Feb 28

(ADELAIDE FRINGE 2012) Kieran McNamara “Press Play” Interview (theatre)

By Calen Vanstone

(interview link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4z-E3_mym4

http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/press-play/4ae1fd70-0b7a-4fda-b5d4-d6998328a79f

For Fringe 2012, Duende present three short plays over two weeks at the hub of New Australian Theatre, the Studio at the Bakehouse Theatre.
5th — 10th of March: critically acclaimed local actor Renee Gentle — of Boxing Day Test, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and Two, and director John Doherty will present their self-devised play SIX DOLLAR SOLITUDE.
12th — 17th of March: Duende will premier two of Alan Grace’s (Slicing and Dicing, No Hello, and the Jill Blewett’s Award Nominated The Embryos)  new short plays, German Diary with Kieran McNamara (Steak Knife, Rock Lobster), Elliot Howard (Me and Me Mate, Slicing and Dicing!!!) and Ruth Fallon (The Embryos, Play-Off, The Fairies) and Truth Teller with Dee Easton (Rocket Town, The Embryos) Laura Brenko (Slicing and Dicing!!, No Hello, Live Fish) and Ruth Fallon.

http://www.facebook.com/duende.theatre.co

To book tickets through Duende, call Kieran on 0402 830 049

Feb 28

FRINGE: Live On Air With Poet Laureate Telia Nevile – Comedy – Tuxedo Cat – 4.5K

From a bedroom in her comfortable suburban home, Telia Nevile has gone live to air, bringing her particular brand of witty prose to the masses in the only way she can – via pirate radio. For 40 minutes she entertains with a variety of segments, each unique, hilarious, and showing off her skill as both a wordsmith and a performer.

There are nods to various musical genres throughout, with backing tracks, streamed live from Telia’s iPhone, adding an extra element to the show which prevented the pieces from feeling staid or repetitive. Her original poems, on topics such as the correct use of apostrophes and what it’s like to be a deep thinker, kept the audience in constant laughter. The ’80s love song ode that is ‘Love, La-ove, Love, La-ove, La La La La La Love’ was also inspired and riotously funny.

Story Corner, took TV’s West Wing in an interesting new direction, which had the audience – both WW fans and novices alike – losing it. This segment suggests that if the whole poet laureate thing doesn’t work out for Telia, she could certainly have a future writing for Mills & Boon. However, that would be selling her talent short. The writing exhibited in this show is top notch: eloquent, funny, clever and relatable. As a performer she captures a nice blend of affableness and joy, mixed in with just a dash of crazy, which makes her likable and amusing.

Fans of grammar, punctuation, and the correct and effective use of the English language rejoice! Telia Nevile is here to get the message out there that words are beautiful, poetry is great, and you don’t have to be the drug addled, depressed, child of divorced alcoholic parents to make quality art.

Kryztoff rating: 4.5K

Feb 28

(ADELAIDE FRINGE 2012) Kel Balnaves “Do Not Feed The Demon” Interview (stand-up comedy)

By Calen Vanstone

(interview link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnRa5SPR4uE (WARNING: explicit content)

http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/kel-balnaves-do-not-feed-the-demon/2ebb250d-a13f-4071-9f5a-b725896211dc

“There’s a demon in everyone’s life that ruins some of your great experiences. A demon that is summoned by the question: “What could possibly go wrong?” Kel was warned not to feed the demon…”

…and a bit more about the show…

Whilst traveling overseas, Kel was given a piece of advice. The advice was ambiguous and given by a lunatic. Do not feed the demon? Yeah good one! Righto mate. Kel ignored the advice but it turns out, that was some of the best advice he has ever been given. Enjoy a night of bold storytelling as Kel, winner of the Adelaide Comedy award for best writer, takes you on a journey encompassing everything from a horse riding tour in Cuba to an ill fated bus trip to Atlantic city.

kelbalnaves.com

@kelbalnaves

facebook.com/kelbalnavescomedy

A highlights snippet taken from the Something In The Water DVD shoot. (WARNING: explicit content)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP7Tp- CToss&context=C312ce16ADOEgsToPDskJPiO8GOYKpjK71ksicOMej

Promo video for the Funny Pork venue in Gluttony:

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=FFgl_mv8s1Y&context=C3c14f51ADOEgsToPDskI4KnHli4n5-wIfJi9WGAcQ

Feb 28

Little Two Eyes: All the things I never told you & why (Debut EP)

Tracked at Kilophone Recordings by Jarrad Payne
Mixed & Mastered by Kramer (Miami)
Release: 3rd March 2012

Bursting onto the Adelaide music scene in early 2011, Little Two Eyes are an angelic alternative pop band; brutally delicate and mood driven arrangements juxtaposed against fragile and explosive moments, and a gritty live energy that lingers with you long after you’ve left the venue.

Little Two Eyes and Miami based producer Kramer have created an exciting debut record with a unique sound that echoes the early nineties shoe-gazer movement. Kramer began producing after years on the downtown NYC scene playing in such bands as Ween and the Butthole Surfers, and his work on “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon” by Urge Overkill for Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction soundtrack earned him the Producer of the Year [1995] award in Rolling Stone magazine.

