Youngsters nowadays have been brought up to think they are perfect and always right. This show demonstrates, with blatant honesty how, despite the admiration given by people close to you, along with most of the idealistic images created by TV programmes, have lied and that life is in fact a bloody hard struggle. It tackles topics like racism, homosexuality and sexism with taste (?).

This hilarious two and a half hour, light-hearted fantasy, a Dark Psychic Production can be seen at the Phoenix Memorial Hall, 435 Carrington Street, Hamilton Hill, at 8.00 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until 19^th March. There is one matinee, on Sunday 13^th March at 2.00 pm.

The eleven, large puppets are operated and voiced by neutrally dressed puppeteers, who are constantly in full view of the audience, mingling with three human actors. However, the strength of the puppets’ characters, and their complex but smooth operation, quickly help the audience forget about the operators.

The colourful set is the exterior of a block of flats in rural New York City (design assisted by Pat McMahon, Kerron and Danial Muller). Constructed by the designers, with further help from Wayne Gale, Leon Dekker and Aubrey Cason. The stage management was smooth, totally unobtrusive all thanks to Alison Kovacs and Nikita Harwood.

Alex Coutts-Smith’s lighting was colourful and very well designed.

The Musical Director, Lee Wilson, operated the music and sound. It is often tricky for a cast to follow a pre-recorded musical track as there is no leeway for error, but this cast was perfectly rehearsed and well advised by Lee.

      On graduating, young, naïve Princeton (Darren Bilston), decides to search for his purpose in life. After discovering that accommodation in Avenue A in central New York is atrociously expensive, he finds himself in the suburbs at Avenue Q, where he meets the tactless Nicky (Ryan McNally). Nicky says that there is a room to let in his block of flats; a block that is supervised by Gary Coleman (Bernadette Ward) who was Arnold Jackson in TV’s ‘Diff’rent Strokes’.

     Whilst living in the flat he meets the other tenants, there is the svelte therapist, Japanese girl, Christmas Eve (Jayde Clark) and her fiancé, ‘Blian’ or Brian (John P. Gray) who is a poor stand-up comic. Upstairs is friendly but tight-fisted, Republican banker, Rod (Andrew Dawson) and Trekkie Monster (Sean Williams) who spends most of his time watching porn.

     One day Princeton meets an old school friend, Kate Monster (Danni Close) a kindergarten teacher who wants to leave her boss, Mrs Thistletwat and open her own Monstersorri (sic) school. They rekindle the love of their youth. However, in the ‘Around the Clock Café’ the big busted, sex mad singer, Lucy T Slut (Elouise Eftos), and two of her friends, the charismatic, Bad Idea Bears (Sally McMaster, Ruby Reye) are determined to lead Princeton astray. The couple do have some good friends – Ricky, Jumper and Suzi (Dan Rooney, Em Rose, Chantal Kerkhof).

    Will Nicky and Kate Monster find their lifelong loves?

Confession time. I have never been a fan of ‘Sesame Street’ or ‘The Muppets’, often finding them infantile and annoying, but this show has warmth and demands empathy from the audience. The content is definitely for adults only – the first Act ends in raunchy hilarity, whilst depicting half the positions of the Kama Sutra.

Thanks to the supreme skills of the operators, the puppets are mesmerising. The puppeteers have to work the immaculately made and dressed puppets (assembled by ‘Cursed Creations’), whilst speaking in an American accent, and capturing the nasal, squeaky voices of the TV characters. The result was amazingly accurate.

When a production opens with a powerful and happy chorus, you know that the show is going to be well above average. The opening number was magic.

There was a couple of dozen musical number and songs, which were required to be sung in the strange voices, and once again with brilliant presentation and perfect enunciation.

Directed by Jayde Clark, with solid production assistance from Gabriella Guidone and Bethsaida Tapsall, the show was fast moving throughout. The songs were delivered with plenty of power and feeling – fabulous singing voices. Special mention for performers Darren Bilston, Danni Close, Ryan McNally and Andrew Dawson, their voices were amazing. Sean Williams’ gruff Trekkie voice was incredible.

The quirky songs were accompanied a soft-shoe shuffle and such convincing puppet arm movement that at times you would swear that the facial expressions were changing too.

This must be Dark Psychic’s best production yet – and over the years, they have had a very high standard. Slick, professional and great fun. Highly recommended, the type of show you could see again.

Presented by Phoenix Theatre Inc. and Dark Psychic Productions at the Phoenix Theatre, within the Memorial Hall, 435 Carrington Street, Hamilton Hill; this lively two-hour musical, with almost two dozen number, starts at 8.00 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings until 26^th September. There is a matinee on Sunday 20^th September at 2.00 pm.

All funds raised from the programme and raffle sales each night will be donated to Motor Neurone Disease Association of WA and the Perth Zombie Walk.

