Claiming, with delightful accuracy, to be “Adelaide’s best unknown export,” Frankly returns to her hometown for this year’s Cabaret Fringe Festival with Doom Box , a chaotic, charming hour of cabaret that’s perfectly unhinged! On Tuesday night at The Howling Owl, we were welcomed into Frankly’s realm: just her, a mic, a keyboard, and a madcap mind full of biting wit and musical mischief. With a voice that instantly impresses and original songs that take unexpected, hilarious turns, it’s clear that Frankly’s brand of cabaret is completely her own. She’s nutty in the best way- wild-eyed, quick-tongued, and gloriously unpredictable. You’re laughing before you even fully register what she’s said. One moment you're admiring her vocal control and piano chops, the next you’re jaw-dropped and bursting out laughing at a lyric about getting banned from Kilburn Savers (and you’ll have to see the show to find out why!). Frankly’s set list roams freely, from childhood memories of befriending th...

Friday night in Saint-Tropez!  Ticked off another musical in the theatre cannon that I haven't seen before - La Cage au Folles! Based on Jean Poiret’s 1973 French Play, this musical adaptation first premiered on Broadway in 1983. Breaking ground at the time for LBGTQ+ representation in musical theatre, the show is a joyful celebration of uniqueness, love and acceptance. Georges, the owner of a drag nightclub in Saint-Tropez, and his partner Albin, the star performer who appears as the glamorous Zaza, are sent into turmoil when George’s son announces his engagement to the daughter of a conservative politician. Ordered to keep up a more “respectable” appearance for his future in-laws, Georges attempts to hide their unconventional family life, including Albin. Chaos and confusion ensue, culminating in an uplifting resolution about staying true to oneself.  Michael Bates as Albin and Daniel Flemming as Georges were a delight to watch, their hilarious banter was balanced with a com...

  Ventured Into the Woods last night!  Congratulations to the 2025 cohort of the Adelaide University Elder Conservatorium of Musical Theatre for a delightful first production for the year!  Into the Woods subverts the idea of “happily ever after” by weaving together classic fairytales into a tale of intertwined conflicts and consequences. It begins as a humorous exploration of the classic fairytale tropes, into a deeper questioning of the true morals of these stories.  In an exciting new approach, ECMT’s adaption was set in Australian suburbia, which was a clever way to spark initial intrigue and also many laughs within the audience - especially when the esky-cow appeared! The cast entertainingly played into some nostalgic Aussie stereotypes through their modern reinvention of these classic characters, which was refreshing to watch!  A show with a Stephen Sondheim score is no easy feat, but Saturday night’s cohort proved they have the vocal talent to execute his...

How often is it that you get to witness a musical from the Golden Age of Broadway, on the Sydney Harbour, with a cast as incredible as this?! As an Adelaidian, this was honestly such a uniquely special theatre experience that I'll never forget.  Guys & Dolls is a classic Broadway musical that follows the romantic and comedic exploits of two couples in 1950s New York City. Gambler Nathan Detroit runs an underground crap game while avoiding marriage to his long-suffering fiancée, Adelaide, while fellow gambler Sky Masterson unexpectedly falls for mission worker Sarah Brown. Bets are made and romance blooms in a charming tale of love and chance.  With a stage and set as grandeur as this, you need a larger than life ensemble to fill it, and this cast absolutely delivered. It was a treat to see the incredible ensemble nail Kelly Abbey’s classic broadway jazz choreography with style and charm. Up close, you could see the pure joy they must’ve been feeling dancing together. ‘Luck...

  I was so damn excited to see MJ! I knew the music was gonna hit, I knew the dancing was gonna be elite, and since it is still very fresh off Broadway, I knew that it was gonna be visually and technically spectacular! (I was right!) 🤩 MJ the Musical follows Michael’s preparation for his 1992 ‘Dangerous’ Tour. It double as a biographical musical with flashbacks to some of the most influential and infamous moments of his career, with a particular focus on his relationship with his father, Joseph. On Sunday evening we had Ilario  @ilariolavon  as MJ who absolutely embodied the King of Pop. In the show, MJ grapples with the legacy he’s building, and Ilario gave an incredible performance that captured MJ’s brilliance, burdens and his unstoppable ambition! In between, every musical number hits like a live concert - each song stands as its own spectacle through the choreography and visuals. The ensemble are electric, channeling MJ’s iconic moves and videos with a fresh energy....

  I was living in NYC for a bit when Hadestown was on the rise but I slept on it - huge mistake!! Then it won a Tony Award and all hope was lost trying to get a ticket! So it has been a long time coming to see this special show 🥹 Hadestown reimagines the Greek Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The above-ground world resembles a New Orleans Jazz Club, yet times are tough, the seasons are out of balance as Hades keeps Persephone underground. Way down, Hadestown is a factory city with a cool steampunk vibe, ruled by Hades. Despite the amount of times I’ve listened to the soundtrack, every expectation I had was exceeded seeing this live. The cast have crafted Australia’s own version of the show which I think is really special. At Sunday’s matinee we had  @abigailadrianoo  as Eurydice and  @samurich_  as Orpheus. The pair were incredible! I cried in anticipation of ‘Wait for Me,’ I cried during it, and then at the ending cried some more. This honestly is a testament to ...

  First show on the Sydney tour of musicals @titaniquemusicalau ! 🧊  Me 🤝 musicals with crude humour 🙂‍↕️ I went in pretty blind to this one, and boy I’m glad I did! Titanique is a playful parody of the Titanic Story, it’s narrated by Celine Dion who was somehow actually on board in 1912!! Who knew!  Setting the scene, the @thegrandelectricsyd is transformed into a nautical cabaret-style venue that really cements the fact you are about to board something wild! I loved the intimate Fringe-show style experience here!  From the moment it begins, you can’t help but succumb to the hilarious insanity that ensues! The silly stereotypes of the original film cast are pushed to the extreme; Rose is bullied by her mother, Jack is the loveable goof with the artistic talents of a 5 year old, and Cal is suddenly a “bedazzled metrosexual” (direct quote I swear 😂). The throw-away one liners are rife, sprinkled with hilarious improvs and pop culture references that hit the most n...