Category: Late Night Shows

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Events, Late Night Shows, Performances, Whats On

REVIEW: The Butterfly Club Presents KELFI AND FIKEL

Let’s hear it for the girls

By Maxine Montgomery

Kelfi and Fikel (aka Kellie Della Ca and Fiona Higgins) began their show by walking into the intimate showroom at The Butterfly Club and saying hello to the audience. They asked the names of a few of us and in that moment, we were all put deliciously on edge, unsure if we were going to be called up for audience participation or left in peace. The girls then opened the show with a stint of casual banter, giving a feel of having being invited over for coffee and a chat. It set the tone for an evening of frankness, irreverence and fun.

From the outset, their long standing friendship was obvious – they clearly share a similar twisted sense of humour, and they have an inherent love and understanding of each other. These factors combined serve them very well throughout the show. Their character-based sketches are slick, clever and fast-paced in delivery. Kellie and Fiona have created a broad range of characters, and through them they are able to pass comment on anything and everything. Without these characters, they may not be able to push the envelope as far as they do and still have the audience on side. I found myself fully engaged in all scenarios, bar one – the less-than-macho koala and kangaroo sketch. After beginning well and bringing forth giggles from the audience, it seemed to run too long and in doing so, lost some of its impact.

The sketch comedy of Kelfi and Fikel is strongly supported by their original songs and their delivery of same. The girls’ voices seem to be made to sing together. Backed by Kellie’s capable piano-playing, their vocals are strong and their written harmonies are delivered with confidence. Their opening song, “We Go Together”, is a wonderful catalogue of all the best and worst pairings that have ever been – I sat there crying with laughter thinking, “Oh, no, they didn’t just go there?!” One of my favourite moments started as something of a nod to “My Favourite Things” and ended up as a euphemistic love letter to the vagina… Fine line trodden? Yes… Side-splittingly funny? Oh, my word, yes!

Kelfi and Fikel have created a show that is ‘oh, so right’ because in places it is ‘oh, so wrong’. These two know how to have fun, not take themselves too (at all?!) seriously, and invite the audience along for the ride. If you’re a fan of the likes of The Fast Show and The Catherine Tate Show, then the comedy and music of Kelfi and Fikel is sure to delight.

The show runs at The Butterfly Club as a part of the 2012 Melbourne Comedy Festival every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 10:20pm until April 21. For tickets, go to www.thebutterflyclub.com

Events, Late Night Shows, Performances, Review, Whats On

Review: MORGAN & WEST – Time Travelling Magicians

From international television to their intimate live performance: make the time to see this

By Jen Coles

As a fan of magic, I was delighted to hear the Penn-and-Teller-fooling duo Morgan & West were coming to town. As time-travelling magicians from the past, Rhys Morgan and Robert West have prepared an hour to amaze and amuse every member lucky enough to be in the audience.

Featuring a lineup of traditional tricks such as the cup and balls (reinvented to have its own unique and hilarious twist), as well as their own magical inventions, the pair’s talent is incredible.  Their chemistry together makes for some wonderful interplay to break up the show, and they also have a wonderful mastery of audience participation.

Due to the intimate nature of the Butterfly Club venue, the chances of getting picked were high, however the pair relaxed the audience, and made us excited to be a part of their fantastic show.

 The pair, whilst having their own unique talents, also blend together well to create the notion of the ‘false reveal’. A supposed messed-up trick allowed the show to have a through-line with some build, and therefore the final payoff that ended the show was outstanding.

 However, for a show that was so brilliant, it seemed sadly, a little too short as a one-hour block. West briefly demonstrated a talent with cards, and I would have liked to see more card magic  in their program; the hour just flew by, and it was sad to see them go.

The fact that the pair happily shook hands with every audience member upon their exit sums up their performance style perfectly. Wonderfully charismatic and genuine gentlemen, Morgan & West light up the stage with a talent that clearly deserves a long career. We can only hope they tour here more often… or perhaps they can lend us their time-travel secrets to see the show once more.

