Puppets say the darndest things in the hands of veteran ventriloquist David Strassman. His new show in Melbourne stars familiar characters and clever new technology.

The Wharf Revue crew have been doing this longer than they care to remember. But the latest intergalactic piss-take is as funny as anything you’ve already seen.

If you’re going to parody a much-loved cultural icon you should at least get your facts straight. Potted Potter pleases some kids but proves something less than magic.

It’s hard to believe the prince of polyester has been reigning for a quarter-century. Then again, it’s probably going on 20 years since I first saw him, at North Ryde rissole. The most delirious thing about that performance was I’m sure many of the patrons thought he was just another polished club entertainer-in-earnest. It could’ve [...]

Here in the echo chamber, we preview a piece of vaudeville that’s about us (well, Crikey is mentioned at least). A play that mocks plays, including the very next production from the Melbourne Theatre Company. It’s all very meta. There’s not many left in the chamber, of course; just Don Watson and a few other marginalised bleeding [...]

It’s tempting to be equivocal or non-committal, in deference to engendering less hate mail and fewer death-threats from disgruntled theatre practitioners who claim I can ruin their careers overnight with nary a harsh word. But not tempting enough. A Distressing Scenario, at Belvoir, downstairs, is in stark contrast to the inventive, informative, focussed offering from [...]

China might be in control of rare earth metals, but Sydney is still very much on its mettle when it comes to political satire, thanks, almost exclsusively, to the individual and combined talents of Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe, Phil Scott and, now, Amanda Bishop. No, not the Channel 10 entertainment reporter and daughter of Frankenstein’s [...]