Ensemble Theatre — Attraction in Sydney

'Master Class' is a stunner. Lucia Mastrantone as that troubling flame Maria Callas will knock your operatic socks off. I think the word 'dynamo' might just do it; 'diva' might be nearer. We wait for Callas to stop prancing and preening and sing, and then...

'I'm a singer, not an actress,' simpers a terrified ingenue to Callas, and the whole audience chuckles. The cast apart from Mastrantone are clearly musicians, and we appreciate this dramatic device and truth; they are believable as advanced students, each a fine performer of their art. And we the audience double as the assembled Master Class, each quaking at the thought that Callas might choose us next to publicly flay alive.

‘Age rebuking youth’ could serve as a trite summing-up of the play. But like the best drama, the resonances of ‘Master Class’ are many and profound.

I was an Ensembler in my student days, when its ancestry as a boat-shed was still evident. The last production I saw there was 'The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds'. Always a taste of Off-Broadway in those Hayes Gordon days. 'We Bombed in New Haven', Joseph Heller's 'Catch 22' epigone. 'Goldilocks and the Four Bears.' Fine nights in-the-round.

The Ensemble has grown in girth since then. It's now part North Shore harbour-side bar ('Cards only' snarled a bald beer-pourer at my cash) and restaurant, the type with ambience, meaning a view of the water. I came for the play alone.

As an ageing curmudgeon, I'm miffed with any entertainment venue that allows people to bring refreshments to their seat. Rather vulgar, methinks. The local flea-pit cinema. Bread and circuses, all that. But they put down their paper cups and gave Lucia Mastrantone - and Maria Callas - and those fine young musicians (soprani, a tenor, cello, piano, and a clarinet too) a thunderous standing and stamping ovation.

And no doubt a little of the applause was for the dear old...

Ghar ghar ki kahani… Aria – A Snapshot of Australian Society in a Flash, in Ensemble Theatre in Kiribili on the edge of Sydney Harbour, beautiful… built in 1958.

Recently, I had the pleasure of watching Aria in Sydney, a play that brilliantly encapsulates various facets of Australian society. Set against the backdrop of family dynamics, the story revolves around Monique, a mother deeply devoted to her three sons yet unmistakably biased against her daughters-in-law. Her love, protective yet overbearing, exposes the tensions within a household shaped by tradition, favoritism, and unspoken expectations.

The play skillfully weaves in themes of class divide, infidelity, and Australia’s drinking culture. It highlights how financial struggles often lead to social exclusion, reflecting an unspoken truth about societal biases. The performances were strong, with the actors bringing depth and authenticity to their roles.

One striking aspect was the audience—predominantly white Australians over 55, with us being the only Asians in the room. This further underscored the cultural setting of the play and made it an immersive experience.

For tourists seeking a deeper understanding of Australia beyond the usual sights, Aria is a must-watch. It offers a raw yet engaging glimpse into family relationships, class dynamics, and cultural norms in...

Been going to plays at the Ensemble for years. Always something worthwhile, sometimes brilliant. The small size of the theatre - intimate is the term usually used - makes for wonderful connection with the action and easy audibility for those of us of a certain age too vain to wear hearing aids. The acting is always good and the often elaborate scenery perfect. The location overlooking Neutral Bay is wonderful, particularly during matinees when you can see the water in all its glory. Parking is often a bit of an issue but a bit of a walk along the streets of Kirribilli can't do any harm. The only real negative at the Ensemble is that the toilets are downstairs - no disabled access. That is unfortunate but would be difficult to remedy in the limited space. Other than that the Ensemble is a treasure to...