Category: Whats On

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Events, Performances, Whats On

Review: THE BAD BOYS OF THEATRE are Not Quite Right In The Head

The boys are back in town!

By Meg Richardson

John Frankland and Andrew Strano are the Bad Boys of Music Theatre. And these well dressed, so called “Bad Boys” are back with their second full-length cabaret.

While their show last year declared their undying “bromance”, the boys have delved deeper into their psyches in this year’s show to explore psychological issues that are often found in the showbiz industry such as upstaging, narcissism, identity issues and many more.

This hour-long comedic cabaret has Andrew trying to help John to solve his crippling social anxiety by convincing him that he is a qualified psychiatrist. The audience is then taken on a journey of hypnosis, confessions and stories of daddy issues, childhood bullying and other would-be-sensitive issues of both John and Andrew’s pasts that have been stripped naked in the most jocular of ways. (We also see John literally stripped during the performance).

John and Andrew have a dynamic chemistry on stage that is apparent from the very beginning of the performance  with Andrew’s manic energy and lanky physical comedy balanced perfectly with John’s firmer, drier (and considerably shorter) comic stance.

With a clever blend of silly banter, re-worded cover songs, original numbers and multi-media, these two men have created a pace that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.  The boys cover artists ranging from Queen to (a rather large dedication to) Justin Bieber so there is something for almost any age group throughout the performance.

The multi-media arrangement of sound and video was near flawless and the cheesy, OTT pre recordings added an atmosphere to the show that couldn’t have been created on stage alone. Among these recordings were mock-up music video clips, television drama clips and a view into the human subconscious which had the audience laughing, singing and dancing along.

On top of all this, the duo have compiled a number of original songs that showcase their not only their hilarious writing ability, but their excellent vocal talent. They have also utilized their pianist, Lachlan – for more than just a few punch lines, but also as a vocal accompanist to add further levels to their already smooth, well blended harmonies.

The pair make a dynamic team and their newest production is really a delight to watch. They may not be “quite right in the head” but this performance is quite right in almost every way.

Venue: Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran VIC 3181
Dates: 28 March- 1st April
Times: Wed-Sun 7:30pm, Thurs, Sat & Sun 2pm
Tickets: $25 Full, $20 Concession
Bookings: (03) 8290 7000, www.chapeloffchapel.com.au

Events, Performances, Review, Theatre, Whats On

REVIEW: Andreas Litras’ ODYSSEY

The first great hero quest is reimagined into a moving modern story

By Anastasia Russell-Head

Homer’s Odyssey is – literally – epic. Even the synopsis on Wikipedia runs to over 2000 words! Andreas Litras’ one-man play of the same name skillfully blends a retelling of the ancient story with a more recent “odyssey” – the journey of his parents from Greece to Australia, and his own reconciliation with his Greek heritage – making both stories very much human-sized yet epic in their universality.

Home, homecoming and home-finding are powerful themes interwoven throughout the show, which runs the gamut from physical laugh-out-loud comedy to heart-wrenching poignancy.

The star of the show really is Litras himself, both as subject matter and storyteller. Under the expert direction of John Bolton, he is consistently engaging and entertaining, and overall a superb performer, able to conjure a storm at sea, a fish and chip shop, or a gravesite with just a few props, some clever lighting and utmost conviction.

The audience, which included a large group of schoolgirls on an excursion, were absolutely transfixed throughout the 90-minute performance.

Migrant stories such as this are important in contemporary Australia. Although the immigrants in this story arrived in this country more than 50 years ago, the story is very relevant to the experience of many today – leaving one’s home country following war, arriving in a strange place, learning the language, negotiating a new set of norms, forming a community, and raising a family.

The (recent) history of this country is a story of immigration, and this play brings this (his)story vividly to life, complete with all the laughs and tears, setbacks and triumphs such tales are replete with.

Until 31 March
The Open Stage
757 Swanston St
Cnr Swanston and Grattan
Parkville, Victoria 3010

Wednesdays – Saturdays – 7.30pm
School Matinees – Thurs, Fri – 1pm

Adult – $38
Concession – $25

Bookings: Call 1300 099 660 or book online

Cabaret, Cabaret Review, Events, Performances, Whats On

Review: THE GREATEST MEDLEY OF ALL TIME

Gotta love a show that lives up to its title!

By Dean Arcuri

Seasoned Butterfly Club performers Jade Leonard and Trevor Jones combined their musical prowess to create a non-stop cabaret train; having enjoyed their solo works before, I was eagerly anticipating this combination.

With the entire performance being one long medley of camp and classic songs, we were in for a real treat.

Creating The Greatest Medley of All Time is a daunting endeavour but with Jones accompanying their vocals for the full hour of performance as he and Leonard changed tones, styles and tempo with ease, they certainly hit the nail on the head.

