The show ‘Flamenco Sin Fronteras’ meaning ‘Flamenco without borders’, is a mesmerising melting pot of dancing, cultures, music and joyful abandon. This Paco Pena production stepped away from the usual focus on traditional flamenco alone, instead allowing the flavours of the neighbouring lands to infuse the performance with the introduction of Andalucian flamenco and Venezuela music and dance. It was an extremely talented troupe of singers, instrumentalists and of course dancers, who graced the QPAC stage, and the passion, grace and skill they possessed was almost overwhelming at times. The costuming of black and white divided the performers on stage and gave a visual separation between the musical styles as well. A night of rousing energetic entertainment.
Majella McMahon

‘Flamenco sin Fronteras’ was performed for one night only at the Concert Hall QPAC on Sat July 23.

The Queensland Country Comfort Hour
Queensland Music Festival in Review
Last week Brian Nankervis and the SBS Rock Wiz team (with the help of a few special guests) took Brisbane audiences back a few years, to retro Queensland, through staged radio show ‘The Queensland Country Comfort Hour’. Well this return to the past was great! It was a beautifully staged show that despite being in the Concert Hall at QPAC, the ‘QCCH’ felt like a night hanging out at an old mate’s place.  There was singing, reminiscing, jokes, a radio play, storytelling, quizzes and much more - parochialism in its best form. It was also a chance to recognise the natural crises that have hit Queensland of late, and to celebrate the tenacity of Queenslanders.  
Cate Gilpin

‘The Queensland Country Comfort Hour’ was on for one night only Tue July 19 at the Concert Hall, QPAC.

Rabbit
Theatre in Review
Boozy revelations, emotional realisations, uncomfortable reflections - ‘Rabbit’ doesn’t hold back… on anything. Jokes about the shape and size of a man’s penis said in one hilarious drunken squeal, sit alongside heartbreaking flashbacks to a painful childhood long buried. With stellar direction by the irrepressible Daniel Evans and a snarling script written by Nina Raine, ‘Rabbit’ is a rollercoaster ride to the dark side of growing up. The six-person cast, led by the unflinching Amy Ingram in the title role of Bella, are suberb – subtle yet scathing, rollicking and boisterous, sharing an ease that implies many years of friendship (exactly as it appears in the play). Special mention must go to Norman Doyle as Bella’s father, who was achingly aloof and accessible in perfect combination.  
Majella McMahon

'Rabbit’ plays at Metro Arts until July 28.

EDDIE PERFECT
Musical Theatre in Review
We humans are a pretentious lot at the best of times and in his latest show, Eddie Perfect (star of Network Ten's 'Offspring') takes the audience on a spectacular journey into the dark side of human evolution. In his own words, 'Misanthropology' is the antithesis to the popular theory that humans reign superior over all other species. In his infectious madness, Perfect is able to turn this idea on its head and poses the hard questions about the human race, effectively forcing the audience to reflect on their own beliefs about life.
The award-winning comedian, composer and performer had me in stitches as he explored controversial contemporary issues such as protecting the environment, cosmetic surgery and "self-righteous cyclists".
Definitely not for the faint-hearted, 'Misanthropology' is a hard-hitting reality check.
MYJANNE JENSEN

Eddie Perfect performed 'MISANTHROPOLOGY' from July 20-23 at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell. Directed by Joe Johnston.
A retro setting, thrilling superheroics, dashing leading man, gorgeous dame, fantastic Nazi technology… yeah, 'The Rocketeer' was a pretty fun movie. But audiences in 1991 weren't ready for a superhero period piece and it bombed at the box office, stalling director Joe Johnston's promising career. 20 years later, however, moviegoers have caught up with Johnston's vision (which is a weird thing to say about a guy who specialises in nostalgia). 'Captain America' captures the blockbusting spirit of 'Star Wars' and 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' (both of which Johnston provided visual effects for), serving as a great action-adventure in its own right and an even better cornerstone of the cinematic Marvel Universe. You'll be left breathlessly anticipating Cap's appearance in 'The Avengers' when it's over, but that's not out until next year - you could always hire 'The Rocketeer' in the meantime.
4.5 stars
Rohan Williams

‘Captain America’ knocks out Hitler on Thursday July 28.

LARRY CROWNE
Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts. Directed by Tom Hanks.
'Larry Crowne' - the sanguine tale of an 'appealing everyman' who's fired from his blue-collar job as a box store clerk and forced to attend community college - is like a movie-length Bruce Springsteen song, but not a good one. We're talking 'Lucky Town'-era Springsteen. The regrettable stuff. 'Larry Crowne' is not the worst movie of the year ('Burke And Hare' locked that title down months ago), but it's almost certainly the worst in Hanks' oeuvre. Considering we're talking about the guy who starred in 'The Money Pit', this is something of an achievement, but not one that any self-respecting, blue-collar, lovable everyman should reward with their hard-earned cash.
1 star
Rohan Williams

‘Larry Crowne’ is in the dole queue now.