A Murder is Announced

We all went to see Emma. Sister asked me to take RJ for the day so she had to come the show with us. It was pretty good and RJ liked it! She kept repeating lines and talking about the characters and reveals during the whole drive home. I must take her to more shows and properly convert her into a theater groupie. 

I don't think it is one of the better Agatha Christie plays but certainly the printed set was reasonably impressive until the cast interacted with it and it rippled like water and until the two printed on light fixtures didn't get 'lit' when all the other lamps came on.  The costumes were spot on for the the period by looking sadly wrinkled with wear by the time act two came along. 

I thought the two detectives were the weakest performers, just sort of rambling over the stage. The brother character was very campy but I didn't feel it out of place with the period or the character. Our Em was a delight in her role, showing up some of her scene partners a little but perhaps I am biased. Letty really carried the show well and I was impressed by the depiction of Miss Marple. 

I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 community stars. 

Black is the New White

I love new Australian works. It is why I'm such a big Belvoir and Lally Katz fan so I was thrilled to see two new Australian works in the list for Sydney Theatre Company this year.

This was a fascinating play. I felt inside and outside of understanding at so many times. I could see my family in there but also not. I could feel the love and joy and frustration of a life lived not quite to expectations. Some scenes worked brilliantly like dinner dissolving into a food fight and the confession of attraction for the mothers but others felt rushed. The breakup between our protagonists felt a bit left field but then so did their affection for each other. Perhaps that was the plays weakest point. The lynch pin that would bring all the families together didn't feel quite strong or stable enough to warrant the risk.

I liked it. I would give 3/5.