Glittering jumpsuits, sequinned jackets and one particularly notable beaded skort are what catch my eye as I walk into the Beckett Theatre of the Malthouse. The costumes give me an insight into the kind of performance that is to come; a playful, energetic and interactive night of feminist cabaret. Of course, my friend and I sit in the front row, for what’s the point of … Continue reading Fringe Wives Club: A Cabaret for Cow People
“For those of you who haven’t seen me before, rest assured, I am very good at comedy.” It’s a bold opening to a stand-up set, but for DeAnne Smith, not an untrue one. Epiphany is Smith’s most recent show after the success of her acclaimed Netflix special Gentleman Elf (devastatingly unavailable in Australia). The Canadian-American is no stranger to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival either; … Continue reading DeAnne Smith: is Not a Nice Lady (F That!)
Jolyon James’ Robot Song, presented by Theatre Works and Arena Theatre Company, follows 11-year old Juniper May from the moment she suffers a blow to her self esteem when her classmates write a letter, calling her a “freak”, a “robot”, and wishing she’d never been born. To cope with the slight, which causes her to skip school and stop eating, Juniper decides to write a musical with some … Continue reading Robot Song: Different = Awesome
In 2019, we have seen more and more comedians beginning to use their platforms for more than just jokes. Stand up as a catalyst for social change, as a way of bringing public attention to an issue, as a device to subvert and surprise. In his Melbourne International Comedy Festival show Philly Philly Wang Wang, Phil Wang reminds us that these comedians are just people. … Continue reading Phil Wang: What you say is meaningless if what you do is monstrous
After a successful run in the UK, Felicity Ward brings her hour-long set Busting a Nut to the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Across the hour, Ward delivers joke after joke, exploring topics as varied as her recent marriage, her in-laws, hot yoga, karaoke, and inspirational Instagram quotes. Ward broaches these topics in her typical, high-energy style, with her bold wardrobe (complete with leopard-print leggings) accentuating her bold … Continue reading Felicity Ward: A solid set
“We’re sold out tonight so please don’t leave any empty seats”, the long line of audience members are told as we line up on the stairs to get inside. This collection of The Melbourne University Law Revue alumni are playing at Campari House, a cosy venue on Hardware Lane. Well known for their successful alumni and high quality sketch, Law Revue putting on a show … Continue reading All I Want for Christmas is Revue: One of Australia’s Favourite Things
World Problems is a work written, created and performed by Emma Mary Hall. She is fresh from winning the Best Emerging Writer at Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2017 for Ode To Man, and her new piece promises to bring a similar poignancy and humour. A one woman show, the production explores themes of childhood, heartbreak and the future. The work is composed of small fragments, … Continue reading World Problems: A World of Problems
Feverish nightmares, child ghosts, tropical maladies, and lively sing-alongs. These are just some of the ingredients that make up La Mama’s production of The Girl Green As Elderflower. Taking Randolph Stow’s novel of the same name as a departure point, Richard Davies transforms the text into a delirious, touching and vibrant musical, directed by Sara Grenfell. The story follows Cris (Billy Sloane), a young man who, after contracting … Continue reading The Girl Green As Elderflower: Tropical Ghosts in Suffolk
The Yellow Wallpaper, presented by La Mama, is a striking exploration of one woman’s experience of post-natal depression. Originally written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in the 1890s, director Lawrence Strangio, and performer Annie Thorold, have adapted the text for La Mama’s 2019 Season. This re-imagining of Gilman’s iconic feminist text is claustrophobic, exhausting, and most of all, incredibly effective. This show is by no means … Continue reading The Yellow Wallpaper: A haunting experience
Stephen Sewell’s Arbus and West, presented by Melbourne Theatre Company, is a power play between three women. All are connected by Mae West, a sex symbol of the 1920’s and 30’s, and the person which the play revolves around. The show follows one day in West’s Hollywood apartment when she is photographed by controversial fashion photographer Diane Arbus, as well as featuring a number of … Continue reading Arbus and West: A dame that knows the ropes isn’t likely to get tied up
The Dialog 