Observer

OBSERVER: Forgotten Songbook

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

A wonderful new Australian musical, The Forgotten Songbook has been born at Chapel off Chapel, delighting packed houses during its too-short three-night premiere season.Presented by McBurney and Hurley, this show is a sensational musical feast of varying genres and great lyrics, entwined with fascinating storytelling and director/choreographer Mikey Halcrow’s snappy dance moves.Jazz musician/writer/composer Emerson Hurley,…

OBSERVER: Rourke’s Reviews

The Surfer (MA). 101 minutes. Now available on Stan.Nicolas Cage, after churning out dozens of forgettable-to-bad movies over the last decade or so, is starting to make some interesting choices again as an actor. From Mandy to Longlegs to Dream Scenario, Cage has once more begun to show what a genuinely great actor he can…

OBSERVER: With One Voice

Community choirs across the country are opening their doors for Try a Choir Week from August 18-22. An open invitation is extended for people of all backgrounds and abilities to experience the power of song and connection.Run by With One Voice, one of Australia’s largest community choir networks, the initiative will see 25 choirs in…

OBSERVER: Fuse Festival

The City of Darebin presents the Darebin Fuse Festival from August 31 – September 14.The Darebin Fuse Festival offers an opportunity to unite as a community and enjoy live music, cultural experiences, exhibitions, public art installations, workshops, kids’ activities, theatre and more at various venues.For full program details and venues, visit www.fusedarebin.com.auCheryl Threadgold Pictured: Wrong…

OBSERVER: Butterfly Club closes

In a surprise announcement, the wonderfully atmospheric The Butterfly Club in Melbourne’s CBD has advised the sad news of its closure.According to its website, The Butterfly Club hosts 1200 performances of 200 productions every year, many of them new works.The intimate venue is particularly popular for performances during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the…

OBSERVER: Stolen Painting

In the early 21st century, a painting by early 20th century artist Egon Schiele was discovered in the house of a young suburban chemical worker by a modern art specialist. The painting had disappeared when it was looted by the Nazis in the Second World War.The Stolen Painting is based on this true story when…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

ShowsThe Basin Theatre Company: Educating Rita (by Willy Russell) August 7 – 17 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Sharon Maine. Bookings: thebasintheatre.auWilliamstown Musical Theatre Company: Disney’s Dare to Dream Jr. August 1 – 10 at Altona Theatre, 115 Civic Pde., Altona. Director: Stuart Dodge; Musical Director: Ang Cuy; Choreographer: Gabriele Pagano….

OBSERVER: Blood Wedding

In an ambitious but overreaching and ultimately disappointing production, Theatre Works, Tashmadada and JMC Performance Ensemble presented Blood Wedding, the grand Spanish tragedy by Frederico Garcia Lorca.The play revolves around a proposed wedding. The bride-to-be is betrothed to a young man but is in love with another man, Felix.Unfortunately, Felix and the bridegroom come from…

OBSERVER: Glass Menagerie

In a tale of two halves, Running with Scissors Theatre and Victory People Productions put on a production of uneven quality of Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie at the The Stables in North Melbourne’s Meat Market.The play started with one of the characters, Tom Wingfield, setting the scene as he reminisced about living with his…

OBSERVER: Ordinary Days

Clovelly Fox’s artistic director Tyran Parke has announced the cast and creative team members behind its forthcoming production of Ordinary Days, performing at fortyfive-downstairs from August 2-31.Described as a “beautifully intimate chamber musical by acclaimed writer Adam Gwon”, Ordinary Days traces the intersecting lives of four New Yorkers as they search for meaning, connection, and…