     It is Prom night in the 1950s at the Enrico Fermi High. The class heartthrob, Jonny (Oliver Kaiser) is a bit of a rogue. He was called Johnny, until the ‘H’ dropped off the back of his leather jacket. He falls for Toffee (Kathryn McCarthy) and gives her his treasured jacket as a love token. The miserable Principal, Miss Strict (Bethsaida Tapsall), who seems to have a big chip on her shoulder, supervises the Prom. The Prom ends and the janitor (Pat McMahon) cleans up the mess.

     Toffee’s mother (Emma Muller) and father (Daniel Rooney) know of Jonny’s reputation and so ban their meeting again. Furious, Jonny rides off to the local nuclear power plant and commits suicide by throwing himself into the nuclear dump. Months later, Jonny returns as a green, glowing Zombie, repulsing all who knew him.

     The local press are looking for a story and find Jonny. TV reporter Eddie Flagrante (Glenn Scott) does an exposé. On hearing this, Miss Strict threatens Toffee that she must never bring Jonny to a school celebration again. However, Toffee’s friends, Candy (Megan Kerr), Ginger (Jayde Clark) and Coco (Gabrielle Guidone) try to console her. The schoolboys in the group, Jake (Karl Smith), Joey (John Gray) and Josh (Luke Williams) are of course pleased to see Toffee back on the ‘available’ list.

     The TV station has the ‘phones running hot, with the secretaries (Ruby Reye, Maggie Meyer) working overtime. Singer, Ramona Merengue (Sara Urban) is finishing her TV show, as the Motorwise Dancers (Kate Searle, Charlotte Williams, Jasmine Glenister, and Bernadette Ward) finish their routine. As the announcer (Jessica Sullivan) tells of some breaking news, the TV’s floor manager (Ebony Uetake) shows in a special guest.

     Will Jonny find a new love? Why is Miss Strict so miserable? What will happen at the next Prom?

The lively ensemble comprised Noah Slater-Gauci, Nichola Balestri, Jacob Spinks, Sarah-Rose Kelly, Aiden Mellor, and Daniel Muller.

The lighting design (Kate Lloyd, Alex Coutts-Smith) was exceptional, with the new LED lamps being used to their full potential. The musical numbers had numerous lighting changes in time with the beat, coupled with various pattern effects. The smooth sound design and operation was by David Hardie.

With massive casts, the entrances and exits often result in a line building up to get off stage and into the wings, this time the cast were quick, slick and did not impede the set changes.

There were a couple of fun numbers, ‘Rules, Regulations and Respect’ that had a particularly good, complicated dance routine (choreographer Kate Lloyd), and the saucy number ‘Exposé’ which brought a smile.

Once again the director is the wildly adventurous, Ryan S McNally, who with his regular team of Musical Director, Maree Andersen and Choreographer, Kate Lloyd has given us a wonderfully colourful, dynamic show. The story lines are a bit thin, although there a couple of twists at the end, however, the singers and dancers put every drop of enthusiasm and strength into their well-rehearsed performances.

Sheryl Gale and Alison Kovacs created the bright and colourful 1950s costumes, designed by Ryan S. McNally, especially for the show.

This review relates to the final rehearsal, which was admirable and flawless.

Despite the title, there is no gore or horror in this show, and so it is suitable for all of the family. Full of energetic, sparkling songs and good fun.

This ‘Psycho’-like play, although a bit grizzly only has the violence inferred. It is being presented by the very successful Dark Psychic Productions at the Phoenix Theatre, Hamilton Hill Memorial Hall at 435, Carrington Street in Hamilton Hill. The 90-minute performances are at 8.00 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until Friday 5^th June, with a 2.00 pm matinee on Sunday 31^st May and another on Saturday 6^th June.

Generously, the proceeds of the raffle and programme sales go to the Autism Association of WA.

On the stage is Walter’s apartment, part of a block of flats. It is scruffy and typical of a young man’s pied-à-terre (designed and built by Wayne Gale and Pat McMahon).

In front of the stage, on the floor of the auditorium, is a very well furnished, chic café with several gingham-clothed tables and a main serving counter. The abundance of first-rate props and original artworks were supplied by Emma Muller, Alison Kovacs and Ryan S McNally.

       Nervous and introverted Walter (Zachary Inglis, excellent) is a busboy – a catering worker who has all of the jobs too dirty for a waitress – working at the chic beatnik café, ‘The Yellow Door’. The café is managed by Leonard (Glenn Scott) and aided by his two capable waitresses, Carla (Maree Andersen) and Sylvia (Bethsaida Tapsall).

      Pacing around the coffee shop, wearing a yellow beret and reading from a book of his latest poetry is Maxwell (Daniel Rooney). In a dark corner is a suspicious character, Al (John Grey) who is whispering on the public ‘phone to his partner Lou (Adrian Archer). A couple of hippies, dreadlocked Will (Sean Drill) and his more refined friend, Buddy (Kane Anamwong) are smoking a joint and plotting their next crime.

       One day, on his way to work, Walter meets his landlady, the interfering and annoying Mrs Swickert (Devetta Ridgwell) who is looking for her lost cat.

