Domestic Bliss (Melbourne)
Mon, 27 Sept 2004, 08:43 amDavid Ryding14 posts in thread
Domestic Bliss (Melbourne)
Mon, 27 Sept 2004, 08:43 amOkay, so its a retyped review from a newspaper here in Melbourne but it's the Melbourne Fringe with over 250 shows. You do whatever you can.
At least we didn't write a our own review.
From an audience point of view, it takes a brave actor to star in a one-man show. In this Melbourne Fringe Festival play, Lockwood portrays hapless haberdashery shop worker Chris Domestic Bliss whose life turns on his head on his 25th Birthday
Proving his comedic gift, Lockwood also plays ChrisÂ’s blokey dad, his Ronn Moss loving horny housewife mum, drug addled girlfriend and rough as guts bets mate, as well as a few cameo characters thrown in.
The fact Lockwood also wrote the script explains why the performance is so tight and fast paced
Domestic Bliss has much more hits than misses, with witty one liners, clever interplay and Kath and Kim-esque comedy about life in the suburbs. There's also a few dark and tender moments so it's not slapstick all the way
The play is performed in a 600-bed backpackerÂ’s hostel so you could make friends in the audience.
Tickets are $10"
Megan Miller
MX
Shameless promotion section
Cinema @ Hotel Bakpak
147 Franklin St Melbourne
all shows at 6:30pm and a cheaper than a service wash $10!
Tickets; 8421 8777 or at the door
Written and performed by Damon Lockwood
Directed by David Ryding
Domestic Bliss urges you to remember families aren't just for Christmas
At least we didn't write a our own review.
From an audience point of view, it takes a brave actor to star in a one-man show. In this Melbourne Fringe Festival play, Lockwood portrays hapless haberdashery shop worker Chris Domestic Bliss whose life turns on his head on his 25th Birthday
Proving his comedic gift, Lockwood also plays ChrisÂ’s blokey dad, his Ronn Moss loving horny housewife mum, drug addled girlfriend and rough as guts bets mate, as well as a few cameo characters thrown in.
The fact Lockwood also wrote the script explains why the performance is so tight and fast paced
Domestic Bliss has much more hits than misses, with witty one liners, clever interplay and Kath and Kim-esque comedy about life in the suburbs. There's also a few dark and tender moments so it's not slapstick all the way
The play is performed in a 600-bed backpackerÂ’s hostel so you could make friends in the audience.
Tickets are $10"
Megan Miller
MX
Shameless promotion section
Cinema @ Hotel Bakpak
147 Franklin St Melbourne
all shows at 6:30pm and a cheaper than a service wash $10!
Tickets; 8421 8777 or at the door
Written and performed by Damon Lockwood
Directed by David Ryding
Domestic Bliss urges you to remember families aren't just for Christmas
Re: Reviewing Bliss (Melbourne)
Fri, 8 Oct 2004, 05:58 pmthe Buzzcuts review by James Frayne wrote:
>
> ....so it's best not to reveal too much of the plot.
Unbelievable how sensitive and intelligent the reviewers are in Melbourne!
Or perhaps this is my perspective only because I live in Perth and the single major newspaper continuously employs reviewers who don't know how to review?
A 400 word review in The West last Monday (of a show written by Domestic Bliss director Dave Ryding) contained 7 paragraphs (about 70%) that basically retold the plot. Add to this two opening paragraphs that, while original, were only finding a way to introduce the play's theme. What's left is 3 paragraphs (only 15%) that make any real judgment about the play or the acting. If I want to be picky (and I do), the sentences that actually show anything of the reviewer's opinion consist of only 38 words (9% of the review).
I complained once to the Arts Editor a few years ago of a similar lack of value judgement, and he pointed out in a rather surprised manner a similar number of words which 'proved' that the reviewer was expressing an opinion. And I'm sure the company receiving this 'review' is pretty happy about it, because overall it comes across as quite friendly. We've all become conditioned to expect nothing braver from our arts journalists, and so it's considered a 'good' review if it doesn't slam anybody.
But I consider it merely a 'safe' and therefore kind of boring review. Is it naive of me to expect there to be an art to Arts Journalism?
Congrats on the GOOD reviews for Domestic Bliss.
Cheers,
Craig
>
> ....so it's best not to reveal too much of the plot.
Unbelievable how sensitive and intelligent the reviewers are in Melbourne!
Or perhaps this is my perspective only because I live in Perth and the single major newspaper continuously employs reviewers who don't know how to review?
A 400 word review in The West last Monday (of a show written by Domestic Bliss director Dave Ryding) contained 7 paragraphs (about 70%) that basically retold the plot. Add to this two opening paragraphs that, while original, were only finding a way to introduce the play's theme. What's left is 3 paragraphs (only 15%) that make any real judgment about the play or the acting. If I want to be picky (and I do), the sentences that actually show anything of the reviewer's opinion consist of only 38 words (9% of the review).
I complained once to the Arts Editor a few years ago of a similar lack of value judgement, and he pointed out in a rather surprised manner a similar number of words which 'proved' that the reviewer was expressing an opinion. And I'm sure the company receiving this 'review' is pretty happy about it, because overall it comes across as quite friendly. We've all become conditioned to expect nothing braver from our arts journalists, and so it's considered a 'good' review if it doesn't slam anybody.
But I consider it merely a 'safe' and therefore kind of boring review. Is it naive of me to expect there to be an art to Arts Journalism?
Congrats on the GOOD reviews for Domestic Bliss.
Cheers,
Craig
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