Modern Australian morality tale gets a handsome musical makeover.

Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of West Australia, Perth
February 13, 2015

John Marsden’s confronting, darkly poignant children’s book, The Rabbits, with its haunting images by the artist Shaun Tan has achieved cult status since it was first published 15 years ago. It’s a brave team that attempts to replicate its rarefied atmosphere and eccentric visuals on stage for a mixed age audience. Ask for it to be an opera too, and you’ve really set the bar high. This attractive work, then, is a tribute to the vision and determination of Perth-based theatre company Barking Gecko and its director John Sheedy, whose co-production with Opera Australia is now on show at the Heath Ledger Theatre. An intriguing score, superb performances and – the icing on the cake – Gabriela Tylesova’s stunning designs certainly make for an involving hour of music theatre.

But is it an opera? That’s the first question that seems to occupy the musical chattering classes. The tripartite answer I would offer is ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘does it matter’? Composer Kate Miller-Heidke in conjunction with the arch-mage of arrangers, Iain Grandage has come up with something operatic in...