maloney was Bob the mechanic who certainly added to the show with his performance.
A large cast, unfortunately the column doesn’t give space to highlight each player but the standard set by the cast certainly made the evening. Costuming was magnificent and in the final scene all the Australian animals were represented. And the frilled lizards left the audience agog.
The lighting, by Jason Bovaired, was outstanding and added to the production. The sound designer Marcello Lo Ricco certainly added to the evening and Babirra is to be congratulated on presenting such an evening.
