Virag Dombay - Page 11

Although American Idiot is classified as a musical, it would be better classified as a very politically-powerful rock opera. From the head banging to the electric guitars and booming bass, the audience were enrolled as spectators in a rock arena. Although quite disjointed, the piece features music composed by the punk-rock band Green Day, with the score including each song from the album of the same name, as well as additional songs from their album 21st Century. American Idiot follows the story of three alienated childhood friends Johnny (Linden Furnell), Tunny (Connor Crawford) and Will (Alex Jeans) as they navigate their way to find meaning, purpose and colour in a Trumpian suburbia. Whilst Will stays at home to fix his rapport with his pregnant girlfriend Heather (Ashleigh Taylor), Tunny and Johnny flee a stifling suburban lifestyle and parental restrictions; however, as always, things don't always turn out as they seem. Tunny ends up joining the military and although he starts a relationship, it quickly turns to dust after Johnny turns to drugs, discovering a darker part of himself.

The Crucible (1953) is a partially fictionalized narrative of the Salem witch trials which occurred in Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692 to 1693, written by American playwright Arthur Miller.

Based on the two-time academy award winning Disney animated film of the same name, Aladdin the musical encompasses all the magic that the movie has and more. In fact, I believe it's more magical than the movie and here's why. I've only had my draw drop twice in the opening number of a musical; first was The Lion King and now, Aladdin can be added to the list. I've tried to think of the words to explain the extravagance of the set. The word magical is the closest I can find but even that's not enough. It's Disney and it's budgetless. Six-time Tony Award winning set designer Bob Crowley draws from Middle Eastern, North African and Asian designs and eras to produce the most immaculate storybook middle-eastern silk back-drops, market-place scene furnishings and the inside of the palace walls. The cave of wonders featured golden treasures that transformed into skyscrapers but none more beautiful than the flying carpet which carries the lovers aloft in the air. As it spins and turns through Natasha Katz's (lighting designer) star-strewn night sky, the audience is left not wanting to believe their eyes and wanting to know the answer as to 'how they did it'.

In our contemporary society, there are a plethora of artistic and literary works that aim to explore aspects of the current political landscape and harness change amongst the masses. does just that. A co-production between La Boite and Playlab, actor and playwright Kathryn Marquet's The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek is set a small, isolated shack in the south-western Tasmania wilderness and follows the story of George Templeton, an environmental activist trying to prevent the mass extinction of the Tasmanian devil. Other characters include George's flatmate the ranger and chicken nugget fanatic Harris Robb, wildlife poacher Mickey O'Toole and heavily right-winged high schooler Destinee Lee.

Written by British playwright Catherine Johnson and created by ABBA's former members Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! continues to be one of the chief feel good musicals of our generation, spreading joy and laughter through the auditorium and getting the audience to leave their seats and become their own dancing queens.