AussieTheatre review round-up: highlights from the Helpmann nominations

Secret River (11 nominations)

This haunting play has been in development for about six years, and a project close to the heart of STC Artistic Directors in that time, Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett. A brilliant play, our Sydney review says it might be “The most important work STC produces this decade; it’s certainly the best thing they have produced in years.”

King Kong (8 nominations)

This controversial eleventh-hour nominee “could be a game changer,” says Melbourne’s Anne-Marie Peard. “There is so much jaw-dropping, razzle-dazzle magnificence on the stage that it’s already changing the rules, but until the same amount of work that created its dazzling glory goes into the writing and the music, it’s just a couple hours of exquisite pretty that’s too easily forgotten.”

Legally Blonde (8 nominations) 

A favourite (unexpectedly) with critics across the board, I thought it was “fun and light-hearted and completely aware of its own silliness. It winks and nudges itself with clever dialogue, hilarious songs, and a unified brightness that is relentlessly appealing and impossible to resist.”

The Addams Family (8 nominations)

Opening in Sydney to mixed reviews from critics despite a good show from its cast and creative, my opening night review allowed that “Despite issues with the book, the audience on the night of final preview more than enjoyed themselves. Sold out, the house was packed and the laughs were many and generous. It’s striking a chord somewhere, but don’t look for depth or musical and narrative achievement.”

School Dance (6 nominations)

Adelaide company Windmill Theatre made a truly inventive and joyous reality/fantasy mashup and it was such a breath of fresh our. We didn’t catch it in Adelaide, but I reviewed its Sydney Festival showing and said, “School Dance manages something that is very tricky — creates nostalgia that feels precisely like your own life experience — and handles it with equal parts humor and understanding. It’s only January, but if you see it, it will be one of the best things you see all year.”

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (4 nominations)

A new staging, a new production, and refreshing creative. Anne-Marie Peard said that “It may be the best that a production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum can be.”

South Pacific (3 nominations)

This Lincoln Center production swept the Tony Awards when it opened. Here, it’s shattered Opera Australia’s box office records and won over audience hearts. We thought that “South Pacific is the perfect mix of gravity and lightness. It doesn’t miss a beat. It’s exquisite.”

Chess (2 nominations)

The Production Company found a way to make this difficult musical sing. Damien Clift and Dan Wilson urged that “Chess is a production not to be missed and another reason to be proud of Australia’s musical theatre talent.” They also had high praise for nominated actress Silvie Paladino.

End of the Rainbow (2 nominations) 

This bio-drama musical about Judy Garland opened to a standing ovation in Brisbane. Bobbi-Lea Dionysius says that “not only was [Garland] brought to life for those who were never able to see her in person, but we were also treated to a number of Judy’s hit songs from her catalogue.” Christen O’Leary and Hayden Spencer, both nominated for their performance in the piece, also left an impression.

Hedda Gabler (2 nominations)

Alison Bell’s second acting nod for the night (the other is for MTC’s Constellations) and a strong re-working of Ibsen’s classic play, Stephen House said it was a revival that really works. “Shock, dark humour, deeply emotional moments and a surprising death make this show engaging, and interesting from start to finish.”

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1 nomination)

It didn’t always capture the critics, but this one is a hit with families time and time again, plus its stage magic gets to all but the hardest of hearts. Ben Neutze said “Despite the fact that it runs a little longer than it needs to, the musical really is much more fun and substantially funnier than the film. It’s packed full of one-liners and physical comedy delivered to hilarious effect by a magnificent cast.”

Forget Me Not (1 nomination)

Colin Moody’s second acting nod this year (his other is for his supporting role in Secret River), this was truly a bravura performance. I wrote that “Gently written, even when Gerry is at his most destructive (and self-destructive), this play is a structural delight: soaring and sweeping to naturally occurring incident, realisation, and catharsis, slow erosion of rock over time.”