Feb 21

FRINGE 2017 – Escape Hunt: Spy on the Beach – 3.5K

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By Amy Nancarrow.

Escape Rooms are all the rage these days, and Escape Hunt Adelaide is exhibiting the special “Spy on the Beach” as part of the Adelaide Fringe.

Spy on the Beach is based on the true story of a mysterious death of a John Doe who was found on Somerton Beach in 1948. Armed with nothing but a mysterious note with phone number that led police to a local Russian woman, the mystery of the Spy still baffles scientists and police to this day.

It’s hard to review Spy on the Beach without giving away all of the critical clues and interesting hidden surprises. All I’ll say is that Spy on the Beach is not what it seems. You may be a bit underwhelmed when you enter the room, but I can promise you that as the hour goes on your interest levels will be piqued.

Everyone loves a good spy story, and this one captivates. Clues to proceed are found in interesting and creative locations, and the Escape Hunt team are on hand to give you a helping hand when you need some direction.

Spy on the Beach is 100% family friendly, and you can either split into groups or solve the clues together. The rooms are a little on the small side, so 4 people to a room seems would be an ideal number. Any more, and it may become cramped. The Escape Hunt team are very helpful, and are there to ensure that you have the best possible time solving the mystery of the Russian spy.

If you’ve never done an Escape Room before, give it a go. Even the most cynical amongst you will be drawn into the puzzle.

Feb 21

The Wine Bluffs – RCC – 4K

 

With arrogant ignorance and eloquent bullshit, Damian and Paul have pulled together one of the most hilarious shows at this year’s Fringe. The Wine Bluffs is an hour of chaotic wit, a brilliant display of Callinan and Calleja’s humour.

A show perfectly suited to Adelaide, where wine wankers are as readily available as bad pinot. The Wine Bluffs provides a number of spectacular lessons on wine and the industry. Some key ones include: how to sniff wine, how to keep bogans out of wine country and how to open a bottle using only a boot and a hard surface,

Callinan and Calleja are the perfect couple, so well entwined with each other’s performing style and rolling smoothly between segments. Aptly picking up on audience participation (and in several cases pushing for it) while keeping the show to the point and always returning to jokes. Some of the jokes weren’t as well received as planned, but these were quickly brushed aside with fresh humour. Some jokes need to be refined as they currently weren’t hitting the mark and unfortunately there won’t always be a baby in the audience to riff with.

An entertaining and insightful show, filled to the brim with targeted humour and awful wine advice. Definitely worth seeing this Fringe.

 

Feb 21

COMEDY – Australia: A Whinging Pom’s Guide – PJ O’Brien’s – 3.5K

Daniel Willis is a whinging pom and proud of it. On the balcony of PJ O’Brien’s on cheapo Tuesday, Willis entertained a charming crowd of 14 people. The size of the crowd did not phase this seasoned comedian, as he took the time to shake the hands of his audience members, say hello, and genuinely ask them about themselves. Willis then proceeded to cater his material to his audience, and seemed to include every audience member at some point during the show.

 

Although the coarse language warning is categorised as “mild,” Willis managed to use almost every profane word that could come to mind. It must be noted that he seems to be excellent at reading his audience, and it is likely he would not walk that line if his audience did not respond.

 

While the show’s title implies a sarcastic, disparaging tone, Willis’ style is surprisingly light-hearted. It is clear he loves Australia and the people in it, and those who love dark, sarcastic humour might be a little disappointed. However, the show is excellent for those looking for something a little bit upbeat. In fact, PJ O’Brien’s pub atmosphere seems to be the perfect setting for his style of comedy – genuine, friendly and full of pub-style anecdotes.

 

Check out this genuine, friendly comedian at PJ O’Brien’s almost every night until March 18.

Feb 21

FRINGE THEATRE / COMEDY – Once Upon a Pop Star – Treasury Tunnels – 3.5K

 

Photo courtesy of Adelaide Fringe

Photo courtesy of Adelaide Fringe

Not for the cynic or the kazoo hater, “Once Upon a Pop Star” is one part comedy, one part pop concert, and one part theatre. Continue reading

Feb 21

FRINGE CABARET – Prohibition – Gluttony – 3.5K

Prohibition-FringeBy Peter Maddern

A show called Prohibition is ideally located in a tent called the Speakeasy in this year’s much enlarged Gluttony. The show contains all the usual elements of a physical theatre show with a rapid-fire cylinder balancing act, an astounding pea and thimble routine and the local ‘Dick’ presenting a sparkling card trick spiel. It is the presence of the singer ‘Minnie the Man Eater’ who gets the show somewhat generously listed as ‘Cabaret’ in the Fringe guide.

It’s all good fun with better than usual humour featuring some performers one may well have seen on our streets in years gone by – certainly the sword swallower looked familiar even if his matching set of nipple rings didn’t.

The show probably goes 15 minutes too long but it’s all worth the effort if you are looking for your annual fix of that style of show.