Channeling a wide range of musical numbers they opened their mammoth medley with The Lady is a Tramp, but having Trevor sing that the tramp was actually Jade meant we immediately settled in for a night of fun!

Joking they were the best wedding band of all time, the two performers contrasted great jazz, music theatre and diva showstoppers with classic love ballads  like Endless Love and The Mirror Has Two Faces, changing tempo and mood by clever segues into Man in the Mirror and Valerie in tributes to musicians past.

Jade sings with such sweetness you would think her diaphragm is dipped in honey. This is singing with a tone and beauty that seems to surround and engulf the space around you, leaving the listener to be swept up by the sounds of this siren.

Trevor balanced with ease between fine vocals and continuous accompaniment: he never tired and his exuberance and uniquely enigmatic style was intoxicating. Sharing the spotlight we are swept up in the power of their duet ballads as well and the sass and spunk of their solo numbers.

The only problem with a never-ending medley is have to pick when to applaud, but the audience seemed content to wait till the show’s conclusion to cheer and even sing along when we hit the fabulous Grease Mega Mix.

Both performers have a sense of showmanship and musicality that carried through from number to number, keeping me transfixed. Many moments were spent fighting the temptation to just close my eyes and soak in the sounds: for while the staging was simple, closing my eyes would have meant missing the sight of the obvious joy they both brought to the medley. 

An hour was not enough – we need more! Fingers crossed for return seasons of this vibrant cabaret show in the near future…

 

The Greatest Medley of All Time  was performed at The Butterfly Club from 22-25 March.

Events, Performances, Review, Theatre, Whats On

Review: DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER

Fun little romp works on keeping up the pace

By Dean Arcuri

Mistaken identity, secret affairs and bed-swapping antics lay the perfect groundwork for a night of laughter in the Eltham Performing Arts Centre this month.

Husband and wife Bernard (Phil Holmes) & Jacqueline (Raine Dinale) hide their affairs in plain sight on a weekend away, but when Suzette (Jackie Fraser) is confused with Suzanne (Penny Bolton), a jumble of comedic deception ensues in Eltham Little Theatre Inc’s Don’t Dress for Dinner by Marc Camoletti.

Comedy all comes down to timing and I felt the story and comedic moments dragged as we entered into the heavier twist of the plot at the play’s conclusion, but this was not something shared by the rest of the audience.

I was one of the few under 40s in attendance so perhaps I am simply used to a faster sense of timing, but I was still chuckling along as the crowd laughed and even cheered upon the repetition of some of Bernard’s lies as he has to think quick in order to avoid Jacqueline’s wrath.

Homles, Dinale and James Carlon (Robert) have the daunting task of establishing and deconstructing all the comic elements in play which is no mean feat. It’s to their credit that they were able to keep so many plot points juggling and keep us laughling along without being often bewildered.

Thanks to their groundwork Fraser & Bolton then burst into the thick of it, taking this farce to another level.  Deitre Kunz’s cameo as George would have been better served using his natural voice rather than experimenting with accents, as he’s given little time to establish himself. He and Frazer bounce off one another with ease and upon their exit you noticed the stark difference between marital relations we’d experienced all night.

I can’t help feeling a good half an hour could have been shaved off this performance through tighter cast work and by opening up the staging to give the cast more freedom of movement, as they were either on top of each other or positioned at too far a distance to work intimately.

Eltham Little Theatre Inc certainly lives up to their local community claim as ‘a little theatre company with a big heart’ as everyone left entertained, and were welcomed to supper with the cast and crew.

Don’t Dress for Dinner: 15th to 31st March 

Tickets: http://elthamlittletheatre.org.au

Events, Performances, Review, Theatre, Whats On

REVIEW: MTC presents RED

A fierce clash of power and art

By Brad Storer

MTC’s new production, John Logan’s Red, opened last night inside an artist’s studio with canvases and paints strewn everywhere. What is not so apparent at first is the artist himself, hidden in a solitary corner silently appraising the work laid before him.

The play is based around real-life painter Mark Rothko (Colin Friels) and his (fictionalized) relationship with young assistant Ken (Andre de Vanny). Any chance of this play turning into an sentimental and clichéd depiction of intellectual exchange between aging artist and younger apprentice is smashed in the very first scene when Rothko coldly remarks to his newly-arrived helper that he is not father, mentor or psychologist – ‘You are my employee’.

Red is foremost a play of ideas – scenes mix discussion of the works of Pollock with Nietzschean conceptions of the Apollonian and Dionysian impulses of the human psyche, and ancient myth with Andy Warhol and Pop Art. The tempestuous conflicts between Rothko and Ken debate the fundamentals of art and what it means to be an artist, as well as the relationship between a work of art and its observers. This is reinforced by the two staring out at us, supposedly at a painting hanging on the fourth wall, but this serves as a continual reminder of our status as consumers and observers of art and to re-evaluate our relationship with what we see.   

