Observer

OBSERVER: Riviera Revenge

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Set in Nice, on the dazzling Côte d’Azur, Riviera Revenge is a light-hearted French farce rom-com.Retired army general Francois (André Dussollier) is content that after three children, four grandchildren, and 50 years of marriage, he and his wife Annie (Sabine Azéma) remain devoted to one another.That is, until he finds a collection of love letters…

OBSERVER: Harry Potter

When Harry Potter’s Muggle uncle declared, “There’s no such thing as magic,” he clearly never had the pleasure of experiencing the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra live.Because pure magic is the only way to describe MSO’s performance of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in Concert.Under the flawless direction of conductor Vanessa Scammell, the orchestra brought John…

OBSERVER: Thrones The Musical Parody

Thrones! The Musical Parody is playing until June 21 at St Kilda’s Alex Theatre, following smash hit seasons at the Sydney Opera House and Edinburgh Fringe.The production has been created by the globally acclaimed comedy ensemble Baby Wants Candy, that launched the careers of Saturday Night Live’s Aidy Bryant and Silicon Valley’s Thomas Middleditch.House of…

OBSERVER: The Wrong Gods

What do we worship and what happens if beliefs clash with progress?That’s an issue explored in the latest Melbourne Theatre Company/Belvoir St drama, The Wrong Gods, a new play by S. Shakthidharan.Set in a remote Indian valley, we meet Mother Nirmala (Nadie Kammallaweera) and daughter Isha (Radhika Mudaliyar). Nirmala is a traditional rural woman whose…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Shows Windmill Theatre: Mama Mia! Until June 21 at Bunjil Place, 2, Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren. Bookings: windmilltheatre.com.auThe Basin Theatre Group: The War of the Worlds (A radio play by Howard E. Koch, based on the novel by H.G. Wells) Until June 22 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Pip Le…

OBSERVER: Blackrock

The MC Showroom presents Blackrock, the gripping drama adapted from Nick Enright’s earlier 45-minute piece, A Property of the Clan, from June 25 – 28 at the MC Showroom, Level 1, 50 Clifton St, Prahran.This reimagined production by Lunatix Theatre takes a new look at a story that confronts issues of toxic masculinity, peer pressure,…

OBSERVER: Don’t Get Carried Away

Roy Barker’s one man show, Don’t Get Carried Away, is a picaresque account of events in his life that led him to becoming a jobbing actor.From his role in the primary school musical to work on advertisements and plays, Barker’s account, though linear in its narrative style, maintains a disarming charm given his delight at…

OBSERVER: In A Persian Garden

The Dunolly Gilbert and Sullivan Society presents In a Persian Garden: An Afternoon with Liza Lehmann and Friends on Saturday, June 28 at 2pm at St John’s Anglican Church, 5 Finch St, Malvern East.This song cycle for soprano, contralto, tenor and bass by Edwardian song-writer Liza Lehmann in a setting from 1896, will be narrated…

OBSERVER: Thomas Heywood

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Classical organist Thomas Heywood celebrates the 200th anniversary of organ music in Australia with a concert of classical favourites performed on the Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ on Sunday June 29 at 2pm. Admission is free, but bookings are essential.Australia’s very first pipe organ had its first public performance on May 15, 1825 at St…

OBSERVER: Garcon

Award-winning visual artist, spoken word poet, and storyteller Wani Toaishara brings his one-person show Garçon to Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre, as part of Darebin Arts Speakeasy’s season of boundary-pushing performances from July 16-20.Recognised for his cross-disciplinary work exploring Black life, dislocation, and Indigeneity,Garçon offers an intimate and poignant journey through the streets and communities…