"Happy With Half Your Life" & "Dating Joe"
Thu, 7 Feb 2002, 11:57 pmtomasford1 post in thread
"Happy With Half Your Life" & "Dating Joe"
Thu, 7 Feb 2002, 11:57 pmThis was a bit of a double feature type thing at Yirra Yaakin, which is a lovely intimate space a la The Blue Room. Having been there last year for I Might Be Edgar Alan Poe, and having wished they'd give it a paint job, they did. And it looks specky.
Anyway, paint jobs aside, on to the shows. I went on opening night, the 5th.
HAPPY WITH HALF YOUR LIFE
This was a phenomenal solo performance which overflowed with energy and laughs. The storyline winded it's way around England, as a young woman goes over for a trip, runs out of cash and starts taking care of old folks to get some cash flow going. The plot wasn't this play's strong point so much as the very involving storytelling and spot on charaterisations of the various people she encounters. Look, I saw it two days ago and I'm still finding it hard to be objective about what I saw, so I'm not going to bother :). Suffice to say that she is one of the most focussed, energetic, enchanting solo performers I've ever seen and it is definately worthwhile getting your ass onto the seats of Yirra Yaakin (yes, bring a cushion) to see this. You'll be flabbergasted.
DATING JOE
I find it a lot easier to critisise this show. After dimming the lights, we were treated to an intro that conisisted of nothing but a prerecorded opera type thing. For about five minutes. The audience were left to wonder if the actor had decided that performing to such a small opening night crowd was really worth it and done a runner. Grr.
When he (finally) arrived on stage, he delivered a charming story about a banker in his fifties looking for love through a dating agency. My big problem with this play was it's predictable Hollywood style plot turns that you could almost play "name the film this segment was taken from" with. This was probably unintentional but from an audience perspective I found it all to be rather cliche. I walked out feeling a bit warm and fuzzy, but it was all a bit humdrum, really.
Then again, it is OK, and if you see both you pay half price (or just $3 for students) so get along to see them both. You might as well.
Or, [INSERT PLUG HERE] come and see MY Fringe solo show "Trip Down The Gutter" about the process of going through year 12 and growing up in WA that has had rave reactions from audiences. Hey, come on monday, man, it's gonna be a party you won't forget any time soon. Even if it is a school night. :) Or come on thursday or friday... just come. I'll love you forever if you do. Even if I don't remember your name in the morning.
Mon 11 FEBRUARY MOJO'S BAR, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, NORTH FREMANTLE
(A special event also featuring bands Terra Firma, Maxwell, The Whatevers & Leon Anon. Doors open 7-12, Trip Down The Gutter performance begins at 8pm. Tickets @ door for $10)
Thu 14, Fri 15 FEBRUARY NEXUS THEATRE, MURDOCH UNIVERSITY
(Show starts 7pm. Past audience experience in this theatre says "bring a cushion"...)
Tickets: $8/$7 @ the door. Discounts apply to groups.
Aloha,
Tomás Ford
PS: Some subliminal messages for you who are at home instead of watching the quality theatre that is avaliable to you EVERY NIGHT during this fantastic festival:
Fringe is goood. Fringe is goood. Yoooou muuust gooo seee mooore friiinge shooows. Ffffriiinge iiiisss goooood.
I'm done now.
Anyway, paint jobs aside, on to the shows. I went on opening night, the 5th.
HAPPY WITH HALF YOUR LIFE
This was a phenomenal solo performance which overflowed with energy and laughs. The storyline winded it's way around England, as a young woman goes over for a trip, runs out of cash and starts taking care of old folks to get some cash flow going. The plot wasn't this play's strong point so much as the very involving storytelling and spot on charaterisations of the various people she encounters. Look, I saw it two days ago and I'm still finding it hard to be objective about what I saw, so I'm not going to bother :). Suffice to say that she is one of the most focussed, energetic, enchanting solo performers I've ever seen and it is definately worthwhile getting your ass onto the seats of Yirra Yaakin (yes, bring a cushion) to see this. You'll be flabbergasted.
DATING JOE
I find it a lot easier to critisise this show. After dimming the lights, we were treated to an intro that conisisted of nothing but a prerecorded opera type thing. For about five minutes. The audience were left to wonder if the actor had decided that performing to such a small opening night crowd was really worth it and done a runner. Grr.
When he (finally) arrived on stage, he delivered a charming story about a banker in his fifties looking for love through a dating agency. My big problem with this play was it's predictable Hollywood style plot turns that you could almost play "name the film this segment was taken from" with. This was probably unintentional but from an audience perspective I found it all to be rather cliche. I walked out feeling a bit warm and fuzzy, but it was all a bit humdrum, really.
Then again, it is OK, and if you see both you pay half price (or just $3 for students) so get along to see them both. You might as well.
Or, [INSERT PLUG HERE] come and see MY Fringe solo show "Trip Down The Gutter" about the process of going through year 12 and growing up in WA that has had rave reactions from audiences. Hey, come on monday, man, it's gonna be a party you won't forget any time soon. Even if it is a school night. :) Or come on thursday or friday... just come. I'll love you forever if you do. Even if I don't remember your name in the morning.
Mon 11 FEBRUARY MOJO'S BAR, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, NORTH FREMANTLE
(A special event also featuring bands Terra Firma, Maxwell, The Whatevers & Leon Anon. Doors open 7-12, Trip Down The Gutter performance begins at 8pm. Tickets @ door for $10)
Thu 14, Fri 15 FEBRUARY NEXUS THEATRE, MURDOCH UNIVERSITY
(Show starts 7pm. Past audience experience in this theatre says "bring a cushion"...)
Tickets: $8/$7 @ the door. Discounts apply to groups.
Aloha,
Tomás Ford
PS: Some subliminal messages for you who are at home instead of watching the quality theatre that is avaliable to you EVERY NIGHT during this fantastic festival:
Fringe is goood. Fringe is goood. Yoooou muuust gooo seee mooore friiinge shooows. Ffffriiinge iiiisss goooood.
I'm done now.