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
Mon, 28 July 2003, 12:06 amNick,
Thankyou for your reply to my review, I, like you, am always eager for feedback. At the outset, I would like to stae that I DO NOT put my professional name to any document that I have not first fully researched. My review was written only after having read your script and having viewed movies from both the genres the script parodies. (I used to work in a Video store, so I have seen my fair share of both the 1960's beach films AND the Hitchcock films.) Therefore, it is important to note, that my review was written from an informed position.
In response:
Firstly, you fail to note that my BIGGEST criticism was NOT of your production but of the script you chose to produce. As any good director knows, a good, workable script is EVERYTHING! (See Frerer, "Directing For the Stage" (1996) for a full exegisis of this topic. Counsell's "Play Direction: A Practical Viewpoint" (1973) also offers some strong points here.) You claim that I "missed something crucial to fully appreciate this show ie: An understanding of the genres this play is parodying." My point here is that your script fails to do what it promises. The script does NOT parody the two genres in question. However, that is a criticism of script (and by extension, script choice), not of production validity, so I will not continue my argument here. If you would like to continue this, please e-mail me.
Secondly, you question my review regarding Hall's and Shuttleworth's performances. You say, and I quote, "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 ... 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." If you have truly researched this play as deeply as you claim to, you are no doubt aware of the extensive amount of queer theory pertaining to just this type of parody. (The basics of these theories can be found in most books on Popular Culture - I would suggest Strinati's "An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture" (1995) as a good place to start for those interested) Were you truly aware of these theories, you would not try and pass off what is scripted here as a parody of suggested queer relatioships in late modernist film. Furthermore, this is not simply a scripting issue. A director has the power and responsibilty to re-work any part of a script to ensure its validity to the genre it is supposedly portraying. In addition, an actor ALSO has the responsibilty to ensure he/she researches any part played to the best of his/her abilities. Had Hall and Shuttleworth taken their roles seriously enough to do this, they would have created a compelling yet hilarious juxtaposition between suggested homosexual relations and the genre that was supposedly being parodied within socially righteous parameters. BUT, I make these criticisms from a professional perspective and yours IS an amateur production, so perhaps I have been too harsh. (As an adjunct here, I would like to point out that the said queer theory was employed in the development of the TV show "Will & Grace." A large part of the show's success has been attributed to this fact!)
Thirdly, you also comment on my remarks in regard to pace. I would like to point out once again, that this was a result of poor choice of script. I am surprised to discover that the first act runs for less than an hour - it felt like MUCH longer!
In regards to your offer of a free ticket to view your production again, I must regretfully decline (and this IS a regret as I would much like to see Merchant's and Gault's performances again) as I have other engagements next week. (I am hosting Western Australia's Wakakirri heats at the Regal theatre.) Also, as I DID see the show from an informed position originally, I do not think that a second viewing will "change my mind" as you so succinctly put it.
In closing, I would encourage ALL theatre goers to see Psycho Beach Party while it is still playing - and let me know your thoughts. The show is playing at the Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre on Canning Rd in Kalamunda this weekend. Please e-mail me with any thoughts on the show, I am VERY interested.
Darren Bilston BA Hons
Thankyou for your reply to my review, I, like you, am always eager for feedback. At the outset, I would like to stae that I DO NOT put my professional name to any document that I have not first fully researched. My review was written only after having read your script and having viewed movies from both the genres the script parodies. (I used to work in a Video store, so I have seen my fair share of both the 1960's beach films AND the Hitchcock films.) Therefore, it is important to note, that my review was written from an informed position.
In response:
Firstly, you fail to note that my BIGGEST criticism was NOT of your production but of the script you chose to produce. As any good director knows, a good, workable script is EVERYTHING! (See Frerer, "Directing For the Stage" (1996) for a full exegisis of this topic. Counsell's "Play Direction: A Practical Viewpoint" (1973) also offers some strong points here.) You claim that I "missed something crucial to fully appreciate this show ie: An understanding of the genres this play is parodying." My point here is that your script fails to do what it promises. The script does NOT parody the two genres in question. However, that is a criticism of script (and by extension, script choice), not of production validity, so I will not continue my argument here. If you would like to continue this, please e-mail me.
Secondly, you question my review regarding Hall's and Shuttleworth's performances. You say, and I quote, "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 ... 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." If you have truly researched this play as deeply as you claim to, you are no doubt aware of the extensive amount of queer theory pertaining to just this type of parody. (The basics of these theories can be found in most books on Popular Culture - I would suggest Strinati's "An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture" (1995) as a good place to start for those interested) Were you truly aware of these theories, you would not try and pass off what is scripted here as a parody of suggested queer relatioships in late modernist film. Furthermore, this is not simply a scripting issue. A director has the power and responsibilty to re-work any part of a script to ensure its validity to the genre it is supposedly portraying. In addition, an actor ALSO has the responsibilty to ensure he/she researches any part played to the best of his/her abilities. Had Hall and Shuttleworth taken their roles seriously enough to do this, they would have created a compelling yet hilarious juxtaposition between suggested homosexual relations and the genre that was supposedly being parodied within socially righteous parameters. BUT, I make these criticisms from a professional perspective and yours IS an amateur production, so perhaps I have been too harsh. (As an adjunct here, I would like to point out that the said queer theory was employed in the development of the TV show "Will & Grace." A large part of the show's success has been attributed to this fact!)
Thirdly, you also comment on my remarks in regard to pace. I would like to point out once again, that this was a result of poor choice of script. I am surprised to discover that the first act runs for less than an hour - it felt like MUCH longer!
In regards to your offer of a free ticket to view your production again, I must regretfully decline (and this IS a regret as I would much like to see Merchant's and Gault's performances again) as I have other engagements next week. (I am hosting Western Australia's Wakakirri heats at the Regal theatre.) Also, as I DID see the show from an informed position originally, I do not think that a second viewing will "change my mind" as you so succinctly put it.
In closing, I would encourage ALL theatre goers to see Psycho Beach Party while it is still playing - and let me know your thoughts. The show is playing at the Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre on Canning Rd in Kalamunda this weekend. Please e-mail me with any thoughts on the show, I am VERY interested.
Darren Bilston BA Hons
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