Kryztoff Rating   3.5K

Feb 20

Henry Vth (Man and Monarch) – Holden St Theatres – 3K

While there should always be appreciation for the courage, skills and preparation it takes to put together and perform a one-man show, this one falls short of the mark. The idea behind the adaptation of the classic Shakespeare text is clever, the cutting of shapes from newspaper to build a story and set the scene should have worked better but there was a lack of clear definition of chronology with lose attempts at costume changes which lead to the plot feeling heavy handed and confused. It was one of those times when you wished you had read the text just before the show as I’m sure those more familiar with Henry V would have connected with and enjoyed the performance more.

As a fan of Holden Street Theatres’ theatre programing I will always give a new show the benefit of the doubt, but perhaps this piece is for the true Shakespeare fans rather than the average audience member.

Feb 20

Puppetry of the Penis – The Garden – 3K

This show is nuts… literally. Heading into the Garden of Unearthly Delights on the opening weekend of the Fringe is enough to get any reviewer in the mood for an interesting show, while this is not exactly my usual genre Puppetry of the Penis delivers exactly what the blurb says and is a light-hearted piece of entertainment every Fringe goer should experience once. After doing the rounds for a number of festivals, the 2017 edition features a new cast, some pop culture jokes and a number of new ‘positions’ which delighted some members of the audience, especially those sitting front and centre who gleefully participated when call upon.

If you are shy with full frontal nudity this is (obviously) not the show for you but if you have the balls to see something different and don’t want to have to think too hard, head on in, even if it’s just to watch how the other audience members react to the ‘Eiffel Tower’ or ‘classic hamburger’. I would not recommend attempting to recreate any the moves at homes but there is plenty of ammunition for puns.

Feb 20

FRINGE CABARET/COMEDY – Trickster – La Boheme – 3.5K

Opening night of the Fringe Festival, a thankful and appreciative Bradley Storer took the stage in his tight undies, with his face poorly painted white immediately receiving an uneasy laugh from the quiet audience; bracing all for what was to come. Throughout the entirety of his performance, Storer kept drawing the audience back to that same feeling, the “I shouldn’t be laughing at this” laugh.

With jokes ranging from Trump to Harold Holt, Jonestown to The Holocaust; Storer had some great, well researched, historically accurate material all with the potential to get big laughs. However, he lacked comical timing and at times his punchline delivery was a little off. Again, he often left the audience in an awkward state of panic, trying to rise above laughing at such horrible things, it seemed as though this was a part of the show, convincing us, the audience that why shouldn’t we focus on the lighter side of horrific moments in our recent and distant history? And for that Storer should be commended, regardless of performance quality, it takes courage.

Above all Storer’s musical performance was the epitome of Trickster. All songs chosen were not only relevant to the social and political issues he was addressing but, were wonderfully arranged and performed. Storer did well to fight through exterior noise coming from the floor below, Storer wasn’t deterred or shaken and his vocals remained great and exceeded expectation. An incredible range that he should, definitely use more often; a clearly gifted and classically trained vocalist. An incredible range that he should definitely use more often.

All in all, if it’s cabaret, an excellent vocal performance, an uneasy laugh or a mutual hate of Donald Trump and Pauline Hansen you’re after, than Trickster is the show for you.

Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K

Feb 20

FRINGE 2017: The Run Down on the Runners Up – Nexus Arts Centre – 4K

by Tom Eckert

VOT

As much music trivia as performance, Voice of Transition give the modern vocal treatment to some of the best second-best songs of the last thirty years (with a few throw ins from an earlier time.)

Tight harmonies and impeccable balance characterise this group’s performance as well as an impressive dynamic range. Each performer seems to be an accomplished soloist in their own right, going to town on songs like RESPECT, a cover of Skinny Love and the classic At Last. But their ensemble work is where it is most impressive with pitch perfect acapella and smooth moving parts all the better to highlight the clever, neat and original arrangements.

All of this is supported by a more than competent band who demonstrated flair and charisma and a delicate moment-to-moment responsiveness to the group they were supporting.

When backing soloists, the support singers would have benefited from showing the microphones a bit more love so that their parts were better picked up, and whilst the tempos initially leaned towards allegro they eventually settled into a more comfortable pace. The use of a cajon may have been a touch heavy handed in some of the quieter segments but added a nice impact to the peaks and choruses.

Kudos must go to the solitary bass singer who did a sterling job of holding up his part single-handedly. And it is probably still safe to say that this is the best looking vocal group around town.

4K

Feb 20

FRINGE CABARET / COMEDY – Peter Goers is “SMOKED HAM” – 5K

by Riccardo Barone 

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“Who knows what they do with these cucumbers wrapped into plastic before they sell to us.”

Sold out, and the the public really couldn’t stop laughing. It is not at all a show particularly for old people. Everyone is captured by the flowing and looking forward to the next story.

Stories of life, life of an artist, artist that shows and tells without shame what’s going on behind the scenes, while eating at the restaurant or driving the car, going shopping or just walking around the corner.

Appearing on the stage dressed like a cyclist and progressively changing his clothes while storytelling made everyone feel strongly connected to the actor, as though we are old friends of his and we are sitting on the lounge of his place and he’s just telling us how his day’s been.

The dimension of an artist’s life becomes familiar to us therefore breaks the barrier between the audience and the actor showing us how they can be so part of us and still being part of our world.

Kryztoff Rating  5K