Feb 23

FRINGE 2015: Bromance – Royal Croquet Club – Ukiyo – 4K

Bromance – Noun (informal) 1. A close but non-sexual relationship between two men. Early 21st cent: blend of brother and romance.

The first show by this troupe of 3 young Brits, Charlie Wheeller, Beren D’Amico and Louis Gift, which they put together after graduating from London’s circus school, The Circus Space, earning accolades in Edinburgh and winning the UK’s Circus Maximus award. Physical theatre that fuses movement, dance and acrobatics with a gigantic dash of comedy. Taking the audience on a wild ride from handshakes to handstands, back slaps to back flips and catches that leave you in awe.

Spectacular acrobatics by D’Amico and Gift and some magnificent work by Wheeller on a Cyr wheel as well as amazing chemistry between the boys as they perform in a laid back style yet captivating and breath taking.

At the Royal Croquet Club – Ukiyo until Sunday 15 March.

http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/bromance/4b602cd4-1241-44ae-bc93-1b6fbfb51e1e

http://www.barelymethodical.com/

Kryztoff Rating   4K

Feb 23

FRINGE 2015: Sam Simmons – Spaghetti for Breakfast – 4.5K

By Anthony Nguyen

9318_Sam-Simmons--Spaghetti-For-Breakfast_EFUL_GUIDE__EFUL_WEBThe comedic nature of Sam Simmons’ eccentric personality is highlighted in his 2015 Adelaide Fringe show Spaghetti for Breakfast. Though many people may recognise him as a regular Triple J radio host and TV presenter, Simmons is a seasoned comedian with several awards under his belt including the 2011 Adelaide Fringe Best Comedy Award and the more recent the 2014 Sydney Comedy Festival Director’s Choice Award.

The breakfast-themed show revolves around his hilariously long list of ‘Things that Shit Me’. In his list, Simmons addresses many random aspects that annoy him; hysterical examples include pigeon sex, cats on the internet, iceberg lettuce, and his hatred towards Linda from marketing. Inclusive in the use of his non-sequitur humour, Simmons also sings several comical songs to add to the story; one example involved the dilemma of discovering his first grey pubic hair. A definite highlight of the show was the entertaining story of his struggles in looking good wearing a pair of jeans, which eventually by show’s end, he would gather the confidence to put denim to skin.

Many props were used throughout the show which greatly complemented his comedic quality. Additionally, the performance was accompanied with music tracks and lighting equipment which was effective in providing a more noteworthy performance. Although there seemed to be some problems with the ‘pingy’ sound quality of the speakers during the show, Simmons was able to take a humorous spin to the minor technical issues.

Simmons certainly has a unique sense of humour which is evident through his jokes. Though self-aware of his unrelatable standup, the differences in Simmons’ comedic style to other comedians is refreshing and Simmons works with the quality of loose humour that he is comfortable with. Predictably, Simmons’ humour can be quite random, therefore some individuals may not find his jokes quite as funny. But there was no doubt that he was able to cause riots of laughter in the entire tent throughout his performance.

Sam Simmons is a delirious and weirdly funny comic whose comedy style is renown on Australian TV and radio. Situated in the large Umbrella Revolution tent in the Garden of Unearthly Delights, Spaghetti for Breakfast continues its show run until the end of Adelaide Fringe on March 15th.

Kryztoff Rating: 4.5K

Feb 22

Fringe 2015 – Hex – The Royal Croquet Club- Black Box – 3K

By Tom Eckert

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Hex is an abstract dance piece directed and choreographed by James Welsby and performed by himself, James Andrews and Chafia Brooks. It is an emotive expression of the effect of AIDS in both reality and concept on the gay community.

This expression is accomplished very adeptly by the three incredibly athletic dancers. The establishment of a certain degree of bathos through the poignant juxtaposition of death and suffering with a celebration of club and gay dance culture is a pivotal element of this production and the choreography achieves this very effectively. The utilisation of styles strongly associated with the culture, including vogue, tie this expression tightly to the community and at times verge on the spiritual with certain sequences being reminiscent of traditional depictions of the Bodhisattva.

Borrowing elements from the theatre of cruelty to express the suffering inherent in the subject matter, Welsby and his cast utilize a highly percussive stage and some intelligent musical arrangement creating a very evocative atmosphere.

This piece is clearly of deep emotional importance to Welsby and he conveys this with a strong and impactful production. The dancers themselves are very capable managing to complete a full hour of very athletic movement with very little notable drop in energy or synchrony, especially admirable in the fierce afternoon heat. There is a clear intelligence and passion behind this piece and what it manages to convey on its audience without relying on any conventional narrative form is truly an experience.

 

Kryztoff Rating: 3K

Feb 22

FRINGE 2015: Psych! – Gluttony – The Peacock – 4K

Mentalist & Mind reader Phoenix uses his showmanship to keep the audience amazed until they leave wondering, “How did he know that?” For those who wonder what a mentalist show is compared to a magic show, where the question left in the audiences mind is “How did he do that?” Which is every good showman’s aim to have their audience departing with this question, rather than knowing how it was done. Although as a great showman would do, Phoenix does give just that little bit away, just to wet the appetite.

