Grease is the Word | Musical Review

There was a palpable vibe in the auditorium of the Festival Theatre last night, with splashes of colour and costumes reflecting the efforts of the expectant crowd as they awaited the opening of Grease is the Word. More than 40 years after Harry M Miller produced the first production of Grease staged outside of America…

Reaching for the Moon | Film Review

This dramatic biopic illuminates the long-term love affair between American poet Elizabeth Bishop (Miranda Otto) and Brazilian architect Lota de Macedo Soares (Glória Pires). The screenplay, written by Matthew Chapman and Julie Sayers, is based on real events documented in the book Rare and Commonplace Flowers by Carmen L Oliveria, which follows the turbulent life…

Yves St Laurent | Film Review

The trials, triumphs and tribulations that fuelled the genius of a fashion designer are portrayed in this extensive account of the life and times of the man behind the label Yves St Laurent. The story is narrated from the perspective of Laurent’s life partner Pierre Bergé (played by Guillaume Gallienne), who portrays Laurent as a…

Darlene Love | Cabaret Review

Small in stature yet towering with talent, Darlene Love sang her heart out to a near-capacity audience at the Festival Theatre on the eve of the closing of this year’s Cabaret Festival. Love, 75, proudly claimed the centre-stage position among her talented band of three saxophonists, two trombonists, two guitarists, keyboard player and percussion, with…

Grace of Monaco | Film Review

After a highly publicised departure from Hollywood and a move from movies to monarchy, Grace of Monaco tells the story of a year in the life of Grace Kelly and the complex challenges she inherited as the appointed Princess. From the outset, Nicole Kidman embodies the grace, poise and dignity of Kelly, paying due respect…

Adelaide Youth Orchestra | Concert Review

Two Titan concerts at Elder Hall on the weekend were the culmination of the first collaboration between the Adelaide Youth Orchestra (AdYO) and the Adelaide University’s Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra (ECSO).     The towering backdrop provided by the organ pipes at the rear of the historic hall’s stage set the scene perfectly for what…

Like Father, Like Son | Film Review

Wanting the best for his child and ensuring his success is a priority for Tokyo architect Ryota Nonomiya. Strict discipline, routines, piano lessons and immaculate presentation are part of life for six-year-old Keita as he is groomed to live up to his father’s expectations in this stirring drama. Foundations are shaken when Ryota (Masaharu Fukuyama) and…

Any Day Now | Film Review

Any Day Now is a captivating film based on a true story, which highlights the social injustice and discrimination of the legal system in America during the 1970’s. Directed by Travis Fine, who also co-wrote the script with George Arthur Bloom, it stars Alan Cuming as Rudy Donatello, an entertainer earning a meager living as…

Adelaide Chamber Singers | Review

The award winning Adelaide Chamber Singers in association with Adelaide Festival 2014, presented Late Night in the Cathedral, the complete motets of JS Bach, in what has to be the most appropriate and ultimate of venues, St. Peter’s Cathedral in North Adelaide. The six motets were delivered over two evenings, with program one on Monday…