      At the café, Walter asks Leonard if he can exhibit his artworks; within minutes, Mr Hughes, a local millionaire (Pat McMahon) enters with his gold-digging wife (Kate Lloyd), who immediately falls in love with Walter’s new masterpiece and must buy it. With the promise of an exhibition, the now famous Walter has attracted the attentions of both the voluptuous Alice (Kayti Murphy) and the local, influential art critic (Ryan S. McNally).

      Will Walter’s career bloom? For which work will he become most famous?

Following on their success with Mitch Brian’s horror/comedies, ‘Maul of the Dead’ and ‘Sorority House’, Dark Psychic Productions’ have chosen yet another of Brian’s creepy tales. The play has been described as a comedy noir, but I am not too sure about the term ‘comedy’. The experienced director, Shaun Griffin and his most capable assistant (directing for the first time) Alison Kovacs, have gathered their regular, skilled troupe of actors. This is a very unusual play, but the cast have bonded well, and created a chilling atmosphere. The acting was well up to standard, but some of the entrances and exits although well planned, were a little slow; however, I saw the final rehearsal and have full faith that this will correct itself.

From arriving at the theatre, it becomes very obvious that the ‘Yellow Door Café’ theme is being carried throughout the show. The colour scheme of rich canary yellow and black is carried through the entrance hall artworks, to the furniture, props and the many costumes. Ryan S McNally has created some wonderful costumes in the colours.

Assistant director, Alison, is also the stage manager for this large cast. Alex Coutts-Smith’s lighting design works very well, although at times a little less light could enhance the mood. His lighting is operated by Daniel Muller, with brother Brett Muller operating the sound.

This weird thriller will appeal to the Dark Psychic Productions fans, but with only a few shows you will have to get in quickly. PS don’t smile at Walter!

As vampires seem to be the in thing at the moment, this sanguinary, spooky show is being brought to you at the Phoenix Theatre, Memorial Hall, at the corner of Rockingham Road and Carrington Street, Hamilton Hill. The performance dates are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until the 7th September. All shows commence at 8.00 pm, with a Saturday matinee on the 7th at 2.00 pm.

All profits from programme sales, along with donations, will be given – quite appropriately – to ‘Haemophilia Foundation of WA’. I hope the donations will be as free flowing as the blood in this show.

The scene is the entrance hall of an old mansion in 1987 (set Brian Dennison and Wayne Gale).

A smartly dressed lady takes a seat in the sitting room of her newly acquired mansion, and her Igor-like manservants (Pat McMahon and Daniel Muller) look after her every need. She is the mysterious Mrs B. (Kathleen Uhlmann) who has purchased a house that has stood empty and decaying for some 60 years. As she welcomes us to her home, her private DJ, Maestro D (Sean Drill) plays sweet music.

Mrs B allows her niece, Janet (Kate Lloyd) to use the house as Delta Pi Sigma’s ‘sorority house’ – a club house for her elite student friends.

It is evening time, and in the street three students, ‘hot’ Deb (Jayde Clark), trendy Sissy (Leah Fitzgerald) and daggy virgin, Tonya (Jessica Lowes) are looking for the house where the freshers’ party is being held. They hear a noise, and there, in the distance is a chainsaw wielding maniac (Shaun Griffin). They hammer on the front door and are welcomed into safety by two of Mrs B’s enigmatic girls, powerful Brenda (Macauley Bremner) and the ‘thirsty’ Holly (Alesha Kays). They find that some other Hamilton College friends, Crystal, Shelley and Mackenzie (Nikayla Besgrove, Gabi Guidone and Kylie Griffin) have arrived selling cookies for the girl scouts. In the corner, they spot the class heartthrob Greg (Chris Northover) but as they approach him, he is whisked off to another room by the manipulative Holly.

When Mrs B calls in to the gathering, a quick point of her finger and students Lance (James Buckland), Jarrod (Kane Anamwong) and Riley (Rhiannon Peterson) are given the task of ‘entertaining’ the newcomers.

Can love overcome evil? The regular antidotes don’t seem to work on Mrs B !!

I don’t think that I have seen a straight vampire play before. This is a wonderful spoof on the Hammer horror films of the 80s, with all the gore and horrendous situations. This very black comedy got off to quite a slow start. It was the play’s opening night and initially the pace was well off and the voices mainly had poor projection but good enunciation. After about quarter of an hour the fairly inexperienced cast got into their stride and the show took off magnificently.

The direction by Ryan McNally and his assistant Emma Muller, was well thought out and the movement creepy. Near the end of the play, the playwright decided that he hadn’t made the ending gruesome enough and so did an ingenious and hilarious ‘rewind’, before starting again. This brought a huge applause from the audience.

The costumes were excellent, filled with the fluoros and colours of the hippy era. The lighting and sound played a major part in the atmosphere of the play, and Alex and Rebecca Coutts-Smith’s tech design excelled. The timing of the effects was critical and operator Brett Muller was on the ball. With a cast of almost two dozen, the stage managers Sheryl Gale and Jessica Byrum had their work cut out.

Fangs for the memory. A little silly, definitely tongue-in-cheek, but great fun. May your season flow well.