Little Two Eyes: All the things I never told you and why reflects on life’s little souvenirs; the phases, dreams, emotions, and people we collect or discard as we pass through, and is delivered with a “shoe-gazer” alternative pop sound.

Little Two Eyes launch their debut EP Launch on March 3rd at The Grand Academy of Lagado (the west end’s newest Adelaide Fringe destination) with special guests The Venice Whalers & The Search Party.

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/events/291619770894866/

-Please support a local act on their initial steps to inevitable greatness!

For more information, contact the band at cleverbookings@gmail.com
or via their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LittleTwoEyesBand

Feb 28

FRINGE – Bird Calls – Paper String Plastic – 4K

By Ben Nielsen

In their second Adelaide Fringe rendezvous, award winning company Colourwheel Productions returns with Bird Calls, a performance comprising a selection of both music and theatre.

A unique blend of solo female performances, Bird Calls consists of three individual theatrical routines divided by a set of pleasant musical interludes. From a tragic comedy about a dog, a bitterly realistic scenario played out from the confines of a psychiatrist’s office, and a tale highlighting the dynamic nature of families, each piece is as distinctive, honest and provocative.

Despite the minimal props and the perhaps unconventional performance space, each theatrical piece maintains an electric intensity. The audience is captivated by the performers as they portray an ensemble of believable characters and thought provoking narratives. The intimacy of the venue and the proximity between the stage and the seating heightens the connection between actress and audience.

The program describes each work having been created or developed by the performer. It is clear that because of this, each sketch is delivered with a further rawness, insight and depth.

While each actress provides a stunning performance, Chelsea Evans’ portrayal of candour and subtle humour in Given the Circumstances showcases her ability to portray a convoluted monologue and provide a variety of convincing characterisations.

Resident ‘song bird’, Fleur Green is as equally outstanding. While she provides various sound effects that accompany the theatrical sketches, her solo musical interludes are a showcase of musical versatility and aptitude.

Bird Calls plays at Paper String Plastic until March 16 and is a beautiful and unique collection of music and theatre not to be missed.

Kryztoff Review   4K

Feb 28

RAW: State Theatre Major Appointments Announced

State Theatre Company of South Australia (STCSA) has announced Geordie Brookman and Rob Brookman as the incoming Artistic Director and CEO/Producer of the company respectively.

State Theatre Company Chair, John Irving, said the appointments marked a new era in the Company’s long and proud history.

“We are very happy to have secured Rob and Geordie Brookman for the Company. The duo bring many years of combined experience, having worked at some of the major arts organisations in Australia. Geordie is recognised as one of the most interesting young Directors in the country and Rob is a highly respected figure in Australian theatre,” Mr Irving said.

“We live in a rapidly changing world and the experience of Rob and Geordie will be crucial in implementing the changes that will need to take place for State Theatre Company to continue to play its role as one of the premier theatre companies in the country. We believe we can stake out a reputation nationally and internationally as a company where great artists want to work.”

A former Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival and founder of WOMADelaide, Rob Brookman comes to the Company after an eleven year tenure as General Manager of Sydney Theatre Company working alongside first Robyn Nevin and subsequently Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton.

Geordie returns to State Theatre Company after a previous three year stint as its Associate Director and with experience directing  at most of the major Australian theatre companies including Belvoir, Malthouse, Sydney Theatre Company and Queensland Theatre Company.

Incoming Artistic Director Geordie Brookman is excited about the opportunity that lies ahead.

“I’m thrilled to rejoin State Theatre Company as its new Artistic Director. The appointment comes at an exciting time in the Company’s development and I can’t wait to lead it into a position of increased local, national and international relevance. Building on the proud foundations built by our predecessors and through utilising the depth and talent of our local artists, I look forward to making State Theatre Company into one of the most innovative, brave and ambitious companies in the country. To embark upon this project alongside Rob makes it all the more exciting.”

Incoming CEO/Producer Rob Brookman hopes to use his well established networks and contacts across the country and around the world to help showcase the Company’s work.

“I am delighted to be returning home to join the State Theatre Company in its fortieth year. I look forward to the challenge of building upon its distinguished history and helping carve out a distinctive niche for the Company on the Australian theatre scene, while delivering great theatrical experiences to our audiences. While I have worked across the whole gamut of the performing arts and festivals, theatre is my first love and it was my dream as a 20 year old to one day manage the State Theatre Company. To now be able to do that in partnership with Geordie goes well beyond that dream.”

Mr Irving said the recruitment process had been extensive and the selection process thorough. “We received applications locally, nationally and internationally and the quality was extremely high,” Mr Irving said.

The new executive team will officially begin at the end of March, with the first priority being to develop the 2013 program for the Company.

Feb 28

FRINGE: Jane Austen is Dead – Theatre – The Bakehouse – 4K

Many women are searching for a man. Not just any man, but a man that will sweep them off their feet (whether metaphorically or physically), profess his love in eloquent prose, and shower them with the love and adoration they deserve. For this, in all likelihood unreasonable expectation, many have Jane Austen to blame. Over the hour of Jane Austen is Dead, we get to know Sophie (Mel Dodge) – 33, bar owner, Jane Austen aficionado and lover, single. She takes us through her personal romantic history, providing amusing comparisons of her former love interests to the men in Austen’s classic works.

