Arts

Catherine Lambert PRIVATE Lives was deemed thin and shallow by many critics when it debuted in 1930. But 84 years later it is prompting a range of deeper conversations about relationships and happiness, while also delighting in all of its witty, light possibilities.

Sally Bennett arts editor Peter Davison - aka the Fifth Doctor - will soon be in Melbourne to host the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular.

Byron Bache STANDING on Ceremony is a sometimes funny night at the theatre, that'll mostly reaffirm things you already know. Love is love, and try as you might, you can't legislate against it.

Simon Plant THE minute she walked in the joint, Shirley Bassey had the audience in the palm of her hand. Or rather, Trevor Ashley does, in his gender-bending solo show Diamonds Are For Trevor.

Byron Bache Theatre critic THE production is as slick as an outdoor platform will allow; the lighting effects are clever and the sound goes off without a hitch. But the costumes are obvious, the set is boring, and the entire thing is charmless and silly.

Catherine Lambert FIVE years ago the Melbourne Recital Centre opened with a promise to be the best small music venue in Australia. Now it is one of the most-loved halls among musicians and audiences.

Sally Bennett arts editor IT can take six months to create just five minutes of a movie, such is the patience and persistence of animation filmmakers. But in the hands of children, that process can be sped up, slapstick style, so they go home with their own movie after three days.

Kate Herbert theatre critic AFTER two movies and a TV series based around the "wog boys" theme, this is the first stage show in a decade and it certainly had the capacity crowd hooting and hollering.

Simon Plant AS King Kong prepares to leave us, perhaps for Broadway, musicals old and new will be forming a long queue, all hoping to blitz the box office.