 

Morgan & West: Time Travelling Magicians

Venue: The Butterfly Club, 204 Bank St, South Melbourne

Season: Fri 24th – Sat 25th, 10.30pm

Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Events, Late Night Shows, Performances, Whats On

REVIEW: Joe Black in SEX, DRUGS AND VAUDEVILLE

Take a turn on the dark side…

By Bradley Storer

Beginning the performance with a simple booming ‘Good evening ladies and gentlemen!’, the manically energetic Joe Black, making an immediate impression with his ghoulishly glittery face, barrelled onstage and launched into a song by fellow British cabaret artists Fascinating Aida, a spritely ditty about the pleasures of public fornication. This off-colour but hilarious opener set the tone for the rest of the evening, straddling the line between comedy and darkness expertly.

This is not an evening for the faint-hearted: subjects range from the joys of pyromania to the exploits of a heart-broken cannibal. Black covers many classics of the dark cabaret scene, including songs by the Tiger Lillies, Tom Waits and the Dresden Dolls, as well as original compositions discussing topics such as friends who ‘overshare’ on social networking sites. There are also more popular songs (Black’s Britney Spears cover is a particular delight), layered with a sinister twist – let’s just say I’ll never hear ‘You Are My Sunshine’ in quite the same way again.

Joe Black himself is charmingly demented. A musical and vocal chameleon, he swaps between piano and ukulele skilfully (which makes one regretful about his inability to smuggle his accordion past customs) and his voice switches at different times from a politely soft-spoken tenor, to a devilishly seductive Tom Waits-style croon, to a gospel-inflected roar reminiscent of Jason Webley.

The show itself still seems in development – segues between songs and the overall structure felt muddled, with connections in story not being as clearly developed as they could be. To be fair, this was probably not helped by Black’s admitted jet-lag or having to deal with an unusually talkative audience who interjected continually without warning – however this just goes to show, despite the darkness of his persona, how approachable Black made himself appear and how relaxed he had made his audience.

Despite some opening night glitches and some polishing still be done, Black is clearly a true cabaret performer, delivering a professional performance and forging such a strong connection with his audience that they spontaneously demanded a second encore – a rare sight! Such an enthusiastic response bodes well for the rest of Black’s first season in Australia, with the show undoubtedly growing even stronger with more performances.  

Until Nov 27th at The Butterfly Club

www.misterjoeblack.com

Cabaret, Events, Festivals, Late Night Shows, Performances, Whats On

MELBOURNE CABARET FESTIVAL 2011: Ticket Sales Are Booming!

100 performers, 78 performances, 7 venues – and only 6 nights!

It’s now only a few days until the non-stop cabaret begins, and all 32 shows for the second annual Melbourne Cabaret Festival (Tue July 19- Sun 24) are selling out once again.

This year’s program includes a particularly impressive line-up of our own Melbourne favourites, renowned national artists, and some surprise international performers all coming together to historic South Melbourne for one week of outstanding and outrageous entertainment.

From the fun and frivolity with comedy cabaret, music theatre, vaudeville and New-York-style, to the clever and edgy explorations of vaudeville, burlesque, queer shows and dark cabaret, there’s something different, delightful, delicious and decadent for every taste.

So what’s our pick of the fest? Got to admit, we’re pretty excited about The Beautiful Losers back to horrify audiences with song and satire, the intriguing Filthy Secrets from the disturbing mind of Karin Muiznieks, and the triumphant festival return of the glamorous and glorious Petticoat Soiree.

Also worth watching out for will be Le Gateau Chocolat, Queenie Van de Zandt, Jon Jackson, Emma Dean, The Jane Austen Argument, Tina Del Twist, Dolly Diamond, and Emma Clair Ford, along with a host of upcoming cabaret stars, plenty of quirky, creepy or hilarious new shows, and some special events such as Trevor Jones’ Piano Bar and the best of Short+Sweet Cabaret.

Tickets start from just $15 at www.melbournecabaret.com where you can also find all the show details to pique your patronage, because with only six days to see the all best cabaret in town, you’ll need to book fast!

