Category: Performances

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Events, Performances, Whats On

REVIEW: Izaak Lim Sings TOO MANY SONGS

Classic comedy that delivers

By Christine Moffat

Izaak Lim explores the songs, and more importantly, the bent of Tom Lehrer in this one-hour cabaret at the iconic Melbourne venue The Butterfly Club.

Many lovers of darkly comic cabaret will be familiar with one or two songs from Lehrer’s catalogue such as The Masochism Tango or Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, but in this show Lim also dusts off some under-loved gems and makes them sparkle again.

For those who don’t know Lehrer’s work, this show would be an excellent introduction to the skewed worldview of the comical, musical, mathematical genius who was a highly respected professor as well as a fabulously disrespectful human being.

Lim captures this second element especially well in his own performance, which is very faithful to Lehrer without going anywhere near an impersonation.  Lim is himself, and that self seems to be almost as dark, strange and hilarious as his ‘mentor’.

On opening night the room was small, intimate and warm, as was the mood created by Lim and his oh-so-accomplished accompanist Trevor Jones.  Lim’s performance was superb: his voice has a beautiful tone that echoes Lehrer’s own deceptively sweet-noted delivery of deliciously sour concepts.

It is a humorous format that is milked for all it’s worth by Lim and Jones.  They are in synch musically and their tetchy banter really keeps the ball rolling.  As a result, the show seemed much shorter than it was, even including our predestined ‘encore’.

When he performed, Lehrer was most often trapped behind a piano, relying only on facial expression and nuance to reach his audience.  By utilising Jones for the majority of the music (watch out for some sneaky accordion action) Lim has the benefit of embodying the songs with high-energy physical humour, an hilarious addition to the already funny songs.  More than once I found myself laughing a bit too loud, and I wasn’t alone.

In closing, I will simply say this about Too Many Songs: if you don’t like laughing, don’t go.

Dates: Saturday 25th July 7pm/ Sunday 26th July 6pm

Tickets: $23 Full, $20 Conc, $18 Group 8+

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

Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com

Dance, Events, Music, Performances, Review, Whats On

Review: MICHAEL JACKSON HIStory II

Gone but not forgotten

By Jessica Cornish

Reminiscent of a Star Trek convention, hundreds of people draped in sequenced jackets, silk white gloves and glittered hats meandered into Her Majestys Theatre last night in anticipation of HIStory II.

This tribute to the legendary Michael Jackson starred L.A based impersonator Kenny Wizz and was supported by his eclectic band who had gathered from across the globe to entertain his Melbourne audience for over two hours.

Unsure of the concept of the night, I was relieved to find that the show was in fact a high-quality tribute concert. No poorly-written jukebox musical storyline, or invented characters trying to make the famous songs in to some poorly-formed song cycle. Instead, the night was one hit after the next, paired with some of the best lighting production I have seen in a long time

Visually the show was vibrant, punchy and consistently changing with the dynamic pop songs. Strobe lighting was heavily incorporated in to the lighting design, giving the dancers and Kenny as MJ a dramatic edge to songs such as Thriller and Smooth Criminal. Three hanging LED screens also featured prominently throughout the night, adding another dimension to the visual feast unfolding.

Unfortunately, during the first half of the performance there were some audio technical difficulties with the front-of-house mix, giving the sound a bizarre ‘paned’ effect, resulting in glaring music randomly jutting in and out of the speakers. Luckily this issue was resolved after interval, and the show ran smoothly.

Kenny belted out the demanding falsetto tunes continually with great passion and conviction. After impersonating MJ for over 28 years, he clearly convinces the audience who were besotted by him throughout the entire performance. Streams of young and old fans alike lined the aisles, dancing in delight.

Throughout the night Kenny was backed by a talented troupe of six dancers who added much energy to the performance. Initially the dancers seemed slightly out of sync with each other at times, but as the show progressed these problems quickly disappeared.

Personal performance favourites of mine were Don’t Blame It On The Boogie, with the dance troupe dressed in black and gold sequenced body suits dancing up a storm, followed by Smooth Criminal which of course included the famous ‘lean’ choreography that MJ made so famous.

Overall the night was greatly enjoyed, and Kenny promised to be back for another run next year. Perfect for anyone who wants a fun night out, a homage to MJ, and an opportunity to forget the mundane troubles of everyday life for a couple hours.

