Psycho Beach Party
Wed, 23 July 2003, 11:05 pmWalter Plinge14 posts in thread
Psycho Beach Party
Wed, 23 July 2003, 11:05 pmOnce upon a time....in a far away land....(other wise known as Kalamunda) .....King Nick.... got together the perfect cast to tell a summer time tale... in the middle of winter. Go Figure!!!
Somehow he managed to bribe, blackmail or coherce mulitple talented people to brave the journey, bare their bodies and souls to produce....
an amazingingly funny, cross of Hitchock meets Gidget in the true Blak Yak tradition of original, interesting off the wall theatre.
My friend and I laughed and laughed and couldn't believe the twists and turns. First there were the guys, talented hunks, enough to melt the winter frost away. The women were amazing, one of the most frightening Mothers -- a cross from Father Knows Best and the best of the horror shows, I hope Jenny McCann isn't too scarred from the experience. I felt I met true greatness when I watched Julia Dalby dazzle us all. Melissa Merchant showed a depth of range and character that was amazing, I would say she stole the show, but that would be untrue because each person on that stage owned their characters and were flawless in their parts.
Tim Edwards was unrecognizable as the Great Kanaka, a total change, very spooky. I could go on and on. But you have to get there, go and have the very best laugh, enjoy yourself. The MUSIC IS GREAT. (CD available in the lobby). Leave the kids behind (or cover their ears in a few parts). Take a trip back to the surf/beach days, I recommend this to everyone, be there or be square. Laugh yourself silly and chuckle at bits all the way home.
PS Watch out for Kim Wallace, she melts men with a glance, Adam & Troy will leave you gasping for air, Alex steals your heart, Michael and Francie groove along and Melanie is the best friend you always wished for.
PSII Costumes are lots of fun
PS III Kalamunda isn't really that far, you don't need a passport, well worth the journey, bring a friend, bring a group, just don't miss it.
Somehow he managed to bribe, blackmail or coherce mulitple talented people to brave the journey, bare their bodies and souls to produce....
an amazingingly funny, cross of Hitchock meets Gidget in the true Blak Yak tradition of original, interesting off the wall theatre.
My friend and I laughed and laughed and couldn't believe the twists and turns. First there were the guys, talented hunks, enough to melt the winter frost away. The women were amazing, one of the most frightening Mothers -- a cross from Father Knows Best and the best of the horror shows, I hope Jenny McCann isn't too scarred from the experience. I felt I met true greatness when I watched Julia Dalby dazzle us all. Melissa Merchant showed a depth of range and character that was amazing, I would say she stole the show, but that would be untrue because each person on that stage owned their characters and were flawless in their parts.
Tim Edwards was unrecognizable as the Great Kanaka, a total change, very spooky. I could go on and on. But you have to get there, go and have the very best laugh, enjoy yourself. The MUSIC IS GREAT. (CD available in the lobby). Leave the kids behind (or cover their ears in a few parts). Take a trip back to the surf/beach days, I recommend this to everyone, be there or be square. Laugh yourself silly and chuckle at bits all the way home.
PS Watch out for Kim Wallace, she melts men with a glance, Adam & Troy will leave you gasping for air, Alex steals your heart, Michael and Francie groove along and Melanie is the best friend you always wished for.
PSII Costumes are lots of fun
PS III Kalamunda isn't really that far, you don't need a passport, well worth the journey, bring a friend, bring a group, just don't miss it.
Re: Psycho Beach Party
Sun, 27 July 2003, 07:44 pmWalter Plinge
Thanks for your review, Darren.
As a director I fully appreciate all feedback (positive and negative) in relation to the shows I direct. And I know they are not perfect (in some cases, far from) but I do feel that "Psycho Beach Party" is as close to it as possible. You obviously recognised how talented this cast is and I'm glad you got some enjoyment out of the performance you attended.
However, (you knew there'd be a 'however' attached to this) I feel that you actually missed something crucial to fully appreciate this show ie: An understanding of the genres this play is parodying. I'll address your points one by one, remembering that "Psycho Beach Party" is above all else a comedy.
Firstly: yes, the women in the cast are all fantastic (as are the roles as written in the script) but you seemed unduly harsh on the male cast members, who have perfectly captured the acting style of the 1960s beach movies this play parodies.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly: You say "...Troy Hall and Adam Shuttleworth as "Yo Yo" and "Provoloney" respectively were insulting in their immature portrayal of a parodied gay couple..." I'm sorry you were insulted by this, but Adam and Troy are not parodying a gay couple, the parody is directed towards the type of characters they are based on in the 1960s beach movies. Characters who honestly seem to be one step away from coming out (just as Gidget seems one step away from going completely insane) when viewing these movies in the context of 2003. There's an alarming verisimilitude in their performances when related to the original source material. And, I feel, a great sense of maturity to their handling of the romance between Yo Yo and Provoloney.