This years Fringe has a selection of Mentalist and Magic shows and Phoenix’s years of experience does come through, not in the tricks, but in what usually sets the more experienced apart, the showmanship. Entertaining the audience with remarkable feats, is it all real or just amazing trickery? Are the slip ups really slip ups? Or is there something more that hasn’t been noticed yet?

Very entertaining and well worth seeing as it will have you wondering what is possible and where does the impossible begin to be real?

At the Gluttony – The Peacock until Sunday 22 February.

http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/psyche/bafe59d6-68a0-463c-9fde-a97569827369

http://www.mentalistphoenix.com.au/

Kryztoff Rating   4K

Feb 22

FRINGE 2015: Axis of Awesome – Garden of Unearthly Delights: Aurora Spiegeltent – 4K

The Axis of Awesome haven’t been seen in Adelaide for several years, but they make a welcome return in the Garden of Unearthly Delights this Fringe. Their shtick remains the same – with Benny’s height still the butt of many of the jokes – but they manage to keep it feeling fresh, so why change something when it works well?

As always, there are some impressively well executed mash-ups of songs from very different genres (the clue is in the title of the show), and new interpretations of well-known pieces. The songs from Beauty and the Beast get the AoA treatment this time around, to hilarious effect, and the delight of any Disney fans in the audience which, from the sounds of it, were plentiful.

There are also ample original tracks included in the set, with a nice mix of old and new. Their response to their transition from boyband to manband is particularly amusing, especially to anyone familiar with the works of Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and their contemporaries. Some songs only go for fifteen, or thirty seconds, and that’s perfect; the guys set up the joke, deliver the punchline and move on. It helps to keep the show moving.

The crowd favourite of ‘4 Chords’ is of course included, with the usual updates to blend in newer songs. Really, this is the ultimate in hit singles – it has seemingly endless possibilities for new inclusions, so will always contain surprises for even the most loyal of fans, while also reducing the monotony for the band in having to play it so often.

The Axis of Awesome once again deliver a solid hour of polished entertainment.

Kryztoff Rating: 4K

Feb 21

FRINGE 2015 – Bey Dance Workshop – Gluttony – 4.5K

By Olivia Henry

 

The Beyoncé Dance Workshop is just as the name suggests: a class that teaches Beyoncé Knowles’ signature dance routines to some of her most popular songs.

 

For those of you who don’t know who Beyoncé is; First of all, where have you been?! And second, I’m sorry for the outburst. But Beyoncé is a fantastic entertainer. Over her career she has become a symbol for confidence, sass and power. Her high energy dance routines have become iconic and many have tried to imitate her style. I myself have spent many nights shaking my behind to her songs, wishing I knew how to dance like her.

 

In comes Bey Dance.

 

The Bey Dance Workshop is run by the Melbourne and Adelaide based B Dance. Their official website states, “At B Dance we solemnly swear to welcome EVERYONE to our classes and unleash the dance diva/Bollywood star within, regardless of age, gender or physical ability. You will find no snooty dance divas, only awesome, joy filled, dance-floor divas, at B Dance.”

 

When I entered, I was unsure of whether or not this oath would be upheld. Previous dance classes I attended left me feeling silly and self-conscious. Fortunately, instructor Lizzie Cahalan set the tone of the workshop from the very beginning. Her enthusiasm combined with her talent and down-to-earth attitude made for an enjoyable class. We learnt Beyoncé’s signature power stance, booty shake and even great moves to some of her most popular songs, including Run The World (Girls), Crazy In Love, 7/11 and Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).

 

While it’s not an intense cardio workout, it is definitely recommended to wear comfortable clothing and bring a bottle of water. Expect to sweat!

 

Overall, the Bey Dance Workshop is a great day or night out. It provides a sense of community as people of all walks of life come together to twerk it, work it and shake it to unleash their inner Beyoncé. If you are a Beyoncé fan, or just looking for a bit of fun, definitely check it out.

 

For tickets and show times, click here.

For more information about B Dance, click here.

 

Feb 21

FRINGE 2015 – Rust & Vinyl – Convention Centre – 4K

1504199_10152717258712362_7675772997482513650_oBy Peter Maddern

From the moment that the dulcet tones of Jacob Morris and then the uber voice of Tim Bartel led off with Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come there was a noticeable shortening of breath across the large audience in the Convention Centre Hall for it was obvious we were in for something special.

Rust & Vinyl is this year’s Fringe gig of the Voice of Transition, young Adelaide singers under the tutelage of the show’s musical director Kim Spargo. This show focused on the Motown sound that started in the later years of the 1950s, sustained itself for 30 years before remaining today as an inspiration for all manner of productions, from documentaries to the releases of current pop stars.