TOUR DATES: Sydney 24/8 & 25/8 Brisbane 1/9, Adelaide 8/9 and Perth 15/9

TICKETS: $89 Adult, $79 Conc/Group 10+
BOOKINGS: www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 795 012

Events, Performances, Review, Theatre, Whats On

REVIEW: Barking Spider Visual Theatre Presents THE MEMORANDIUM

Because good theatre is a real experience

By Myron My

As you enter the stage of The Memorandium to be greeted with cups of hot chocolate by the performers Penelope Bartlau and Leah Scholes, you know this will not be an ordinary theatre experience.

The premise of the show is quite simple: audience members choose a stick with a number on it, which correlates to a wrapped package. As the audience member unwraps it, we are asked to share what memories this item stirs in us. The items are random: teapots, teddy bears, passports, coins…  Using these memories, Bartlau creates wonderful stories for the audience which leaves us with big gaping smiles like we’re children gathered around grandmother for a story before bed.

Bartlau has a skillful storytelling technique and her descriptive language and facial expressions allow you to very easily visualize the tale told.  She and composer/performer Scholes play exceptionally well together to the point where you were wondering if this is actually improvised. It is. Moreover, you can clearly see they are giving each other a good time with their onstage give-and-take over the direction the story takes. The accompanying music is also improvised, with Scholes using anything on stage to create sounds that perfectly blend into the story.

The mood in the audience as we heard these stories went from a room full of strangers to a connected mind, and after the show when you were free to roam through the set we were chatting as if we were old friends.

The stage setting was impeccably detailed with all the miscellany one would expect to find at anyone’s home including all the various items they would have collected over the years, from toys and instruments to crockery and clothing. I don’t believe any amount of describing could do this set justice but to say that designer Jason Lehane has an amazing eye for design would be an understatement.

The experience of The Memorandium makes you realize we are all full of memories and everything has a story behind it, if we just stop to think about it and share them. Leaving the theatre, you can’t help but have a warm and fuzzy feeling inside you – almost like you’ve just had a nice cup of hot chocolate theatre.

Venue: Theatre Works, 14 Acland St, St Kilda
Season: Until 1 September| Wed to Sat 8:00pm, Sat 5:00pm
Tickets: $35 Full | $29 Conc
Bookings: 03 9534 3388 or theatreworks.org.au

Events, Performances, Review, Whats On

REVIEW: Back to Back Theatre Present HELL HOUSE

Paving the way to a remarkable theatre experience

By Anastasia Russell-Head

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, turning up at the Artshouse Meat Market for the opening night of Back to Back’s Hell House. Ushered in to the ticket desk, we were given coloured stickers to place on our collars and told to wait until we were called. After a few minutes we were asked to assemble down a flight of stairs in a black plastic-shrouded antechamber. Strange sounds could be heard from round about, and no-one really knew what was going to happen next.

Soon enough the show began, and we were introduced to our devilish guide who walked us through a series of strange and horrific vignettes – a young man’s funeral, an abortion, a car crash, a suicide, a pagan sacrifice – until finally we reached hell itself.

This play originated in bible-belt USA churches, where it is performed annually to thousands of young Christians – the aim being to scare them into re-confirming their faith. Interestingly, Back to Back stages this version as an “anthropological study”, not aiming to pass judgment or present a particular point of view. In fact, the presentation of the play is only one half of the production; the other half being an interactive forum looking at themes of provocation, belief and morality.

For me, the forum (with panelists Scott Stephens, Waleed Aly, Clare Bowditch and Benjamin Myers) was almost more provocative than the play – in that it caused me to completely re-think the way I had viewed and approached the original work. Questions were asked about judgment, consequentialism, good and evil – and Waleed Aly even wove in a few Batman allegories for good measure!

At first I wanted to laugh at the simplistic morality, the black-and-white-ness, the you’ll-all-go-to-hell-sinners vibe of the work. Yet this is not irony. It’s not for laughs (although there are a couple of giggle-worthy moments). It’s not about poking fun at fundamentalism. Rather, this production seeks to begin a discussion and open the door for some serious debate. I’m still musing about it the next morning, which is a sure sign of a thought-provoking work.

Hell House by Back to Back Theatre at Arts House, Meat Market

Until Sunday 5 August

Saturday 4 August: Performances every 10 minutes from 7pm, followed by forum at 8.30pm.