You may or may not know, but Charles Busch (who wrote Pscho Beach) is a very successful, gay American playwrite. What he has done, in this case, is looked at the original sources and then (as stated above) taken the characters that one step further, a step thay all seemed about to take anyway.
Thirdly: the pacing may not be to your liking, but act one runs barely over 50 minutes and act two is done and over in about 35. Much shorter than most of my previous shows (many will vouch for that with a winge or two) and I personally feel that there's no lag whatsoever after the essential set up in scene one. Infact the show doesn't out stay it's welcome and we're all at the pub well before last drinks.
Like I said, I really do appreciate your feedback, but I very much disagree with you in this instance. Therefore: I have a proposition for you: Go and hire out the original "Gidget" movie starring Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson (Planet have it) and watch it. Perhaps even check out some other shockers of the era such as "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" and maybe even the movie of "Psycho Beach Party' adapted for the screen by the author (who also appears in the film).
After doing that, we invite you to come back and see the show FOR FREE to see if the source material lends you an appreciation for our production that you missed out on first time around (especially in regards to Adam and Troy's performances). I'd also be more than happy to chat with you about the show at that time.
In all cases if the critisism is justified I'll gladly take it on board and anyone who knows me will tell you that as far as I'm concerned, offending people is NOT a problem. Just as long as you're offended (or insulted) for the right reasons.
Look forward to seeing you at the show again. I hope we can change your mind.
Be Good
Nick Donald
Director of "Psycho Beach Party"
I KNOW what I'M talking about too, having done a bucket load of research for this play...
As a director I fully appreciate all feedback (positive and negative) in relation to the shows I direct. And I know they are not perfect (in some cases, far from) but I do feel that "Psycho Beach Party" is as close to it as possible. You obviously recognised how talented this cast is and I'm glad you got some enjoyment out of the performance you attended.
However, (you knew there'd be a 'however' attached to this) I feel that you actually missed something crucial to fully appreciate this show ie: An understanding of the genres this play is parodying. I'll address your points one by one, remembering that "Psycho Beach Party" is above all else a comedy.
Firstly: yes, the women in the cast are all fantastic (as are the roles as written in the script) but you seemed unduly harsh on the male cast members, who have perfectly captured the acting style of the 1960s beach movies this play parodies.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly: You say "...Troy Hall and Adam Shuttleworth as "Yo Yo" and "Provoloney" respectively were insulting in their immature portrayal of a parodied gay couple..." I'm sorry you were insulted by this, but Adam and Troy are not parodying a gay couple, the parody is directed towards the type of characters they are based on in the 1960s beach movies. Characters who honestly seem to be one step away from coming out (just as Gidget seems one step away from going completely insane) when viewing these movies in the context of 2003. There's an alarming verisimilitude in their performances when related to the original source material. And, I feel, a great sense of maturity to their handling of the romance between Yo Yo and Provoloney.
You may or may not know, but Charles Busch (who wrote Pscho Beach) is a very successful, gay American playwrite. What he has done, in this case, is looked at the original sources and then (as stated above) taken the characters that one step further, a step thay all seemed about to take anyway.
Thirdly: the pacing may not be to your liking, but act one runs barely over 50 minutes and act two is done and over in about 35. Much shorter than most of my previous shows (many will vouch for that with a winge or two) and I personally feel that there's no lag whatsoever after the essential set up in scene one. Infact the show doesn't out stay it's welcome and we're all at the pub well before last drinks.
Like I said, I really do appreciate your feedback, but I very much disagree with you in this instance. Therefore: I have a proposition for you: Go and hire out the original "Gidget" movie starring Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson (Planet have it) and watch it. Perhaps even check out some other shockers of the era such as "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" and maybe even the movie of "Psycho Beach Party' adapted for the screen by the author (who also appears in the film).
After doing that, we invite you to come back and see the show FOR FREE to see if the source material lends you an appreciation for our production that you missed out on first time around (especially in regards to Adam and Troy's performances). I'd also be more than happy to chat with you about the show at that time.
In all cases if the critisism is justified I'll gladly take it on board and anyone who knows me will tell you that as far as I'm concerned, offending people is NOT a problem. Just as long as you're offended (or insulted) for the right reasons.
Look forward to seeing you at the show again. I hope we can change your mind.
Be Good
Nick Donald
Director of "Psycho Beach Party"
I KNOW what I'M talking about too, having done a bucket load of research for this play...
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