Kerry Biggin and Matthew Malthouse in Edward Scissorhands

With so much to do and so little time, we all need a little entertainment. Melbourne's theatre scene is buzzing with so many shows to see in such a short space of time, so here it is, in black and white - a mid year theatre mega-review.

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start, with the delightful ballet/dance piece, Edward Scissorhands. Directed by Matthew Bourne (of Swan Lake fame), this gorgeous piece of theatre is a fitting tribute to the stunning film by Tim Burton, complete with Danny Elfman's beautifully haunting score. At just 90 minutes, including intermission, this piece is one of the shorter ones, and so is the season! The title role is played with incredible heart by Matthew Malthouse, who clearly did his research, capturing every nuance and facial expression made famous by Johnny Depp in the film.

Optic Nerve Performance Group's Five Kinds of Silence explores the inner turmoil of victims of physical and sexual abuse. Not a piece for the faint hearted, the emotional payoff at the end of the show is well worth the wait. That's if you can survive the journey. This play is designed to challenge and make you feel uncomfortable.

Circus Oz entertained us and had 'em rolling in the aisles with their 30th Birthday Bash at Birrarung Marr. This was a fusion of old and new - a show put together especially to celebrate 30 years of independent animal-free circus. What a night! The atmosphere electric and the show absolutely hilarious and breathtaking, all at once. Impossible to find a favourite moment, as this show keeps us all begging for more, as with anything presented by Circus Oz. They have proven once again why they are Melbourne's premiere circus troupe.

Yana Alana and The Piranhas in Bite Me Harder should really not be allowed in the doors of the Arts Centre. Truly and utterly offensive, this show was fabulously crass. Definitely appealing to a niche market of homosexual women, this show would be more suited to an alternative venue, maybe the glasshouse or a fringe style venue. The show gave us an insight into the twisted egotistical world of Yana and her "all about me and my c*nt" attitude. Not what one would consider a traditional night out at the theatre, but twistedly funny nonetheless.

Human Sacrifice Theatre gave us The Late Henry Moss by Sam Shepard, which appears to be the most autobiographical of his works. In Bernalillo, New Mexico, Ray and Earl return home to mark the passing of their estranged father, Henry. Over a bottle of bourbon and a box of old photographs, tales of their childhoods emerge. As they encounter Henry's bizarre collection of friends, including his wild voracious lover, the colourful circumstances surrounding his death provoke violent suspicion. A stunningly written play. Truly touching.

Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Black Bird, a thrilling two-hander play is one of this years "straight" theatre highlights. Greg Stone and Alison Bell wind us up tight in the world of Ray and Una who share a secret that slowly comes out through the nearly 2 hours traffic of the stage, and the consequences are truly shocking. We feel almost voyeuristic with the audience seated on either side of the set, adding to the claustrophobic feeling going on inside our characters.

There's plenty more great theatre on the way in Melbourne, so stay tuned!

Tags: Blackbird, Circus Oz, Edwards Scissorhands