Although there are two characters onstage at nearly all times, the real duality which becomes apparent is between Rothko and his mammoth and ferocious ego. Rothko declares at one point that ‘stasis is death’, and Friels clearly takes this maxim to heart in his characterization – his portrayal is a magnificent whirlwind of bravado, fierce pride, high intellectualism, pained bitterness and staunch idealism, often co-existing simultaneously or changing without warning. His character resists easy designation: bellowing his fury at the crumbling standards of modern artists one second, the next filled with tender paternal care over his own artistic creations.

De Vanny is given a role which could easily become merely a sounding board for the ramblings of the more flamboyant Rothko, but De Vanny emphasizes from the very first Ken’s spine and own intellectual strength. This culminates in a brilliant and hilarious scene where the assistant turns his repressed anger against his employer, who is so stunned he is forced into silence for what seems the first time in the play.

De Vanny and Friels make a fantastic pair, each filled with their own artistic fire and vision, driving the play towards its breathtaking conclusion, where in an inspired use of lighting the play’s reoccurring motifs of colour and light return for one final moment, now charged with infinite meaning after the events we have seen, creating a theatrical coup-de-grace stunning in its intensity and simplicity.

22nd March – 5th May, 2012

Tickets: www.mtc.com.au

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

Events, Performances, Review, Theatre, Whats On

REVIEW: Awake

An impressive cast tackle complex issues in difficult scripts

By Adam Tonking

Awake is two short plays, written and directed by Fleur Kilpatrick, about the family dynamic and reactions to mental disorders.

Starring Justin Batchelor, Kristina Benton, Alex Roe, and Joanne Sutton, these tricky stories present families at their most difficult times – when confronted with severe medical conditions befalling a loved one.

The two stories, titled Wonderland and Sandman, approach the theme differently, the first looking at one moment as microcosm for an entire life, the second covering three different characters and their disparate reactions to deterioration over a period of weeks.

The cast were excellent, dealing with these highly emotive situations with complete authenticity. This was especially difficult for Batchelor and Sutton in playing the two characters with the mental disorders – an awkward task for any actor, but Roe and Benton and Batchelor again were equally accomplished in their roles as the family members reacting to their sick relatives.

Their performance success was particularly poignant as the stories seem to be a series of traps for an actor to fall into in throwing unusual medical conditions at the performers, and changing narrative style from moment to moment. At times these plays even seemed more an acting exercise than a piece of theatre.

That said, there were some lovely moments in Kilpatrick’s scripts – I loved the use of the natural landscape as allegory for these situations, and the universal themes of isolation and familial bonds shone through even when confronted with the impact of these unusual disorders.

Music, written by Kristina Benton, is used as a framing device for these two completely independent stories, and while the music itself was quite lovely, it seemed an odd way to connect the two narratives.

Stylistically, the warm gentle music seemed to clash with the stark presentation of the two plays, and seeing the actors play their own Greek chorus by singing these songs was also distracting. But again, the cast held up beautifully under this challenge.

Ultimately, Awake is a virtuosic performance by a brilliant cast of two very promising short plays. It plays at La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street Carlton, from Wednesday 21 March till Sunday 1 April at 8.30 pm Wednesday and Friday, 6.30pm Thursday and Saturday, and 4.30pm Sunday. Tickets available at www.lamama.com.au or by calling 03 9347 6142.

Events, Performances, Review, Theatre, Whats On

Review: AD NAUSEUM

A beautiful tale of a terrible man

By Adam Tonking

Ad Nauseam, created by Tom Pitts and performed by Nick Bendall with Kate Laverack and Grace Travaglia, is the story of one rather unlikeable man and the drunken destructive path he cuts through one night in the city. But the story itself is only the beginning of this wonderful production.

Pitts’ text, one long rant, is almost poetic, reminiscent of those long-dead beat poets Kerouac and Ginsberg and through Pitts’ treatment of the language, transforms a gritty loathsome bender into something romantic and poignant.

His despicable narrator seems lost and forlorn, even while his actions paint him as an arrogant pig, somehow you want to be the one to save him. I did find the insertion of a few topical one-liners jarring and unnecessary, however they did receive the biggest laughs of the night. The text is performed in counterpoint with a score also composed by Pitt, and the interaction between the two beautifully underpins the ebb and flow of the piece.

Playing the part of this narrator, Bendall brings a rascally quality to the character’s unpleasant tendencies, charming the audience with his antics as opposed to repelling us. His physicality in performing this piece was a work of art, like mime bordering on dance, depicting the world and the people he interacts with through mere controlled movements and poses of his constantly working body, from delicate and beautiful to aggressive and masculine. Fascinating to watch.

