Archive for March, 2010
RAW: Kath On A Hot Tin Roof @ The Austral
Mar 13th
Mature comedian Kathryn Bendall is Kath On A Hot Tin Roof: a hypochondriac who tells us her life story. She has some interesting insights on the Australian Labor Party, Gen Y, and her children ‘Meatloaf’, ‘Mashed Potatoes’ and ‘Beans’.
Her occasional references to things like thalidomide, which are not universally recognised by Gen Y or X’s for that matter, are irrelevantly funny. However, Kath’s full life (including three marriages) provide more than enough engaging material for most generations.
Check out this wannabe trophy wife – who looks more like a gay icon!
Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Burlesque Ball @ Adelaide Town Hall
Mar 11th
While Dita Von Teese, Has one hell of a pout,
My lips, while modest, Are kissable, no doubt!
And yes, the green fairy, Has a great pair of wings,
But, although I can’t fly, I can do other things!
And I know Lady Marmalade can dance,
And striptease and much more,
If I ever went to the Moulin Rouge,
I’m sure I too could work its floor!
And, no, I’m no fire breather, No contortionist, I’m sorry,
But I know a trick or two, I assure you, don’t worry!
So as you can see, At the Burlesque Ball I belong,
I’ve no doubt that the Ball will beat the hell out of this song!
Written by Kelly Angus, Kryztoff WInner for the Burlesque Ball
Kicking On at the Burlesque Ball
Kelly was not wrong – the Burlesque Ball was kicking! Most attendees really got into the spirit of things, dressing up (or down, as the case may be) in some spectacular outfits! (For more pics, click here)
New York headliner Julie Atlas Muz performed her famous balloon trick, while MC Ophelia Bitz kept the crowds stirred right up!
Sure, most of the acts could be boiled down to an extended exotic ‘legitimate’ striptease, but it was so much more… The grandeur of the Adelaide Town Hall, the perfect venue for the Ball, must of course be preserved -presumably, that’s why there was no fire nor silks.
So much more than a show, it’s the atmosphere that will draw Kryztoff back…
Kryztoff Rating: 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Tripod Vs The Dragon (feat. Elana Stone) @ Royalty Theatre
Mar 11th
Tripod take on Elana Stone in an on-stage version of Dungeons & Dragons, where their imaginations are brought to life through song, occasionally dance, and shadows. It’s clear that Scod is taking point on this one… after all, he did admit to being a D&D player in the interview below…
The lovely Elana Stone is an absolute stand out – she really has taken comedy into her stride and her vocals are beautiful as ever. She’ll be playing with her band at one of the Adelaide Festival Grab Bags too… keep a lookout! 
She also keeps the fellas on their toes! It’s a ton of fun, especially if you haven’t seen Tripod live before. Die-hard fans should enjoy the show, but may prefer their previous outings.
Kryztoff Rating: 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Fear of a Brown Planet Returns @ Tuxedo Cat (Studio)
Mar 10th
There was a slight delay to the start of the show, a forgotten projector being the reason, but this just gave us even longer to enjoy the rooftop garden of the Tuxedo Cat Studio. On a side note, it’s sad that this little Adelaide gem is soon to be demolished.
Two Indian comedians , Nazeem Hussain and Aamer Rahman, take turns in performing an hour of side-splitting racist jokes. Cleverly used projections combining scenes from Star Trek contrasted with current affairs opened the show to set the scene that white people are a predominantly racist bunch.
The first half hour, was by far the funniest half. Nazeem showed a more light hearted side to racism, with a humorous taxi skit, and poked fun at himself and the one sidedness of Indian TV news when reporting on racism in Australia.
The second comedian, Aamer, wasn’t quite to the same high standards as Nazeem and the laughs seemed to die down a bit. However the audience was welcoming and energetic and happy to have a laugh at themselves.
Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Le Grand Macabre @ Adelaide Festival Centre
Mar 9th
György Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre is a very dark look at a modern, perverse, lost society in terminal decay about to be wiped out by Nekrotzar. It grotesquely, sarcastically takes a mocking, ironic look at mortality and death. Set on, inside and around a giant female body, complete with tongue movement, which adds to this bizarre opera, sure is a grand opening to this years Adelaide Festival.
The music score just adds to this insane artwork, opening to jarring car horns, yet so fitting, brought with enormous energy and force, conducted exemplary by Robert Houssart. The only critique on the music would be the pit not allowing the true sound of all instruments to carry to the audience.
The set piece, the crouching body, brilliantly built with arms, legs, buttocks which reveal inner organs and a moving head, is also used as a projection screen for video footage and lighting effects giving 3D a new or should we say true meaning.
The performers pull this 4 scene, anti-anti-opera, off in a way that makes it all seem real and a perfectly told drama, yet obviously enjoying themselves.
