Cringeworthy: The 90's

From Andrea Sanders (of Beat Girls fame) comes the next in her series of Cringeworthy musical retrospectives, this time it's the 90's. Four multitalented performers dance and sing their way through multiple 90's hits, with a surprise addition in the second half.

You'll dance in your seat and annoy your neighbours. You'll cry for the beautiful rendition of More Than Words. You will, indeed, cringe at the wigs but marvel at the energy of those young (and not so young) things as they bounce around the stage for almost two hours. Depending on how loud you sing, you might go home with a sore throat. 

As always with Cringeworthy, music is put in historical context; OJ Simpson, Once Were Warriors, Bill Clinton. Samples from past songs were masterfully woven into the 90's version with commentary informing us that the originals weren't always credited. How much things change but stay the same; the Cranberries sung about war just as it's plastered across social media now and samples are still a thing but more frequently in the background of a TikTok video.

My only concern is that the content may age past the interest of the audience; viewers in their 30's were most engaged and Circa patrons skew older. Still, I want both less and more. Some songs needed only the first verse and chorus, but were dragged out. As to the more: a playlist, a daytime dance party, a dance class and of course a 2000's Cringeworthy.

Performances: 9 Aug- 6 Sept

Tickets: $60

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes was visually and audibly beautiful. Light, shadows and darkness were moved through and manipulated by two dancers to a series of piano tracks. Without a raised stage the audience had differing experiences based on their location; some could see dancers, others only their shadows. 

There were moments of pure enchantment as tiny lights spread across the stage like stars, voluminous fabric created flowing swirling waves, and tapping feet became raindrops. 

It lacked an overall storyline, and was more a collection of vignettes, something I would have preferred to realise earlier (rather than spend some time attempting to decipher what was going on).

The show relies heavily on stage smoke, if you're sensitive, sit further back. There is some (possibly unnecessary) nudity.

Performances: 6-9 March 9pm, 8th March 4:30pm

Tickets: $50

Oversharer

We all have a friend who talks a little too much, and a little too loud, and a little too fast, and a little too intensely, right? They have the best stories, about another scrape they've got themselves into, and they're always good for a laugh. Or maybe we are that friend. 

Oversharer is about (not surprisingly) oversharing. It's about being honest instead of boring. Impulsive instead of polite. Perhaps misreading the room, on more than one occasion. Sadly, not everyone wants honesty, or wants you to be yourself, they want you to be polite, to be palatable. 

This solo play covers many emotions; humour, heartache, hurt, embarrassment, it must be really draining for the actress (/writer). She laughs, screams, cries and sings, as well as running between parts of the stage for different scenes. The subject matter and performance is achingly relatable, her voice is gorgeous (so is she - inappropriate comment, sorry) and the set is a glimpse into someone's lounge without looking like a set piece.

We all just want to connect, to know that we are enough, and we aren't too much. I wanted to hug the character, to tell her she's allowed to be herself and she's perfect as she is.

The theatre was packed and the audience gave a standing ovation; the show deserves both of these, every night of the run.

Performances: 7pm, 19-22 Feb

Tickets: $25