Reviews

I was fortunate enough to see this production live (twice) when the show was touring Australia, and the excitement of the live event is captured admirably by the televised production of the show. I loved the live show - and I love this televised production of the show.

It is a superb rendition of Banjo Paterson's famous poem "The Man From Snowy River" and the story is entertaining and vibrant. All the cast members are excellent in their roles and give wonderful performances. Lee Kernaghan, a talented country and western singer, is the narrator of the show in his role as the Balladeer, and he handles this difficult task with aplomb.

Steve Jefferys, the lone horseman who rode his horse Ammo into the arena and reared at the beginning of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, re- enacts this historic event, with Ammo, during "The Man From Snowy River Arena Spectacular". Steve Jefferys also trained the colt Drummer (the 'Colt from Old Regret'), as well as teaching actor Martin Crewes the difficult skill of 'horse whispering' - something which Martin Crewes was able to master in a very short period of time. Martin Crewes, who plays the part of 'The Man', also sings beautifully and is an excellent horse rider.

The horsemanship throughout the show is superb, and the animal performers are absolutely wonderful. The equestrian rides are exquisite.

There is something for everyone with this show. There is musical comedy, a horse muster, a rodeo (buckjumping), coach and buckboard driving, rope and whip tricks, a rock concert, country dancing, a wonderful equestrian display and, of course, romance.

An excellent production all round.

Andrew Larabee is a teacher with an obsession. He thinks that the statue of the mythological Pan is to be found at an archaeological 'dig'. When he goes to the 'dig' to investigate, he discovers a circus in residence - and meets the beautiful and vivacious Selena, with whom he falls in love. Due to a misunderstanding, there is an enforced engagement between Andrew and Selena - and the date, chosen for their wedding, just happens to coincide with the date chosen for the wedding between Andrew and Letitia Fairchild, to whom Andrew has been engaged for the past five years!

Set in the late 1700's, this production is a combination of opera and pantomime farce. These pantomime aspects include comical costumes for Cenerentola's two stepsisters, Clorinda and Tisbe - and for the courtiers during their wine cellar scene with Don Magnifico. Some of the interactions, between the characters, are 'played for laughs'. The singing is good, and the Prince and his Cinderella make a cute couple. A fun production!

This movie is a combination of the non-magical world of Rossini's "La Cenerentola" (Cinderella), and the magical world of the traditional fairy tale of "Cinderella". Alidoro, a magician in the movie, replaces the Fairy Godmother of the traditional fairy tale in being instrumental in getting Cenerentola to the ball at the Prince's palace - and the bracelet (of the opera) replaces the lost slipper of the traditional fairy tale. Don Magnifico's dream, of the flying donkey and the church steeple, is played out in puppet form. The language is Italian, and there is English narration throughout. A cute and enjoyable movie!

This production is both charming and romantic. Set in the mid-1600's, it has the classic fairy tale 'picture book cut-out' concept as its basis. It has beautiful and colorful sets and costumes - and the courtiers are dressed as Royal Cavaliers. The singing and acting are superb - with the whole cast being ideally suited to their roles within the opera. Laurence Dale is perfect as the young Prince Ramiro, and Kathleen Kuhlmann is an ideal and adorable Cinderella. The small 'puppet stage', for the thunderstorm scene, is also a delight. A wonderful production!

Guests at a mansion give a private performance of 'Princess Ida', with the audience being made up of their fellow guests. When King Gama comments that Princess Ida has set up a Women-only University (where even the animals are all female), her betrothed, Prince Hilarion, decides there is only one thing to be done - he and his friends will have to infiltrate the University, so that he can woo the Princess and claim her as his wife. To achieve this aim, the three friends dress up as women in some academic robes they find - and their subsequent behaviour, as 'women', is a delight to watch. The singing is great, as is the acting - and the sets and costumes are beautiful and colorful. A delightful production!

This movie is highly enjoyable. It has excellent dancing and great songs. It is suitably comic in appropriate places, and the characters develop as the movie progresses.

Whereas Adam thinks of Milly only as a 'cook and clean', his brothers quickly learn to appreciate Milly, and hence other women, as human individuals with rights and feelings of their own. The brothers treat the girls with respect - even though they abduct them to be their brides. With the girls isolated on their property, the brothers are able to court the girls properly, and the couples marry for love, without the real need for a shotgun wedding.