Hold Me Closer Tony Danza:A show that brings joy in a sea of gloom

Hold Me Closer Tony Danza:A show that brings joy in a sea of gloom

The show has an irresistible prankster vivacity with fake endings,improvised role playing,audience dress-ups and a daggy dance battle.

  • byAndrew Fuhrmann andCameron Woodhead

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A smile so hideous it inspired the Joker:The Grinning Man comes to Melbourne

A smile so hideous it inspired the Joker:The Grinning Man comes to Melbourne

Eight years after becoming a huge cult hit in the West End,the musical The Grinning Man is heading Down Under.

  • byWill Cox
Who would have thought a cost of living crisis play could be so funny?
★★★★½
What’s on

Who would have thought a cost of living crisis play could be so funny?

Our reviewers give their verdict on acts all over town from the No Pay,No Way,Carmen,Chris Isaak and Grease.

  • byJohn Shand,Peter McCallum,Harriet Cunningham,Chantal Nguyen andShamim Razavi
He was playing the ‘wrong’ instrument – but nailed the concert anyway
★★★★★
Melbourne live reviews

He was playing the ‘wrong’ instrument – but nailed the concert anyway

Listeners were dazzled with the dizzying accuracy of Vikingur Olafsson’s fast hand-crossing,which was made far more perilous on a modern piano.

  • byTony Way andCameron Woodhead
Move over David Williamson,we have a new five-star footy play

Move over David Williamson,we have a new five-star footy play

This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes a thrilling play about footy and racism;the Jonas Brothers’ play Rod Laver Arena on first-ever Australian tour,Fred again..’s instant arena tour;and two comedies:one about two super-Karens meeting for their weekly lunch,and another about two young men who have to deal with a sick cow.

  • byCameron Woodhead,Marcus Teague andVyshnavee Wijekumar
Wicked’s extravagance is a sight to behold in this return to Oz

Wicked’s extravagance is a sight to behold in this return to Oz

After nine years,the fanfare and pomp of Broadway blockbuster Wicked is back in Melbourne.

  • bySonia Nair
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Frothy,syrupy and plastic:Clever story can’t save&Juliet from samey songs

Frothy,syrupy and plastic:Clever story can’t save&Juliet from samey songs

The cumulative effect of Max Martin’s songs is excruciating.

  • byJohn Shand
All musical theatre lovers should see this show at least once
★★★★★
Melbourne live reviews

All musical theatre lovers should see this show at least once

This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Rent at the State Theatre,The Crying Room:Exhumed,Greentea Peng,Cuddle,and Queens of the Stone Age.

  • byCameron Woodhead,Andrew Fuhrmann,Vyshnavee Wijekumar andNadia Bailey
‘Gobsmacked’:Beauty and the Beast gets standing ovations before it’s even half over
★★★★
Brisbane

‘Gobsmacked’:Beauty and the Beast gets standing ovations before it’s even half over

From dancing cutlery to miraculous transformations,Disney’s hi-tech layer-cake delivers on the magic.

  • byNick Dent
Flop to smash hit:Sumptuous,talent-packed Bernstein musical goes the whole ham

Flop to smash hit:Sumptuous,talent-packed Bernstein musical goes the whole ham

This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes four five-star shows within one week – including one that hasn’t been seen on our stages since the ’80s.

  • byBridget Davies,Jessica Nicholas,Cameron Woodhead,Tony Way andAndrew Fuhrmann
We’d need to see Groundhog Day over and over to write the perfect review

We’d need to see Groundhog Day over and over to write the perfect review

For us,there’s always tomorrow,and this lively black rom-com does make you appreciate the beauty and the curse of living one day after another.

  • byCameron Woodhead