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Events, Late Night Shows, Performances, Whats On

Review: CHANTS DES CATACOMBES

Hypnotic and intriguing – but got a little lost…

By Kim Edwards

Cabaret is often distinguished from other forms of theatre by its atmosphere: the sense of being drawn into the space and narrative, and caught up easily and absorbidly into a new and rarified air.

Innovative collaborative cabaret  project Chants Des Catacombes is promenade theatre that thus beckons you down into the beautiful and eerie bowels of the Donkey Wheel House in Bourke Street to hear the tales and echoing songs of three women who still haunt the labyrinthine basement long after their demise.

The initial creation of atmosphere and use of space is just sublime in this production. Nicola Andrew’s spectacular lighting design reveals each new room and scene as a place of chiaroscuro and spectacle, and the audience wandered fearless and fascinated down halls, around pillars and through doorways as the action unfolded in front, behind and between us.

The concept of Chants Des Catacombes is beguiling, and the multi-sensory experience highly engaging, but narrative and characters are strangely jarring and indistinct. The desire to understand who these three women are and what holds them here remains unsatiated: lyrics and anecdotes were difficult to hear as snatches of story floated away down corridors, diction was muffled or volume insufficient.

Moreover, while cabaret delights in reconsidering songs in new contexts and styles, obviously anachronistic modern music when we wanted to immerse ourselves in the past felt intrusive and disruptive – particularly the closing number that left the audience silent in surprise.

Perhaps the desire is indeed to unsettle us and prevent us losing ourselves completely in this world and the lives and deaths created, as fragmented narrative and characters and songs wisp and whisper away into the shadows, but for me, Chants Des Catacombes ultimately did not quite achieve the gothic, ghostly, sultry heights the publicity had evoked.

Nonetheless, the performances were certainly mesmerising (and I appreciated the subtle art of the ushers as crew, scenery, signposts, props and brooding presence), the overall experience is unique and enjoyable, and the chance to traverse and haunt a cabaret performance space yourself as witness and voyeur and silent participant is – well, simply to die for…

Chants Des Catacombes is the collaborative creation of:

• Nicola Andrews (Lighting Designer and VCA Design Graduate)
• Anna Boulic (Winner of the 2010 Short and Sweet Cabaret Festival, Harpist and NIDA Graduate)
• Laura Burzacott (Call Girl the Musical and I Heart Frankston)
• Nathan Gilkes (Theatre & Opera Director and VCA Directing Graduate)
• David Harford (Choreographer and Ballarat Arts Academy Graduate)
• Bryce Ives (Theatre Director Call Girl the Musical, The History Boys and I Heart Frankston)
• Emma Leah (Scent Alchemist)
• Zoe McDonald (Wrong Town and VCA Musical Theatre Graduate)
• Sophie Woodward (Designer and VCA Graduate)

Venue: Donkey Wheel House, 673 Bourke Street Melbourne
Dates:  Fri-Sat 17-18 June 8.30pm & 10.30pm, Sun 19 June 6pm.
Tickets: $30/conc $25
Bookings: http://www.trybooking.com/9503 or at the door

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Festivals, Late Night Shows, Performances, Whats On

REVIEW: The Bad Boys of Music Theatre are A FINE BROMANCE

Classic, charismatic and campy good fun!

By Kim Edwards

There were tech problems, the show went up late, and a Sunday night crowd were initially unreceptive. But Andrew Strano and John Frankland ( in order of appearance, lads) worked their considerable charm and won over their audience with aplomb.

Think the Rat Pack meets Lano and Woodley. The Bad Boys are all about on-stage dynamic and the banter is brisk and boisterous. The show itself hinges on the hilarity and harmonics of their (denied) homoerotic relationship: it’s a testament to the lovability of the characters and their love/hate/show-tune chemistry that they even got some ‘aws’ among the laughs as they expounded the perils of bromantic guy love.

Strano’s loud lanky comedy is both cute and clownish. His pace is feverish and his energy frenetic, while Frankland plays the – er – straight man, offering a more subtle and natural comic timing and tone. Last night some glib patter drowned out key jokes with premature reactions, and a few bawdy jokes missed their mark, but it was obvious this was well-tuned material that any other night would chime resoundingly.

