This fun-filled, family show is being presented by Phoenix Theatre Inc, in the Memorial Hall, 435 Carrington Street, Hamilton Hill; the hour and a half shows commence at 8.00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights until the 30^th July with matinées at 2.00 pm on the 16^th and 24^th July.

The production is supporting Puss in Thongs’ favourite charity, the ‘Cat Haven’ with the profits from raffle ticket and programme sales.

The stage has a bright and colourful, artistically painted backdrop showing fields and a castle. The stage apron has a garden seat and large, attractive rockery (designed and built by Wayne Gale).

The Phoenix regular lighting designer, Alex Coutts-Smith has produced another vibrant display, operated by Jayde Clark. The soundscape was mainly supplied by the copyrighter and operated by Aubrey Cason.

The colourful and unusual costumes are the work of Sheryl Gale and Jaclyn Fogg, with the makeup for the Witch and Puss being by Ryan McNally.

       When the local miller dies, his three young sons have to survive the best they can. Instead of sharing the inheritance, the oldest brother, Tom (James Buckland) takes everything, giving his two younger brothers, Dick (Adian Mellor) and Harry (Chris Doney) only $5 each.

       With so little money their future looks dim, until Harry meets a talking cat, Puss (Sylvia Mellor). Being a bit of a trickster, Puss talks Harry into going to the local op-shop, run by three deaf and senile ladies, Dora (Valerie Greeves), dotty Doris (Jude St. Clair) and Daisy (Beryl Francis) to buy her some boots and a hat. Puss is much admired by the folk of the village (Katy Cowie, Shelly Cowie).

       Puss tells Harry that if they cross the Great Sandy Desert and reach the King’s Palace, The King (Shaun Griffin) will allow Harry to marry his attractive daughter, the Princess (Bernadette Ward). However, on the way they encounter a confused Bunyip (Benjamin Steel) and a strange camel (Adian Mellor, Olivia Goud).

       Soon Harry learns that a wicked witch, Winifred (Liana Russell – absolutely glowed), lives nearby and is sure to kill them. Will the witch bring misery? Or will there be a possible marriage?

Directed by Sheryl Gale and assisted by Shaun Griffin, produced a cast who were word perfect, filled with enthusiasm and large smiles. I saw the final rehearsal, but the main members of the cast sang melodiously and had wonderful audience rapport. Puss had a magnificent threatening Meow, and the kids will have the chance to dance with a Bunyip. Alison ‘A.J.’ Kovacs was a most efficient stage manager, with props moving around quickly and silently, and good crowd control of the large cast.

The choreography by Sarah-Rose Kelly, was relatively simple, but this ensured that the whole cast grooved together.

A small warning, the theatre heating is faulty, so come well wrapped up in case it doesn’t work.

This children’s musical is written on one level, for younger children – best age groups from 5 to 12 – without the usual double-entendres for the parents.

Being presented by an all adult cast, the story is easy to follow; there are lots of singalong songs and nursery rhymes that all children will know. So find some kids to use as your excuse to see this latest fun rendering at the Phoenix Theatre.

Lookout for some more great shows lined up including ‘Portraits ‘and ‘The Addams Family’.

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!