amy jane stephenson

As always with the Fringe Festival there are some shows which are little gems. Isabel Hertaeg’s cabaret all about sex is a shiny red one. Her fusion of vocal skills and comic actions are supported by extensive research into the subject matter which varies from painful love scenarios to vibrators powered by steam engines.

La Petite Mort kept me smiling and blushing throughout the piece and is the perfect night out for some pure naughty entertainment. It’s on until the October 12th at the Northcote Town Hall for those of you in Melbourne. Or check out her website: http://www.myspace.com/lapetitemorttheorgasm

Melbourne Theatre Company are currently showing this suitable, Australian play at the Fairfax Studio. It showcases the talents of just two actors, who are onstage for the entire 90 minute piece (an astounding effort).

As the round stage creeps slowly on its axis, we are drawn into the trials of long-term love with all the arguments, memories and lustful touching. We watch in all its sadness how relationships can breakdown and with it, all emotional barriers. But as we find out, this raw bearing of ones soul can lead to one fleeing from the other despite deeply caring for them.

I describe this as a ‘suitable’ play, because love is something we all crave understanding and insight into. Let the stage be a place to explore and expose love in all its beauty and betrayal.