If the Convention Centre sounds a bit large for a sing-a-long, then it is important to realise that when all called upon the Voice of Transition comprise 19 singers (eight guys and 11 girls) plus eight musos – the Collected Musicians – on stage together.

The Motown sound is well known so there is little gained by mentioning more songs by name but none, whether undertaken in whole or part, did anything but get the toes tapping and the lips singing along. Without exception, the voices were terrific and all sported excellent looks – the guys in white shirts with black ties, pants and occasionally the jacket while all the girls were in black, some sporting large red roses.

If fault could be found it was in the ‘democratic’ nature of the production itself with all participants given their chance to lead in the various songs – a kind of school play for uni students. This tended to rob the potential for the audience of indulging further in the very best of the voices and for sustaining built up momentum. Still, to paraphrase one of their own songs, it was their show and they could do what they wanted to.

Rust & Vinyl has one further show on the Sunday 1st March and any lovers of local quality productions, the Motown sound and / or a good sing song led by talented and good looking crooners should make their bookings now.

Kryztoff Rating 4K

Feb 20

FRINGE 2015 – Papillon – Gluttony – 3.5K

8776_Papillon-handstand-3_EFUL_GUIDE__EFUL_WEBBy Peter Maddern

The value and attraction of physical theatre / circus acts have certainly dawned on the major venue operators this year with competition between the biggies to capture the headline shows that serve as anchors for their seasons. Gluttony’s choice is Papillon which initially presents as another bohemian gypsy show (the music director wears a fez and two of the performers wear vests that look cast offs from Adam Ant) but is actually rather more home grown than that.

In the Lotus Palace, the usual parade of performances includes (by way of novelty) a mouse trap piano, sugar rock stars, dancing chairs and hoops, lots of hoops. After the interval, the humour of the whole show becomes rather more overt through initially a strong man act by a guy dressed only in red hooped underwear (which excessively adorns his equipment) and who bares a strong resemblance to Bryan Ferry or Errol Flynn (take your pick depending on which generation is yours.) Then the songs also get somewhat more risqué and there was a genuine naughty moment near the end.

It is all rather good fun and while you can probably see better (‘death defying’) gymnastics elsewhere the humour and lower ticket prices make Papillon more than a safe choice.

Kryztoff Rating     3.5K

Feb 19

FRINGE 2015: Puddles Pity Party – Garden of Unearthly Delights: Le Cascadeur – 5K

Puddles enters the stage with his baggage – both physically and metaphorically – and produces an hour of entertainment that is a magnificent blend of sorrow and joy. His voice is powerful, beautiful and mesmerising and the songs he performs have been chosen well, displaying his impressive vocal range and engaging the audience.

They are easily recognisable, a nice mix of classics and current tunes, and his treatments of them vary from haunting through to darkly comical. His physicality adds to the amusement and the accompanying videos help to create the atmosphere of cathartic heartache. Be warned that you may find yourself actually enjoying a Celine Dion song.

In the audience, there is nowhere to hide, as random attendees get pulled into the show. There is no malice in this; there is a positive yet understated energy throughout and Puddles shows his appreciation when those chosen get into the spirit of things. Even if you’re not one of the lucky few singled out, there is ample opportunity for audience participation and when everyone joins in cheerfully, supportively and uninhibited, the energy is fantastic.

Puddles’ has quite a YouTube following, having racked up millions of views on some of his videos. However, you could really only understand the true elegance and stage-presence of this clown by seeing him perform live.

Kryztoff Rating: 5K

Feb 19

Fringe 2015 – Shotspeare Presents Romeo and Juliet – The Garden of Unearthly Delights – Umbrella Revolution – 4K

By Tom Eckert

Shotspeare is what you get when fraternity initiation and classical theatre have a love child. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, then this show is for you.

Nearer to a drinking game than a traditional play, as you are ushered in you are reminded there is in fact a bar next door and that you may want “a couple for the show.” This is all in the spirit of the experience and it is notably more enjoyable when you are drinking along with the cast.

As you are seated, the premise is explained just so that you are under no delusions concerning what you have gotten yourself into. Whilst downing a few warm up beers the cast stalk through the audience to find an individual to complete their sextet.

Despite the undergrad-esque premise, the cast are a group of very capable actors. Pacing and delivery were strong with a very accessible interpretation of the original text. This was occasionally complicated by some overly exuberant abuse of the microphones obscuring some of the dialogue; but I suppose that is inevitable when downing a shot of vodka every ten minutes and besides, you already know the story.

The show keeps the game entertaining with a number of random elements including a wheel of fortune and punishments for adulterated lines. Contributing to this is a healthy dose of audience involvement (I spent a good few minutes lobbing balled socks at a Paris mid soliloquy), brilliant comic timing and solid sight gags.

Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect is that this format imbued an energy and life into the portrayal of some of the characters that you often will not find in traditional productions; which has the delightful effect of returning the play to its original purpose, common entertainment.

For a fun night out with a few friends, a few drinks and a few laughs, Shotspeare is the way to go.

Kryztoff Rating: 4K

 

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