On

Oracle

■ Oh God! Literally! Gods and goddesses abounded in The Athenaeum Theatre’s Oracle in a triumphant opening night.

Bass G Fam, Director, Writer and Producer, has gathered an array of talented men and women to give creative life to a childhood fascination with the signs of the Zodiac.

Fam also designed the sensational costumes and Jazmin Varlet was glorious as the blind, visionary narrator, Oracle. Thunder, lightning, and a backdrop of ancient Greece provided a dramatic opening as Varlet, suspended above the stage, declared “I am Oracle”.

Grouped into Air, Earth, Fire and Water, actors personified the myths of the Zodiac signs, performing daring aerial acrobatics and superb dance.

Air sign Libra, saw Keeva Svikart as an Egyptian goddess performing a belly dance; Gemini’s ‘twins’ (Jack Dawson and Reed Kelly) demonstrated brilliant harmony on a trapeze, and beautiful Aquarius (Rhys Lightning) happily bathed in, and spouted water.

Earth signs had Reid McGowan as Taurus the bull, ( Zeus in disguise), seducing Europa (Isobel Moore) while employing sensuous acrobatics.

Virgo’s petite Persephone (Natalya Alessi), is taken to the underworld by Hades, then finally allowed equal time in heaven. Seth Scheuner, in glittering silver mesh, embodies Capricorn.

Fire signs included feisty, sexy Bettie Bombshell as a fire-eating, whip-wielding Leo. Whew! Vampish, horned Sagittarius, (Danny Golding), sported breathtakingly high, black stilettos and ‘furry’legs. Adam Malone as Aries, spun multiple, spinning hoops brilliantly.

There was nothing ‘watery’ about the water signs. Cancer (Soliana Ersie) is bravely protecting the daughters of Poseidon from a giant squib; a lithe Emily Chivers is Scorpio, killing Orion, destroyer of animals; and Pisces (Zoe Marshall), is transformed to a fish to escape the killer Typhon.

Lisa Herbert, a white-winged angel, led wonderful dancers, Beth Cain, Alfie D’Elia, Lexi Bassile, Thomas Remaili, Tomek Choreography by Josephine Magliolo was exceptional. Stage management, music, costumes, lighting and performers, created an eye-popping (and given the lack of a safety net, heart-stopping) production.

Congratulations to all.

Season: Until February 11 Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street Bookings: athenaeumtheatre.com.au via Ticketmaster - Review by Juliet Charles