Frankenstein- Theatre Review
By Ariana Rose
Going into the foyer, people cluster in groups, excitedly anticipating the beginning of the play. At around 7pm, the doors open and people begin to enter the theatre in droves. Sitting at the back row,I was ready to see Frankenstein performed on stage. Preparing myself, I eagerly wait for the opening scene, my eyes straining in the dark to take notes.
It was a marvellous show, very in depth on the events surrounding Victor’s life and the creature’s journey since his creation. I was conflicted between whether I should sympathise with Victor or the creature, as both of them were morally divided, carrying guilt and loss.
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The Mummy Rises- Review
By Ariana Rose
The Mummy Rises successfully takes the mummy, a classic monster, into a play riddled with humorous dialogue and ardent characters, without losing the horror and intrigue of the Gothic genre.
Play: The Mummy Rises
Director/Writer: Tim Brain
Theatre Company: Nexus Theatre and From The Hip Productions
Showings: July 14, July 15th, July 16th @7:30pm, Saturday matinée @2pm
Location: Nexus Theatre (Murdoch University, 90 South street 6150 WA)
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Dracula – Theatre Review
By Ariana Rose
Music begins to play. On stage, furniture is covered in dust speckled sheets. Half the stage hidden by curtains. In Dr. Seward’s sanitarium, a man is led astray by his insatiable desires, drawn to madness and hunted in the night…
The characters in the play each had their own unique quirks. I personally was interested in how the actors developed their characters non-verbally and when they were bystanders to the action/dialogue. Sometimes the actions of characters and their relationships has a greater impact than dialogue. Van Helsing (Jason Dohle) and Count Dracula (Joel Sammels) went past their stereotypical counterparts
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Q&A with the crew of Women
By Ariana Rose
The play, Women graces the stage on June 9th-11th at studio 411. Women is foremost a comedy and secondly a timeless classic mix between HBO’s Girls and Little Women. It follows the journey of four sisters in their quest of overcoming the affectionate moniker, Little Women bestowed upon them by their parents and becoming adults.
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Q&A with the cast of women part 2
By Ariana Rose
I was invited to a rehearsal of Women on May 15 by Thomas Dimmick and Jess Serio. I’ve divided the Q&A into two parts, part 1 for cast Q&A and part 2 for Crew Q&A. I will be seeing the first show on Thursday 9th June but there are also shows in Studio 411 near the Murdoch University gym at 7pm on June 10th & 11th if Thursday doesn’t suit your schedule.
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Murdoch Theatre in July
By Ariana Rose
Next month, a trilogy of horror plays will be performed at the Nexus Theatre. The Gothics Project has been a great undertaking for Nexus Theatre, Murdoch Theatre Company, From The Hip Productions and Second Chance Theatre. The directors, John King, Tim Brain and Scott McArdle, have been developing the project from the initial vision they had. Each have dedicated time, effort and money towards making the Gothics project a reality. The lighting, set design, costuming and special effects are top notch and will give the plays a ‘gothic feel’. One set is being shared by the three companies in their technically driven productions. This dynamic two-level set will take the audience from Castle Dracula, London, Egypt and to the Arctic sea, through the use of stylistic changes to adapt each setting.
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Ariana’s Guide to Student Theatre Pt. 1
By Ariana Rosenberg
Hey there readers!
My name is Ariana, and I’ll be your guide to this year’s spectacular season of Murdoch Theatre!
I’ll firstly go and introduce the fact that Murdoch does incorporate theatre into its Arts Degree and where the plays are located with a guide to the theatre companies at Murdoch University coming at you tomorrow.
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Review – Six Characters in Search of an Author
By Ariana Rose
In the play, Six Characters in Search of An Author, it’s impossible to discern where illusion began and reality ended on stage. Only a few questions were answered and many still remain…Were they actors or characters? Does reality truly exist? Are we only acting ourselves? Why does no one like writers? (Everything will make more sense once you’ve seen the play!)
Tickets are still available for Friday and Saturday night. Consider inviting your friends or family to see it with you. Though it’s recommended that they are 15+.due to one of the themes not being very appropriate for children. Tickets can be purchased here from as low as $10. Asking someone helping at the door for a program before the show is always helpful too.
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Women – Theatre Review
By Ariana Rose
The play, Women, was wonderfully hilarious, poignant and captivating.
The script was well chosen by director Jess Serio as it covered highly relevant issues such as gender equality and was positively received by the audience, who constantly laughed whenever a particularly funny line or pause occurred on stage. The relationships between the characters were startlingly poignant. They eagerly took on portraying their characters and remained upbeat in delivering their lines throughout the play. Women was another successful production by Black Martini Theatre that was professionally stylistic, performed by talented actors and made possible through the dedication of its production crew.
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Ariana’s Guide to Student Theatre Pt. 2
By Ariana Rose
This year at Murdoch University, the theatre scene started off strong with productions showcased in the 2016 Fringe Festival during February. At Nexus Theatre: ‘Thaw: A Science Fiction Play’ was presented by Thought Jar Productions, written and directed by Stephen B. Platt. At Studio 411: ‘Roommates Live from apartment 19’ was presented by Top and Tail Theatre, written by Sean Wcislo and directed by Nick Morant. Sincerely Yours: A New Musical presented by Stray Cats Theatre Company, was written by Jason Arrow and Kohan van Sambeeck. Plus, ‘ROPE’ which was presented by Presidential Productions in Studio 411.
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What do they call me
By Adam Semple
Photography: Michelle Karas
I couldn’t imagine a more visceral window into modern indigenous life, than Eva Johnson’s performance What Do They Call Me. So often in our assuming world, can the ‘big powers’ conveniently ignore the facts behind family based circumstance, and Eva Johnson’s artwork illustrates to us how easily assumptions are made and how oppressive the consequences can be. The piece calls into attention the vicious pulling of identity of Indigenous peoples, from both the sides of white conformity, and traditional heritage.
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Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography
By Olivia Gardner
On a cool night in July I ventured through Northbridge and into the State Theatre. Down the stairs to the underground foyer I was met with a large group of likeminded people talking quietly amongst themselves. We were waiting in anticipation before it was time for us to crowd into a room together to sit in silence and watch Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography.
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