Blak Yak Theatre presents: World premiere of Brown Acid

Brown Acid is the story of the most useless band in the history of music - unfortunately no one’s told them yet...

Blak Yak Theatre is presenting the world premiere of Brown Acid in Subiaco from Wednesday, April 15, a comedy about a group of would-be musicians trying to form a band.

Written by local playwright Martin Lindsay with Bradley Chester, their efforts are foiled at every turn due to a combination of different attitudes and unexpected events.

“The play evolved from memories of my inept efforts at getting a band together during my uni years,” Lindsay said.

“Our plans for world domination were foiled by spending more time imagining album covers and interviews than actually playing, culminating in the inevitable realisation we were the time wasters often mentioned in ‘musician wanted’ adverts.

“Years later at the pub, a drinking partner suggested I make something of my long, boring stories about my failed music career, largely in the hope I would stop telling them.

“Instead, I pestered him all the more, as the story of a band made up of these ‘time wasters’ took shape over an extensive series of scribblings on soggy beer mats.”

The Brown Acid title comes from an infamous broadcast at the Woodstock music festival, warning people about a bad batch of drugs circulating among the crowd.

“The subsequent catchphrase ‘Stay off the brown acid’ summed up everything a rubbish band could get wrong or make a mess of,” Lindsay said.

Director Nick Donald is bringing Brown Acid to life, injecting his love for directing comedy and passion for music into the play.

“It’s an entertaining look at a band that is completely useless and know it,” he said. “Anyone who’s ever been in a band will find it close to the bone and incredibly amusing."

Brown Acid plays at 8pm, Wednesday to Saturday, April 15 to 18 and 22 to 25, at The Studio in the Subiaco Arts Centre on Hamersley Road.

Tickets are $18 or $14.50 concession, available through BOCS on (08) 9484 1133 or http://www.bocsticketing.com.au/events/brown_acid.shtml.

I saw this tonight and was hugely entertained by it. Minor nit-picks would be that the pace could be picked up a bit and in one or two instances projection could be a little stronger, but this was, of course, only the second night and I'm sure these things will be tightened up as the season progresses. This is the second of Martin's plays I've seen and I must say I'm very impressed by his writing. He has a very good ear for dialogue and a witty sense of humour that keeps the laughs coming one after another. Owing to a slight technical hitch there was no programme available tonight, so I'm unable to identify those cast members who I don't know personally, but there are some surprising cameo performances by a variety of 'extras' playing multiple roles - and doing it very well too. Phil Barnett's first appearance, for example, was so damned good that it took me a minute to realise who he was! I'm sure someone else (and I don't think three guesses should be necessary) will be along soon to give a proper and far more competent review than I can, but in my humble opinion this show deserves good numbers of bums on seats . . . and I hope it gets them. Congratulations everyone. Well done indeed . . . I enjoyed it immensely. Cheers, Tim. Per Ardua Ad Astra

I saw this tonight and was

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