Sunday 5 August: Performances every 10 minutes from 2pm, followed by forum at 3.30pm.

Full $25 / Concession $20

Book online or phone 03 9322 3713

Cabaret, Events, Performances, Review, Whats On

REVIEW: Elena Knox is BILD-LILLI

Forget the Barbie dolls: this toy story packs a real punch

By Christine Moffat

The publicity material for this show tantalises with the following: “…Before Barbie, there was Bild-Lilli…
Hard drinking and smoking hot, this 50s icon riots her passage from Hamburg to Mattel.” This is not just publicity material; it is the essential back-story for a good understanding of what you are about to watch.  I am not personally enamoured with shows that require homework before viewing, but the ethereal way with which the narrative of Bild-Lilli is treated means that is what this show requires.

That being said, Elena Knox delivers a hard-working, thoroughly-researched performance that deserves the effort it demands of an audience.  If you go along with the (at times) surreal events on stage, you will be rewarded with a thought-provoking and intelligent show.  As writer and performer, Knox clearly aims to inform and challenge as much as she entertains.  Such an approach can divide an audience, and I feel it did on the night I attended. This sixty-minute art-cabaret-theatre-poetry “mash-up” packs in Bild-Lilli’s sixty-year history, along with so many themes and ideas that at times it was hard-going for the audience.

Upon reflection I believe that many of those attending did not have a solid idea of the show they had booked for, as I think this production achieved exactly what it promised.  The show is presented as part of the Helium season of new independent works at the Malthouse Theatre to showcase cutting-edge new works by independent Australian artists.  For my money, Bild-Lilli delivers admirably as  a challenging piece of avant-garde theatre that puts both its audience and performer through their paces.

The show is a realisation of Knox’s artistic vision, with just a hint of shoestring budget.  We are treated to endearingly clunky props and new musical compositions, along with confronting onstage costume changes.  The overall effect is an intense atmosphere in the room that could afford to offer the audience a couple more points of calculated relief.  Bild-Lilli’s poodle Scheisse does his best to assist in this way to great effect.

For me, this is a Frankensteinian recipe of old-school indie-theatre techniques, performance art and cerebral music combined to create a life-sized, freakishly attractive plastic-doll-of-a-show.  It contained just what it said on the box, ready or not!  Overall, I think it is worth your time to acquaint yourself a little with the Bild-Lilli story beforehand, so that the two of you can become even better acquainted during the show.

Shows: 

Tue 24–Sat 28 Jul, Tues 31 Jul–Sat 4 Aug

All tickets $25

For details see 
www.malthousetheatre.com.au/helium

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Festivals, Performances, Whats On

Review: ANGELA HARDING is Just Like You… Only Different

The finest Australian cabaret has to offer

By Myron My

Angela Harding’s Melbourne Cabaret Festival show Just Like You… Only Different takes the audience on a journey of the highs and lows of being a performer in the arts as well as touching on some more personal moments of Harding’s.

If she talks long enough then surely we’ll have something in common, Harding muses before beginning her first number for the night. Using a combination of original songs and some famous covers, her charismatic and endearing personality thus quickly spreads through the audience until we are a roomful of smiles and laughs.

Along for the ride is musical director and accompanist Mathew Frank, whose piano arrangements are flawless and add another dimension to the well-known songs that Harding performs, such as Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and the sultry “At Last” by Etta James. The transitions between songs were smooth and well paced, giving us enough time to take in what we just heard and prepare us for the next brilliant tune.

Harding particularly shines with her original tunes, including the triple threat of being a “Singer, Actor, Dancer” whereupon she also takes to the piano. Seems to me Harding is more of a quadruple threat and should clearly add musician/song-writer to this list: “Silence” is a beautifully composed song and I don’t think anyone in the audience took a breath until that final note was sung.

The crowd almost brought the house down with their cheers as Harding sang her final number and I honestly have not heard an audience cheer like that for a very long time, except at sold-out large-scale music gigs.

Just Like You…Only Different is a joyous ride of Harding sharing her stories with her audience and no doubt deserves to be the winner of the 2011 Australian Cabaret Showcase. Keep an eye out for her future performances, for this lady belongs on stage.
 
