Threesome 2000

I saw this event last evening, having heard about it on this site. I was prepared for something fairly dull and was pleasantly surprised, if not shocked! I recognised a few faces from Damage Theatre who again turned in classy performances.
The first play, 'Tests' was very pacy and very funny, although for some reason I found myself laughing alone at a lot of the gags. Perhaps it appeals particularly to philologists. The tall chap seems to be a naturally funny person and reminds me of a young Bruce Spence. I hope it's not too long before he feels more comfortable with his body.
The second piece, 'The Elevator Game' deserves special credit for being a home-grown product. The idea is good. Some of the moves (all within a confined floor space the size of an elevator) could have been better choreographed. For example, when the smiley girl jumps up and down, the rest of the cast could react with a slight recoil etc. I did learn a few new forms of abuse from this play as well. (Fucksticks?)
The third offering, 'Ficky Stingers', caught me off guard. I'd been expecting it to be a comedy about my raunchy relatives (joke). Instead of course, it was a very confrontational play about the sticky subject of date-rape. All the more confrontational if you happen to be the only male sitting in the front row!
I have always had the impression that there was a fine line between rough sex and sexual assault. This play showed me that in fact, from a woman's point of view at least, the line is very bold indeed. A well-done and very moving piece.
The fact that the play was set in working class London didn't detract from the message, although it would be good to see plays like this written for the Aussie Idiom. Get onto it, kids!

Thanks all, and if anyone would like me to come and review their future shows, just send a couple of comps to me at PO Box 1133 Fremantle 6959

I didn't doubt Threesome would be excellent after both BlackRock and Macbeth were both well recieved by full audiences and extended performance seasons. Thankfully I was right to make an assumption! Unfortunately I missed Just So, but I'm sure it would have been fantastic too...

So, about Threesome.

Tests was fun. Not only fun, but funny, in it's own weird way. For those who haven't heard of Tests basically it's a combination of several different and absurd scenes with some of them a jumble of lines relating to similar topics, and at the same time making very little sense (personal opinion anyway, there could be many profound meanings behind some of these, one being the fact that people don't listen to what other people are saying...). Anyway, Tests provides a lot of freedom for the director, and in my opinion the Heath Miller made some great directorial decisions, ending up with what I heard one person in the foyer say as "a really funny and interesting show which could have easily been incredibly boring". One thing that was hard to miss is Miller's choice to have actors strut about unashamedly in underwear (we also saw a topless actor in the last show he directed) which was definitely interesting to say the least, but I am still unsure whether it added or detracted from the performance, though i think it has less to do with the actors being comfortable with it than it does with the acceptance and comfortability of audience members (surely a debatable issue in all film/performance mediums which involve nudity or near nudity) . But altogether a different and interesting show that will provide a lot of unexpected laughs.

I actually had a bit of trouble readjusting to normal conversation again as The Elevator Game took to the stage! Unfortunately i really don't have much to say about this show because I feel that 'stinger' shares the same ideas as myself, I would just like to add that the characters were all very well cast and the performances very strong.

Ficky Stingers was a daring peformance, beautifully directed and performed. I actually found the use of simple lighting effects to contribute to this production more than I think I have ever seen in a fairly realistic show like this, and the simple set also contributed greatly to the performances impact. Although the costumes and thick irish accents helped to make the characters very 'otherlike' in many respects, I think it would be hard for the audience not to empathise with the emotions of the central character, even if never placed in a similar position as hers.

Threesome demonstrated some of the guts of the Hayman Theatre Students as the directors and actors have taken on both challenging plays and challenging roles. Congratulations, and good luck for the rest of the season.

Michelle Sowden.

btw, I'd love to get feedback on my reviews so feel free to email me and tell me how I went :)

I'm sorry, no, i'm more dissapointed with the quality of this showing.

I mean really, did the directors of this play really expect us to buy all that controversy of teen rape? come on guys, give your audience some credit. It really sucked.

The acting was extremely poor, even for a bunch of uni students banning to gether to have a bash at amateure theatre. CRAP!

Though luckily, there was one actor that showed some potential. You know whom i'm talking about...the wanabe colonel KLINK.

I did find some entertainment at the actor who played the Gun man. Was his boob chested slapstick (this guy really had man tits) and his fly hanging low was part of the act?

pathetic!

Come back SS! If this moronic diatribe is what we are left with, WE NEED YOU!!!

Austin is a very talented actor, I agree with you on that point. I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy the show after we all put so much hard work into it. I do however think you could have given us more constructive criticism and less aggression, I'm not quite sure why anyone would write a review like yours except to hurt people which you have suceeded in doing to me. I am fascinated by your response and I would like to know what you mean by "buy all that controversy of teen rape"? The scriptwriter was twenty at the time she wrote the play about date rape (I was the lead actress in the play you saw and at 29 years of age I'm hardly a teenager) and she was lucky enough to have her play chosen from many to be presented as part of the program for the Young Writers Festival at The Royal Court Theatre in London. I think it is well written and makes people face what will occur to one out of every three women. I'm sorry you didn't like our portrayal of the characters but I am more concerned about your reaction to the sunject matter.
Talei Price

Yes well I think YBF has a point about the man tits in our show...

I remember watching TESTS, and how I was concerned at the extent of man-tits being featured in the show.

As most people who are well-versed in the study of man-tits, the mammary glands of the male actor plays an important role in the Performing arts.