Accompanied by the ever-versatile Trevor Jones at the piano and some fun multimedia, the Bad Boys did wonderfully bad and witty things to music theatre lyrics (including their own original song Amazing which you can find on Itunes) and best yet, these guys can really sing. Great warmth of sound together, and their harmonies were lovely as a counterpoint to snappy self-conscious jokes and the tales of their rambunctious relationship.

It’s a familiar formula, but the Bad Boys of Music Theatre hit all the right notes in the classic two-hander cabaret comedy-style. With their brand of sleek slapstick humour and their musical bro-etry, it’s clear these two boys were simply and bromantically meant to be together. Catch them for their last week of their Melbourne International Comedy festival season!

Venue: Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Dates: 31st March – 23rd April
Tickets: $25*, Tight Arse Tuesdays $17.50* (*plus transaction fee)
Times: 10:15pm, Sun & Mon 10pm
Bookings: (03) 8290 7000, www.chapeloffchapel.com.au

Cabaret, Events, Festivals, Late Night Shows, Performances, Whats On

Fringe Festival: Return of PRICE OF GENIUS & Other Gems

‘An absolute entrée into a very different world. Definitely worth seeing!’ – Julie Houghton 3MBS

In an era of Beethoven’s music and Shelley’s poetry, and a time of great upheaval and revolt, Mary Wollstonecraft changed the world forever when she wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women.  

She married an anarchist, demanded sexual equality, and gave birth to both feminism and the famous Mary Shelley who wrote Frankenstein.

But …

Mary Wollstonecraft had another daughter.

This is her story.

In its repeat season, The Price of Genius is an emotionally charged and technically adept piece of theatre.  

Originally written and performed in 2009, it marked the 250th anniversary of Mary Wollstonecraft’s death and celebrated her colourful life and revolutionary work.  

The show’s initial reception confirmed a broad appeal for audiences – from Regency period and literary enthusiasts interested in the history of Wollstonecraft and the upheaval of the French Revolution, to feminists, educators, romantics, tragedians and, of course, musicians.  

There is an intensity in both dialogue and music, with the fascinating and unique story-telling experience of hearing new lyrics set to Beethoven’s lieder songs.

A two-hundred year old secret is finally revealed on stage…

Featuring Ilsa Cook
Accompanied by Katherine Gillon
Directed by Kim Edwards
Book and Lyrics by Sally Collyer
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven

Venue: The Butterfly Club
Dates: 23-26 September: Thur-Sat 7pm, Sun 6pm
Duration: 60 mins
Tickets: Conc $17.00, Full $22.00, Group $17.00
Bookings: 03 9660 9666, www.thebutterflyclub.com or www.melbournefringe.com.au

 

Some Other Fringe Favourites…

Cabaret Course graduate Tom Dickins presents his mesmerising new show THE SPACES BETWEEN as part of The Jane Austen Argument: an indie-noir cabaret experience… Book Now

Short+Sweet Festival Director Emma Clair Ford will be exploring the dark and comic side of the human psyche with LILA GREY: Book Now

THROUGH THE MAGNIFYING GLASS marks the return of our hilarious, bizarro favourite Kitty Bang as she romps through a new cabaret extravaganza of choreographed madness!   Book Now

Bring on the sadistic soap-opera: see cabaret course graduate Natalie Ristovska weave her magic at the Burlesque Bar with a return season of ATROCITY… Book Now

Cabaret, Late Night Shows, Performances, Whats On

IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT: Knocking ‘Em Dead

The macabre late-night cult show In The Dead of Night opened to rave reviews last weekend

Read what the reviewers are saying…

Horror Scope: http://ozhorrorscope.blogspot.com:80/2009/08/in-dead-of-night-review.html

Theatre People: http://theatrepeople.com.au/review_articles/2009/august/review_playright_deadofnight.htm

Trespass Magazine: http://www.trespassmag.com/?p=5193

Three 

Hear for yourself what all the hype is about…

Zac Brown sings The Gentleman’s Ballad

Lizzie Matjacic and Trevor Jones sing Dangerous Game

The final trio in Past The Point of No Return

Lizzie

 

Explore some behind-the-scenes secrets…

An interview with the director on Theatre People:
http://theatrepeople.com.au/feature_articles/2009/july/20090728_playright_deadofnight.htm

On Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/kim.edwards#/event.php?eid=93442204686

 

Buy your tickets now…

Bookings:
www.thebutterflyclub.com

 

BE WARNED: The Final Grotesque Weekend Is Already Selling Out…

In The Dead of Night

Cabaret, Late Night Shows, Performances, Whats On

A Special Announcement…

When Was The Last Time You Got Really Excited About A Night Out?…

Gun Point

How do you like your theatre, then?   Are you:
* always Glamorous?
* into the Gothic?
* or a little GROTESQUE?

ONE show,
TWO nights a week,
THREE themed weekends to choose from… and announcing our THREE special guest artists!

GLAMOROUS
Week One: Fri/Sat 10.30pm July 31 – Aug 1

Break out the tails, the gloves, the gowns and the jewels!   When did you last get to really glam up for a night out?   This weekend, the gorgeous Jonathon Guthrie-Jones will be crooning in our gala In The Dead Of Night guest spot, and that fabulous dress you thought you’d never get to wear again is going to go so well with cocktails and a cult show…

GOTHIC
Week Two: Fri/Sat 10.30pm Aug  7 – 8

Calling the Twilight and Tim Burton fans – come vamp it up!   This week’s In The Dead Of Night cult show is all about the gothic.   So if you’re suave, sophisticated and just a little dangerous like our stunning guest artist Kirsten McMillan, this is the show for you.   You never know – you might meet your very own Edward: Cullen OR Scissorhands…

GROTESQUE
Week Three: Fri/Sat 10.30pm Aug 14 – 15

Bring on the freak show!   Ghouls and ghosts, villains and vixens, killers and carnies are not only welcome, but on our wish list.   Our guest artist is burlesque babe Miss Natalie Ristovska who’ll be sizzling up the stage, and we only want the naughtiest and nastiest monsters to come out for the last carnivalesque performances In The Dead Of Night this weekend…

In The Dead of Night: A Cult Show

The Butterfly Club
204 Bank St, South Melbourne
Tickets $22/17
Enquiries: 03 9690 2000

Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com

Starring the Mysterious Zac Brown, the Dazzling Lizzie Matjacic and the Disturbing Trevor Jones…

See Them on MySpace…
Join Them on Facebook…
Book Now.

Lizzie

You Know You Want To…

Cabaret, Late Night Shows, Performances, Whats On

IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT: The Hit Cult Show Returns
In The Dead Of Night
In The Dead Of Night

CABARET TURNS DEADLY

Australia’s first ‘choose your own adventure’ cabaret debuts in Melbourne… and it’s not for the faint of heart.

After directing professional cabaret and theatre for nearly a decade, Play Right Theatre founder Kim Edwards has channelled her dark side and finally released a long-time pet project of her own on the stage.

Edwards’ previous credits include children’s drama classes and Theatre In Education work, but it will be adults only when In The Dead Of Night: A Cult Show is let loose at The Butterfly Club in all its gothic, grotesque, and darkly funny glory.

“This is the product of my perverse pen and the dark recesses of my twisted mind” explained the lady herself, whose witty new work explores three lives at stake in a dangerous murder mystery, rife with black humour and suspense.

A major twist to this late night cult show is the uncertainty of its own cast members as to each story climax. Every evening, the audience are given control over the fate of the characters in ‘choose your own adventure’ style, meaning every performance is completely unique, and the possibilities are endless.

Three will finally meet,
Two will finally know.

One will certainly die…

Let the fun begin!

10.30pm every Fri/Sat July 31- Aug 15
The Butterfly Club
204 Bank St, South Melbourne
Tickets $22/17
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Enquiries: 03 9690 2000

Gothic, grotesque and darkly funny – not for the faint-hearted… 

Cult Show Cast

THE GENTLEMAN: Zac Brown
THE MAIDEN: Lizzie Matjacic
THE ACCOMPANIST: Trevor Jones