It is not just Sophie on stage however, with appearances from Mary, the young, gushing, rather desperate barmaid, Helen, the drunken, self-righteous, advice sprouting bride-to-be and Victoria, Sophie’s happily married best friend who had the good fortune to meet her match at the age of 15. Dodge plays all of these roles, slipping easily from one to another and giving each their own clearly defined characterisation. Her further portrayal of the men she encounters through video dating caused great amusement.

The audience was predominantly, and unsurprisingly, female and this is really a great show to go to with a bunch of girlfriends. While some of the characters could be seen to be clichés, there were lots of gleeful giggles of recognition and several audience members nodded at various segments – presumably seeing either themselves or their friends being represented on stage. Jane Austen is Dead is an amusing evening of light entertainment, presented by a talented performer.

Kryztoff rating: 4K

Feb 27

The Ring. Wagner. Animated.-The Big Slapple Apollo Theatre-2.5k

It is part of The Fringe’s charm that it has almost every form of entertainment imaginable on offer.  It is with this in mind that is is important to keep an open mind when perusing the Fringe Program and picking what you will go and see.  Often you will be rewarded for your adventurousness but sometimes you will get your fingers burnt.

More Than Opera are a community minded company with the admirable mission statement of making ‘more types of opera more accessible to more types of people’.  This Fringe they are debuting their multi-media interpretation of Richard Wagner’s The Ring cycle.  In the Fringe program this show is in the film section.  I would suggest this is ill-advised as the out-dated computer game demo animation is definitely not the best thing about the performance.  The six person orchestra led by producer/musical director David Ian Kram performed abridged sections of Wagner’s masterpiece beautifully, unfortunately the overly loud narration along with the film, which at times came across like a karaoke video from the World of War Craft social club, only distracted from this.  The over-air conditioned Hall B of Adelaide Convention Centre (The Big Slapple Apollo Theatre for the time being) is a far cry from Bayreuth, but the cod costumes and Playstation graphics only compounded this.

More than Opera deserve plaudits for attempting to get Wagners across to new audience but spelling out the German’s mad cap tale of warriors, Valhalla  and Valkyries with music, transcripts, narration animation and dramatics sometimes felt like sensory overload.  A stronger focus on the music would benefit this production however as an introduction to Wagner, opera and as an educational tool this is a promising concept.

Feb 27

FRINGE-The Terrible Infants-Holden Street Theatre-5k

Fringe goers who venture off the beaten track will be rewarded handsomely if they travel up to Holden Street in Hindmarsh where they will be treated to this fantastic show in the fittingly crumbling surroundings of the Arch Theatre.  The Terrible Infants is a collection of intertwined vignettes adapted from Oliver Lansley’s dark children’s stories Les Enfants Terrible.  The five-person cast combine live music, puppetry and expert theatricals to produce a flawless show which is moving, funny, scary and extremely accomplished.

The show is incredibly stylish from the Bohemian Victoriana costume to the audible dust on the needle of the Dame Judy Dench-narrated tale of Beatrice the girl who talks about her self too much and the music by the multi-instrumentalist cast is first rate.  Each lyrical tale offers a different moral and showcases the groups adept use of props, movement and musicality.

The extraordinary characters we meet in this fantastical world we are wholly immersed in provide cautionary tales of self-absorbtion (Beatrice), greed (Tom, The Boy Who Eats his Mum) and materialism (Little Linena, the Material Girl).  Truly a show for all ages with echoes of the classic story-telling of Roal Dahl and the twised tales of the Brothers Grimm, The Terrible Infants should be put to the top of every family’s must-see list this Fringe.

Feb 27

FRINGE – Shaggers – Austral – 2.5K

In response to the ‘official’ view of what is funny at the Edinburgh Fringe, Nik Coppin devised his own show where people could just laugh without worrying whether they were allowed to.

Now, he has brought it to Adelaide and the Austral as part of his Laughing Horse Comedy entourage of British acts for the Fringe. Trouble is, apart from personal taste, no one here has yet dared to ordain what is right and proper at our Fringe.

So lacking that rebellious edge (and who can claim one of interest when the events in Canberra are presently playing out at a razor sharp rate), Shaggers is like any of the other late night gigs where other comedians appearing elsewhere come in, crap on for 10 minutes and then depart.

Tommy Little (reviewed elsewhere) and Gareth Berliner (appearing at Gluttony) were the highlights on Saturday night for a sparse crowd, populated it seemed by long standing couples.

As the title would suggest, Shaggers is meant to be a show with lots of jokes about shagging – the show comes with its own bright red t-shirt with two pandas at work emblazoned on it. (There are prizes for entering a competition for going along!) Tommy offered little on that front and Gareth took to making dwarf jokes about his wife.

If you have had a few at the Austral and looking for a last show before going home (may be for some shagging), then Shaggers could round off your night. As a special occasion, much better is on offer.