Just Like You… Only Different was performed on the 20th – 21st July, 7:00pm at Chapel Off Chapel as part of the Melbourne Cabaret Festival 2012.

Events, Music, Performances, Review, Whats On

REVIEW: Arts House Presents METAPRAXIS

Only for musical initiates

By Myron My

The talent and skill of everyone who performed at Metapraxis was of a high calibre and I do not wish to take anything away from them in that respect, but as a mere music-loving audience member and not an actual musician, I left that evening feeling unfulfilled by the performance.

The opening act by James Rushford and Joe Talia had me very confused as to what they were trying to accomplish. At one point, I thought I was watching an experimental band performing at a late-night underground club, and felt very uninspired by it.

The choreography of Metapraxis was beautiful, and experimentally playing instruments using traditional and non-traditional methods (such as having fingers for the violin instead of a bow) was intriguing to watch.

There were certainly some captivating moments but sadly, these were just a few moments. “The Long And The Short Of It” for example included a cut-up video of a 5400km long ‘Dog Fence’ being bowed – the longest string instrument in the world. It was interesting to then see this combined with conducted improvisation of hand signals and caption cards.

The Australian premiere of Jani Christou’s rarely performed 1966 masterpiece, “Praxis for 12” was the stand-out of the night with a world of what I can only describe as chaotic calmness created successfully.

It is obvious a lot of time and effort has been put into this performance and the precision with which everyone played is phenomenal. Local string quartet Atticus are to be commended on their skill and talent – as are all the performers – but ultimately, I didn’t feel a connection to the pieces and this is the downfall of this work, in failing to connecting the music to the listener and viewer.

Christou described a ‘metapraxis’ as an “action that goes against the implied logic of an art form – a destabilisation, an implosive gesture, a push against the norms. Metapraxis is a bold venture into this experience.” Unfortunately, I simply felt like a surfer who waited for that big wave to come and take me on a ride – but for me, it never came.

Venue: Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall

Season: Until 21 July 2012 | 7:30pm

Tickets: $20 Full | $15 Conc

Bookings: 03 9322 3713 or online

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Festivals, Performances, Whats On

Review: AUSTRALIAN HORROR STORY by Dirty Thieving Gypsies

Murder, music, mayhem and the macabre…

By Myron My

My initiation into the Melbourne Cabaret Festival began with Australian Horror Story: a dark musical journey starring Karin Muiznieks and Karlis Zaid as they trawl the backwaters of suburbia and equally horrify and amuse us through song and characterisation.

From the opening scene as three hooded and candlelit figures enter the stage, there is a dark and eerie ambiance in the room. The idea of blood and hell will invariably enter your mind with the minimal props being used being black or red.

This performance takes the banalities of sub-urbanity and turns it into something sinister – “Why do people with similar lives to us commit terrible crimes and acts of transgression?” Zaid asks.

From Jihads in Melton, parents competing to have the “better” child and a “relaxing” drive to Caroline Springs, we are introduced to strongly-defined characters created by Muiznieks and Zaid. There is great camaraderie between the two of them and the play off and against each other is a joy to watch.

Being a cabaret show, the music is an integral part of the production and it did not disappoint, with soft and happy tunes swiftly changing to dark and somber ones. The lighting was synced with the music for the most part, however there were times that the lighting prevented me from seeing the performers and while I understand it was to set the mood I found it more of an annoyance than anything else.

Hipster Killer ran the risk of stopping the melodic flow of the show as it was more of a poetry reading than song but judging from the applause, this was a crowd-favourite – including mine. And as soon as it was over, we returned to a song to bring us back to the macabre.

The real chilling horror of the show is the impression that this is all happening right now. Australian Horror Story speculates there is a man in a suburb somewhere putting on gloves and getting ready to murder someone, and it is this enduring thought that left me questioning how much I should be laughing. There definitely is some spooky shit going down in our home towns but thanks to this show, we can laugh about it a lot… nervously.

Australian Horror Story was performed on the 17th – 18th July, 8:30pm at Chapel Off Chapel as part of the Melbourne Cabaret Festival 2012.

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Events, Festivals, Performances, Whats On

REVIEW: Geppetto’s AN END TO DREAMING

Fairytale flights of fancy and musical dexterity

By Dean Arcuri

My Melbourne Cabaret Festival experience began with decadent delight thanks to the musical stylings of  Emma Dean and Jake Diefenbach: two dynamic and talented performers who, when combined, become Geppetto – a fantastical pop fairytale duo that took me on an exotic vocal journey which enveloped and swallowed me whole.