In many cases, they make or break a show.

We must take in account how the displacement of air caused by the unnecessary presence of the male teat can disrupt the flow of air surrounding the actors on stage. Most method actors would understand how good breathing techniques are vital in giving a good performance on stage in terms of focus, vocal energy and characterisation.

More importantly, during this time of the year, the 'Fripple' factor (Frozen nipples) must be taken into account when looking at the abnormal displacement of air on the stage. As the room temperature drops, the nipples on the male breast becomes more erect, thus a further displacement of air. We must also take into account the danger it presents to the audience who are in close vicinity of the offending actor. As I understand it, legislation is coming into place courtesy of a stage-safety committee where audience members who are within a 2metre radius of the actor are being made to wear safety glasses to avoid gouging of the eyes.

I implore everyone to think about this so-rarely raised issue raised by our comrade - YBF.

Your Biggest Fan,

I would like to join with Talei in saying that I am sorry you didn't enjoy the show.

But as this would be a complete lie on my part, I will not.

I WOULD like to know however, who it was that lapsed in their responsibility of guarding the cage and let you slither your way onto a keyboard somewhere and proceed to insult not only the intelligence of the ITA website patrons, but the English speaking world in general.

I do hope this individual is severely punished.

As for the semi-literate scribbling that might, upon first glance be confused for a review: Allow Me to Retort.

In regards to 'the bunch of uni students banning (banding perhaps?) to gether (always thought this was one word) to have a bash at amateure(sp.) theatre", could you possibly be referring to Hayman Theatre? No, of course not, because no-one would mistake the peformance arm of a teaching institution of some 17 years standing for an amateur theatre company. Certaininly not someone as obviously learned and intelligent as Mr Your Biggest Fan.

As for 'buying all that controversy of teen rape?' I applaud your candor in speaking out on this subject. I mean, you really do have a point there. Surely it's time that the urban myth of teen rape is finally put to rest, huh?

I will omit any reference to your comments on 'gun man' as I note Mr Crispian Chan has allready adressed the issues brought up by his appearance much more succinctly (and indeed thoroughly) than I could ever hope to.

I was, by the way, the director of Tests, and if you have any criticisms even slightly above the "it really sucked' and 'CRAP' level feel free to email me with them. If not then I trust you will get throat cancer and die without ever again uttering another word.

As a final remark I would like to paraphrase a quote from that seminal 'man does school all over again' movie Billy Madison, "I think I speak for everyone when I say that nowhere amid your incoherent ramblings was there anything even remotely resembling a logical thought. We here are all dumber from having heard you. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

its good

gassy rule

Dearest YBF,
Having never before felt compelled to react to the mindless and immature ramblings of the more bitter 'members' of society, I congratulate you on being the first to rouse a retaliation from me. Usually when I visit this site I see a mixture of appraisal and constructive criticism, which is not only greatly valued by those whom it addresses, but also allows for the growth, refinement and creation of ideas in the theatre of Western Australia.

You, my friend, are an embarrassment; an abuser of this right we all have to comment and, in turn, further the skills and minds of our peers. Your childish attempts at humour, through the use of primary school taunts and an extensive vocabulary encompassing the witty use of 'crap' and 'sucked' alerts us all to the underlying problem you have. You poor dear, you too wish to attend University. Here's a few pointers for you;
(a) Learn to spell (disappointed has one s and two p's, amateur doesn't have two e's and 'wannabe' has two n's, even if it's slang) and-
(b)Learn to use correct grammar
and I quote "...and entertainment at the actor who played the Gun man." Excuse me what ?!?

If I am, in fact, wrong about you, and you do attend a university, I sincerely hope it's not Curtin as I will be forced to ask for my money back. I would not wish to be associated with an institution from which you are the product. I suggest you also ask for your's back and put it to good use. Perhaps you could buy some high school uniforms, you certainly need them.
Forever Yours
Kerryn Mason
Director of the Teen Rape Controversy (a.k.a. Ficky Stingers)

I applaud your response, however . . .
If you are going to criticise someone's grammar, be sure to have no errors in your own response!

a) "Here's a few pointers for you" - Here ARE a few pointers for you
b) "yours" does not have an apostrophe to denote ownership.

Cheers

Fellow Theatre-goers,

I'll have you know that man tits are a well sought-after phenomenon in some more learned facets of society. The male mammaries, if employed correctly, can restrict the oxygen levels in a room to a level where a feeling of euphoria is experienced by all those near by. Coupled
with a healthy supply of beer-gut wobbling and the Fripple factor (although only in controlled amounts; can be very dangerous, even fatal) believe you me, an evening of unique pleasure ensues.

However, I agree that their presence on stage can be disruptive and dangerous, and as head of the SSCA (Stage Safety Committee of Australia, Breast Division) I will ensure that no harm will come to anyone ever again who is innocently unaware of the unharnessed power of the bitch-tit.

But all this aside, I must pose the question, what does my less than desirable torso have to do with reviewing theatre? Hopefully not very much in the forseeable future.

Perhaps we could return to reviewing theatre, rather than reviewing each other. Personal criticism, while sometimes useful, is quite disconcerting when read on a web site. This was supposed to be about Threesome 2000, after all.

Yours without a bra,

The Boob-Chested Gun Man (Mrs)

Thank You Grant...

You've brought back some hilarious and sentimental memories for me :)

Ahh...what a show.


Crispian.