musicals and opera

HOT: Hairspray the Musical, Princess Theatre, Spring St, Melbourne

January 20, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

I really enjoy going to see musicals but even with ample opportunity to see award-winning musical Hairspray both in Australia and overseas, for some reason I thought it was going to be too corny, too kitsch, for me to enjoy. How wrong I was. I LOVED Hairspray. I can even safely say that it’s the [...]

Ask the Doctor: Musical Date

September 30, 2010 ⋅ One comment

Help me Doctor!: Dear Dr, I’m hoping to make a favourable impression on a very cultured girl who enjoys classical music. Have you got any good suggestions on where I can take her in Melbourne? – Michael Your prescription: Hi Michael, it’s great to hear that you’re doing your research in your quest to impress [...]

HOT Spots Winter 2010

June 11, 2010 ⋅ 4 comments

Once again the City of Melbourne have produced a free pocket-sized booklet full of lots of ideas to inspire you to get out of the house and enjoy winter in Melbourne. This is a post to bookmark! I sat down with a cup of tea and flicked through the booklet, which you can pick up [...]

HOT Alert: Week of 5 October

October 5, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

This week’s it’s all about Fringe, Fringe, Fringe: Melbourne Fringe Festival #5 – Opening night of the drama She’s My Baby, billed as “Two Monologues, One Couple, Sixteen Years Apart” and showing at the Trades Hall on Tuesday 6 October; Melbourne Fringe Festival #6 Comedy show 21 – ‘Cause you’ll only turn it once (probably a [...]

HOT: Who’s That Chik?, Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

September 30, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

Candy Bowers wanted all the critics to introduce their reviews by saying that Who’s That Chik? features ‘a girl in skin tight dance pants’. So if you’re expecting crisp white linen suits and the perfect diction of God of Carnage, you’re in the wrong theatre. Candy B’s self-written, autobiographical show is billed as ’a hip hop [...]

NOT: La Boheme, Kino Cinemas, 45 Collins St, Melbourne

September 19, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

It really seems like every time I head to the cinemas for my dose of opera and ballet it is raining. Which just makes it a perfect match. This rainy Saturday afternoon it was the production of La Boheme from Teatro Real Madrid. As much as I love the Puccini opera I have to admit [...]

HOT: Avenue Q, Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition St, Melbourne

May 31, 2009 ⋅ One comment

A comedy musical with puppets? Don’t start groaning – the Tony Award winning Avenue Q is cheesy, cheeky, a little bit dirty and it’s certainly not for kids. Admittedly it doesn’t try too hard for laughs (who’s not going to laugh at puppets having wild sex?), the songs are catchy without being memorable and there [...]

HOT: Carmen, Kino Cinemas, 45 Collins St, Melbourne

May 10, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

In my fabulous former life, I was able to attend many opera performances at my all-time-favourite London landmark, the Royal Opera House. However, I’m now a million miles away from Covent Garden, so I can only get my dose of world-class opera via World Opera and Ballet. Initially, I was uncertain as to how much [...]

HOT: The Audition, Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton 3053

April 26, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

While in London, I really gained an appreciation for the opera – so I was excited to hear that Cinema Nova were screening The Audition, a behind-the-scenes documentary about New York’s Met Opera auditions. The story follows a group of hopeful young opera singers as they prepare for the grand final – a chance to [...]