Kryztoff Rating: 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Rhumboogie – You got to learn to…
Mar 8th
Rhumboogie – strange name, incredible music.
Without so much as an introduction, Rhumboogie explode out of the gates at a frightening pace and don’t let up for a good hour and a half.
It’s a known fact that, like cheese, blues musicians get better with age*. These four performers are about as polished a blues act as you are likely to see, each musician having an absolute command of their instrument in an almost prodigious way. From bass line driven numbers that thunder along at breakneck speed, to slow soulful tunes, these cool cats are entertaining to the end. Put simply, these four guys are doing what they were born to do, and it’s an absolute pleasure to watch.
These guys play for 90 minutes, not 180 as advertised. You do, however get a rockin’ 94 minute double album free with your ticket, which makes this show an absolute bargain!
Highly recommended.
Kryztoff Rating: 4.5K
* Kryztoff cannot be held legally responsible for any sickness that may occur from eating old cheese. Always check the expiry date.
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: The Basie/Sinatra Show @ The Prom
Mar 7th
The Mike Stewart Big Band are as grand as they ever have been.
Seriously tight, the 17 piece-band plays some jazz classics from the Count Basie songbook. They are then joined by the swinging Luke Thompson, whose rehearsed vocals are simply Sinatra. Personal highlights included I Got The World On A String, Come Fly With Me and crowd sing-a-long I Did It My Way.
For many it was a nostalgic trip down memory lane at The Promethean, but for a few it was about discovering these golden oldie jazz tracks.
Not as cheesy as expected, but still a fantastic set.
Kryztoff Rating: 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
Austen Found: The Undiscovered Musicals of Jane Austen
Mar 6th
Young men of Adelaide – want to get in good with the missus and show your “sensitive side”? Why not take her to Austen Found!
While billing itself as the “Undiscovered musicals of Jane Austen”, Austen Found is actually an exercise in improvisation. But not just improvisation, these girls rattle off period language, dance, sing, and fill out a pair of well cut breaches, all without seeming to break a sweat. And for good reason. Performance Troupe ‘ConArtists’ is made up of a number of highly skilled improvisers, who have even improvised for their country at world championship theatre games (I didn’t know there was such a thing).
The story is…. well you already know the story: girl meets unsuitable boy, they fall in love, but are unable to express their undying devotion to each other due to social pressures etc….. The idea is that the story changes slightly every night, dependant on the choices the audience makes at the beginning of the show. But in general, you are not going to this show for the story – you are going to see these women improvise their little hearts out!
If you are wanting a deep discussion of the issues facing these women in society – this isn’t the show for you. But, if you are after a good night out with some laughs – why not give it a go!
Raw – Walworth Farce – Her Majestys
Mar 5th
Enda Walsh’s playwrighting panache resides with families living in chronic isolation , ritually reenacting the story of what brought them to that point. If that is what excites you, especially in the Irish / English context, then Walworth Farce may very well be what you will enjoy. Others may well find the story rarely comprehensible, deeply sad, laced with delusion and cruel. The ‘play within a play’ idea is tough going for any audience but after a real world character enters the scene and for a few moments lifts accessibility and spirits, the complexity and rat-a-tat dialogue returns quickly making following it all hard to sustain and soon the rest is downhill until it all happily ends.
To be sure the acting is complete with all three major role players – Michael Glenn Murphy, Tadhg Murphy and Raymond Scannell – doing excellent jobs, with Murphy particularly outstanding. The set is well thought through and the ability to create isolated scenes in one of the areas is effective (or was it scenes within scenes within scenes).
Sure, this is what our great festival is all about – being challenged in ways we may not the other 23 1/2 months of every two years but as successful as Walworth Farce may have been in Great Britain, like many other arrivals from the mother country, it’s a fish out of water here.
Kryztoff Rating 2K
RAW: Dave Bloustein’s Complete History of Western Philosophy @ Tuxedo Cat (Attic)
Mar 5th
*Unfortunately, our reviewer was sent into the wrong show on a preview night. He was supposed to see Tommy Little’s Afterthoughts this night, but was ushered upstairs to the Attic to the wrong room. Tuxedo Cat, please take note.* -Ed
About as funny as it sounds, sadly.
This show essentially feels like a lecture run by a kind of goofy professor. His knowledge of his material is impressive, and his jokes aren’t bad. The problem is that they are too few and far between. There are several moments in the show that are genuinely funny, and his closing is solid. It’s a shame that this standard is not maintained throughout the performance.
If you’re looking for intellectually stimulating material, this may be right up your alley. For the rest of us tho, this act is as it sounds – smart, but not that funny.
If you’re going to see this show, catch it toward the end of its run. Given time to find its feet, this show will improve with age.
Kryztoff Rating: 2.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe