Melbourne Fringe Shows
Thu, 30 Sept 2004, 12:42 amtomasford3 posts in thread
Melbourne Fringe Shows
Thu, 30 Sept 2004, 12:42 amI'm a bit tired from two weeks of being in alco/work-aholic Fringing mode, but I've seen some great shows over here in sunny Melbourne and these are the best ones (I haven't included Trip Down The Gutter or Tomás Ford's Cabaret Of Death as those were my shows and hence my high opinion of them would be obvious - gawd, I'm so used to talking myself up over here that it's automatic now). I don't reckon there'll be any wonderful insights/critisisms contained here but it's always good to read what someone else thinks so here goes:
DOMESTIC BLISS (see other post)
THE SUPER HAPPY ROBOT HOUR
Basically a series of sketches strung together with a tacky storyline featuring life size recrations of Optimus Prime (Transformers), Dexter (Perfect Match) and a Doctor Who Dalek. This is great high concept comedy that had us rolling in our seats with laughter. The performers could have done anything and it would've been funny, but the fact that they addressed serious robot issues like love, alcoholism and leadership of robot teams made it hilarious.
THE PINCH IN MORNING GLORY
Absolutely, hands down, the best thing I saw all festival (not that it's over, it's just time for Tom to go home). The Pinch are a slick, intelligent sketch comedy trio and in this piece they rip off breakfast television with great success and tip a few sacred cows in the process. Definately a must see show - though there are nods to the Doug Anthonys, Tripod etc, there's an intelligent sensibility at work here and unique group dynamic that made this one of the best things I've seen, like, ever.
LOVE TV
More great comedy, and entry to this one is free. They've installed a big TV box in the window of Bar Open and a very charismatic performer by the name of The Godess Aphrodite rocks cosy interviews with a variety of Fringe-ey guests about sex, art and death, accompanied by a guitar-slinging MC who improvises jingles about each interview at the end. The night I went in, my song was something like "Tom came on and he was really cute, he's a terrible pash and a dud root". Which was nice. Why did I type that...? They've got some great guests on including Pinky Beecroft (Maching Gun Fellatio) and Blair from Neighbours and the intimate environment of the TV is a kind of truth serum for the interviewee to divulge their darkest secrets to the crowd.
THE SWINDLER
A hugely engaging how-to guide to cheating at cards. I'm not really a big card game fan but this show still got under my skin as it's more about physical ways of ripping people off with props than card games in specific. The performer has a great intimate rapport with the audience and it feels like a naughty uncle showing you his best tricks.
I don't really have much more to say. Anyone else seen anything good during Melb Fringe? I'm gonna go get me some sleep now. Goodnight.
[%sig%]
DOMESTIC BLISS (see other post)
THE SUPER HAPPY ROBOT HOUR
Basically a series of sketches strung together with a tacky storyline featuring life size recrations of Optimus Prime (Transformers), Dexter (Perfect Match) and a Doctor Who Dalek. This is great high concept comedy that had us rolling in our seats with laughter. The performers could have done anything and it would've been funny, but the fact that they addressed serious robot issues like love, alcoholism and leadership of robot teams made it hilarious.
THE PINCH IN MORNING GLORY
Absolutely, hands down, the best thing I saw all festival (not that it's over, it's just time for Tom to go home). The Pinch are a slick, intelligent sketch comedy trio and in this piece they rip off breakfast television with great success and tip a few sacred cows in the process. Definately a must see show - though there are nods to the Doug Anthonys, Tripod etc, there's an intelligent sensibility at work here and unique group dynamic that made this one of the best things I've seen, like, ever.
LOVE TV
More great comedy, and entry to this one is free. They've installed a big TV box in the window of Bar Open and a very charismatic performer by the name of The Godess Aphrodite rocks cosy interviews with a variety of Fringe-ey guests about sex, art and death, accompanied by a guitar-slinging MC who improvises jingles about each interview at the end. The night I went in, my song was something like "Tom came on and he was really cute, he's a terrible pash and a dud root". Which was nice. Why did I type that...? They've got some great guests on including Pinky Beecroft (Maching Gun Fellatio) and Blair from Neighbours and the intimate environment of the TV is a kind of truth serum for the interviewee to divulge their darkest secrets to the crowd.
THE SWINDLER
A hugely engaging how-to guide to cheating at cards. I'm not really a big card game fan but this show still got under my skin as it's more about physical ways of ripping people off with props than card games in specific. The performer has a great intimate rapport with the audience and it feels like a naughty uncle showing you his best tricks.
I don't really have much more to say. Anyone else seen anything good during Melb Fringe? I'm gonna go get me some sleep now. Goodnight.
[%sig%]
Re: Melbourne Fringe Shows
Fri, 30 Sept 2005, 10:05 amWalter Plinge
I saw 'he/she/it' at The Open Stage (Melbourne Uni), and it was excellent!
The characters are all well portrayed, with a particularly powerful and poignant performance from Damon Hunter who plays 'Marcus'.
Altogether, the cast do a fine job with a play that goes right to the heart of what men think about themselves, each other and women; how women think of themselves and their dreams, of each other, and of men, and how men and women interact (or otherwise) to form good or lousy relationships.
Very true, very funny, and, at times, very sad.
Recommended!
The characters are all well portrayed, with a particularly powerful and poignant performance from Damon Hunter who plays 'Marcus'.
Altogether, the cast do a fine job with a play that goes right to the heart of what men think about themselves, each other and women; how women think of themselves and their dreams, of each other, and of men, and how men and women interact (or otherwise) to form good or lousy relationships.
Very true, very funny, and, at times, very sad.
Recommended!