Haunting him throughout the piece are the spectres of the two women who started him on this downward spiral, played by Laverack and Travaglia, who never speak a word, but manage to convey everything they need to through the movement of their bodies.

Ad Nauseam is a masterful work, using poetry, mime, dance, music, lighting – all the elements available to create a phenomenal, tragic and romantic piece. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

This production is showing at La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street Carlton, from Wednesday 21 March till Sunday 1 April, 6.30pm Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, 8.30pm Thursday and Saturday. Book at www.lamama.com.au or by calling 03 9347 6142.

Events, Performances, Review, Theatre, Whats On

REVIEW: The Suitcase Royale Present ZOMBATLAND

Junkyard sets and a caravan full of twisted humour 

By Jen Coles

As if regular zombies weren’t bad enough, now we have to worry about the dreaded ‘zombat’- a zombie wombat! Such is the premise of Zombatland, a brilliant, fast-paced and hilarious tale featuring three of the four Suitcase Royale gents playing a multitude of characters.

 Set at the ‘Blue Lagoon’ caravan park, the Major Grogan and his brother, cricketing legend Darren Grogan, are attempting to manage the park amidst the zombie wombat attack terror. Having already lost two of the park residents within the first thirty seconds of the show, Darren attempts to move the Major, suggesting they flee to Tahiti. However, when the Major refuses, and when the zombats appear to be moving in, all seems lost- until the arrival of the mysterious ‘Stranger’ and his crumpet gun. What follows is an epic journey of rescue, adventure, hilarity…and large, fuzzy zombats.

Clearly taking some cues from classic zombie movies, ‘Zombatland’ manages to create an atmosphere of humour and fear, switching between the two depending on the situation. The use of media to enhance this was genius; the audience was greeted with a sea of zombat red eyes, which blinked on and off. The soundtrack (also created by the Royale troupe) was a mixture of outback swamp sounds and zombat screams, all giving a sense of isolated fear that the audience really felt. Not content with only that, the three actors also performed live (and in character) original songs to explain and discuss the plot, and occasionally ran to the band section to provide background music. This was even referred to in the script: “I can hear pretty ominous double bass going on!” And on top of that, they also used puppetry, a projector, rotating set pieces, various sounds and voice enhancers to add to the performance. A huge mention also goes to the crew, whose lighting and technical prowess helped both manage and add to Royale’s vision.

Zombatland is an absolute triumph of cross-media performance, with the performers themselves being completely charming and hilarious. It is an absolute must-see for quality entertainment, and my only question is…Where can I buy the DVD?

Zombatland premiered Wed 14-Sun 18th March, 2012 at the Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall.

The show was conceived and written by the Suitcase Royale (Joseph O’Farrell, Miles O’Neill, Tom Salisbury and Glen Walton).

Events, Music, Performances, Review, Whats On

Review: TWO-RING CIRCUS – The Songs of Crowded House

Wonderfully more than a tribute show

By Adam Tonking

The idea of sitting through the greatest hits of Crowded House as not performed by Crowded House may not sound like everyone’s cup of tea – indeed, I’m not sure it sounds like mine.

Thank God then, for Matt Bradshaw and Dominic Italiano of Two-Ring Circus, and for their masterful performance of these oh-so-familiar songs. Bradshaw and Italiano are consummate performers, and they are charming and delightful – plus you can’t deny the appeal of those songs.

Bradshaw and Italiano were inclusive and welcoming from the start – it was like hanging out with your super-awesome friends, who are wickedly talented, while they play their favourite songs with such love and joy. If these aren’t your favourite songs, they may well be by the time Two-Ring Circus are through with you. In between musical numbers they discuss the different aspects of this music that fills them with such passion and admiration, and you can’t help but be swept up by their enthusiasm.

This was clearly a well-honed act that flowed beautifully between heartfelt tribute and just damn entertaining. Bradshaw and Italiano play easily off each other, and off the audience, without any pretension or self-consciousness. Their skills as musicians are impeccable, their voices heart-melting, their guitar-playing breath-taking.

I was particularly impressed by the small details – their use of a loop machine to create a beat was a rather elegant way to get around having no drummer, and their ability to work a microphone (sadly, a rare trait in a lot of performers) left me in no doubt as to the capabilities of these performers.

Bradshaw and Italiano breathe new energy into these oft-played standards, just through their obvious love and respect for the material. Frankly, I can’t imagine enjoying Crowded House more than I did Two-Ring Circus. Run quickly to see tribute done correctly.

Two-Ring Circus – The Songs of Crowded House is on at The Butterfly Club, 204 Bank Street, South Melbourne, from Tuesday 13th March till Sunday 18th March at 8pm Tuesday & Wednesday, 9pm Thursday till Saturday, and 8pm on Sunday.

Book at www.thebutterflyclub.com and do it quick.