Ten musical stories over five acts shaped the cabaret that was An End to Dreaming as Dean and Diefenback as a musical Hansel and Gretel journeyed through the woods, travelling from darkness to light.

The fantastical story elements were crafted into a simple yet effective framework, that was then quickly filled with powerful vocals and original songs complimenting and amplifying each performer’s range, skill and comfort.

While the stage and costuming elements should be enhanced to expand upon the musical vibrance, it doesn’t detract while the artists switch between their instruments including synth and baby grand effortlessly.  Balancing their performance along a crafted vocal tightrope, Geppetto juggle familiar chord structures and tempos that hark back to my 80s musical childhood while maintaining a modern theatrical energy that grounds the work very much in the now.

Dienfenbach’s disarming vulnerability is soon smashed away by a cheeky grin when displaying his immense talent on the baby grand. However, his vocals are not then surpassed, for even with up-tempo numbers he still sings with a heartfelt intensity that adeptly juxtaposes with the accompaniment.

Dean performs with a stoicism that amplifies her vocal power and control as she jumps the breadth of her range with an intense ease.  Just when you think she has hit the ceiling, she steps up a level with her musicality or theatricality in a way that had me transfixed.

Next stop for this dynamic duo is New York, but when they return to Melbourne you can just call me the Wicked Witch, because however long Geppetto are stuck in the woods by the close of the performance, I’ll continue to wish that they will never ever leave.

An End to Dreaming was performed on the 13th – 14th July, 10:30pm, at The Loft – Chapel off Chapel as part of the Melbourne Cabaret Festival 2012

Events, Performances, Review, Theatre, Whats On

Review: THE MCNEIL PROJECT

A rare look on the “inside” of Australian life

By Deborah Langley

A cold winter’s evening was nothing to stop the almost full house of punters packing in to see the latest Wattle We Do Next production: The McNeil Project, a duo of plays written by ex-prisoner Jim McNeil.

With thick Aussie accents and hard-to-understand Aussie colloquies the first play starts with energy, passion and enthusiasm. In The Chocolate Frog, two hardened inmates Shirko (Luke McKenzie) and Tosser (Cain Thompson) put their new cellmate Kevin (Will Ewing) on trial, providing a witty commentary on the dynamics between morality and mateship within Australia’s penal system.

McKenzie is a stand-out in this brilliant cast with fast-paced dialogue and a raw masculinity which is truly frightening at times, reminding me of a young Eric Banner and a more attractive Chopper Reed. Although it did take me almost half of the show to get a grasp on the language and the accents (I don’t speak fluent ocker), as the play builds momentum the language softens and some really interesting subjects are brought to light including the difference between inmate life and the real world over communication, understanding and rehabilitation.

As McNeil himself explains: “The ‘outsiders’ looking in felt that ex-prisoners must display certain attitudes of repentance and resolve; while we ‘crims’ were busy trying to convince them that ex-prisoners don’t feel much repentance and are resolved only to extract a fair go from the mob outside.” An interesting standpoint – just a shame I had to read it in the program after the play to really grasp the complexities of the project.

The second play, The Old Familiar Juice, explores sexuality, ownership and hierarchy as three inmates (played by McKenzie, Cain and Richard Bligh) sneakily concoct a boozy brew that acts as a catalyst to unlock dormant primal urges. McKenzie again takes the lead with what I imagine is the “McNeil” character, while Cain shows his diversity performing with innocence and naivety.

I imagine that when this was first performed in the 1970s, the idea of exposing homosexual relationships within the jail system was shocking and even dangerous, but today homosexual rape presented as something justifiable (even within the confines of prison walls) isn’t a concept that sits well with me, that I understand, or even care to engage with.

Directed brilliantly by Malcolm Robertson, McNeil’s writing definitely has an interesting place in Australian theatrical history but like all playwrights who speak of a specific era and context, its continuing relevance still needs to be questioned at some point.

Venue: fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Season: Until 29 Juy 2012 | 8pm Tue – Sat | 5pm Sun

Tickets: $44 Full | $36 Conc | $30 Preview

Bookings: 03 9662 9966 or fortyfivedownstairs.com