There’s some promise in this debut show by Temper-Mental Theatre, but a stiff edit and some more prep work would not have gone amiss.

Clare Annamalai picks her top shows of 2017.

A show that seems to have all the correct elements: acting, character, staging, premise. It just needs to be better balanced.

Pros: Captures the era with plenty of funny moments. Cons: Too convoluted to follow. Inspired by film noir of the 1940’s, including classics Mildred Pierce and The Third Man, Fatale Femme give us America’s No.1 Detective Agency, a comedic outing to the world of private eyes, gangsters, and the seedier side of Hollywood. Vivian O’Connell was the best detective this side of Los Angeles. Until, that is, the Wallace Case exploded, and Bobby Monroe took her title and all the good cases ...

Strong performances, strong themes and a strong script. Well worth watching.

One musician’s story about his ambivalent love for an obscure folk instrument, in a society whose values lie elsewhere.

An intense 75-minute piece that intelligently has you guessing throughout.

With a little more work, this play could be a powerful and thought-provoking piece of theatre.

A near five stars! Another lesser known gem that was brought back to life for us to enjoy. Bravo!

A brilliant show, you’ll leave the theatre with a big grin on your face.