A Candid Look at ‘Cancelled’ Culture

MILO PENNEFATHER AND JULIAN MACHIN ON THEIR PROBLEMATIC NEW PRODUCTION Cancelled, Four Letter Word Theatre’s brazen new production, pulls none of its punches. The musical stars one Max Richmond, an arrogant lead singer whose disastrously insensitive remarks have spelled the collapse of his musical career. With the help of THEM, a down-and-out pop icon, Max hatches a plan to get back on top and win … Continue reading A Candid Look at ‘Cancelled’ Culture

Mindquest: Saving The Universe, One Hipster at a Time

A trio of unlikely adventurers. A quest to save all humanity from a terrible fate. It may sound familiar, but I bet you haven’t seen it done quite like Mudcrabs do it in their first long-form narrative work, Mindquest: Journey into Forever. The show centres around Eva (Liv Bell) and Gil (Shane Woods), two Brunswick locals pulled into a quest to save the universe from … Continue reading Mindquest: Saving The Universe, One Hipster at a Time

The Med Revue: Medley’s Burning Inferno

Upon hearing this show was taking place in the Union House Theatre, which seats around three hundred and fifty people, I was worried. There’s nothing worse as an artist than performing to a half empty theatre. But as I walked into the space with a minute to spare before show time, I was delighted to see an auditorium teeming with excited audience members.   This … Continue reading The Med Revue: Medley’s Burning Inferno

Tinder Tales: A Cabaret, A Melodrama, A Comedy

Tinder Tales: A New Musical follows the passionate and turbulent dating life of unlucky-in-love Abby (Eadie Testro-Girasole). A Tinder addict, Abby wants to find ‘love at first swipe’ and is constantly on the lookout for the perfect guy. Doubt (Aubrey Flood) and Insecurity (Mel O’Brian) are constant advisors, for better or for worse, on Abby’s every move. Encounters with a myriad of men and a … Continue reading Tinder Tales: A Cabaret, A Melodrama, A Comedy

Mudcrabs Go Wild!: Or Do They?

Is sketch comedy a long dead artform, resigned only to occasional resurrection from its grave like a limp finger puppet? Or has the burgeoning revival we keep being told about finally taken glorious flight? According to Mudcrabs Go Wild!, the new show by the Mudcrabs (somehow short for the stolid sounding Melbourne University Comedy Revue Board), neither is correct. The sketches are delivered with such … Continue reading Mudcrabs Go Wild!: Or Do They?

Talk of ‘Tinder Tales’ and Fails with Writer Mattie McLeod

Mattie McLeod seems to be the typical 24 year old, studying a bachelor of Film and Television at the VCA and in constant post-traumatic turmoil over her previous Tinder flings. Yet unlike most, she is also the writer of a new Australian musical comedy, Tinder Tales, premiering this month at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Recently, I sat down with her to discuss all things … Continue reading Talk of ‘Tinder Tales’ and Fails with Writer Mattie McLeod

Never Have I Ever Been So Entertained

A tiny makeshift room, sectioned off by curtains and tucked away on the first floor of the Carlton Club, sets a cosy scene for Sam Garlepp’s Never Have I Ever. He greets all the early arrivals personally, and reassures us that there will be more people coming. Sure enough, a raucous crowd packs in and Garlepp makes his grand entrance, dancing in to his own … Continue reading Never Have I Ever Been So Entertained

The Biggest Richard: Bollywood Blockbuster

Melbourne University Sri Lankan Students’ Association’s (MUSLSA) annual charity play, The Biggest Richard, felt much like watching a Bollywood movie in the theatre. With popcorn, brownies and drinks sold personally from seat-to-seat, this show brings forth nostalgic feels for any South Asian, anywhere. It wasn’t just the experience, though; The Biggest Richard had all the elements and characteristics found in a typical Indian Bollywood movie: a three … Continue reading The Biggest Richard: Bollywood Blockbuster

Into the Abyss: Grab a Pool Noodle and Dive In

Into the Abyss might just be the funniest existential crisis you’ll ever have. Through a mixture of improv and sketch comedy, a series of sketches tumble from the minds of Jacob Sacher and Jack McGorlick. As Paul Noodle Phd. Candidate, the pair don hats, strainers and banana costumes to become surreal characters who populate the mind of a comatose boy. Sacher and McGorlick charm their … Continue reading Into the Abyss: Grab a Pool Noodle and Dive In

Room 648: Five Star Farce 今夜648 ——一场五星级的闹剧

中华剧社的《今夜648》改编自90年代英国剧作家Ray Cooney的闹剧《乱套了》。来自对立党派的政府要员和秘书的风流韵事,随着配偶、酒店经理、一名闹腾的门童,和一具尸体的出现,变得越来越复杂。这本就复杂的情节,加上精心设计错综有致的舞台布景、道具、夸张的形体设计、不断变化的服装,最终,中华剧社这场喜剧从头至尾没有在任何一个环节中有所闪失。 对于一场成功的闹剧来说,毫无疑问,演员是重中之重,在全程都需要掐准笑点的节奏,并全程保持专注与精力。《今夜648》正是这样一出戏,在演出的3个小时中,让焦点和表演始终如一,贯穿全戏。喜剧线的每个包袱都抖落在恰好的节奏上,并伴随着全体演出人员完美配合的夸张形体表现。林子涵和秦清扬扮演的陈伟基和郝听话,两人之间产生出相应的火花,并在对手戏上完美配合。杨芃扮演的罗一情绪饱满并恰到好处,不断逗得观众大笑,但是又不至于太过。最后,不得不提的是,真正夺得全场瞩目的是路源扮演的门童18408,不断插入剧情,表现的有点懒惰,但又急着讨好旅客。在他的表演过程中,喜剧的节奏、面部表情都足以让他成为焦点,只要路源站在台上,就能收获观众的笑声。 由韩文希设计的舞台布景,固然够坚固,但是对于一个五星级大酒店来说,还是显得有些简陋。不过各方面配合得很好,包括通往主要表演场地的各扇门。特别是阳台的设计,在全程中都有适时落下的窗户。王芝设计的道具,可以说是锦上添花。整场制作很大程度上依赖着道具,突然落下关上的窗户,和不断自动打开的门牵制着场上的一举一动。而且,这些道具的使用上也看得出心思,或是给后面发生的故事埋下伏笔,或是给出观众线索,将零散的碎片拼凑,一点点看清故事的全貌。尽管这一切的一切,有很大机率会出错,但是在演出过程中并没有出现这些情况。这些对于整场戏的成功至关重要,道具组在这里功不可没。 由林煜设计的灯光,与整场戏的气氛相配。在一些喜剧效果的呈现上,灯光起着关键性作用,没有这些灯光,一些喜剧气氛也难以被烘托出。但有些地方的灯光变幻过于频繁,显得有些多余和做作,可能稍微克制一些会反而使效果更好。不过整体上,灯光对于这部戏来说,还是一个加分项。Hedy Sang的服装设计也相当出彩,一些细节的设计暗合了每个人的人物性格。整场戏上频繁更换服装,并没有差错。 到头来,以上这一切的发生,要归功于导演赵琰。《今夜648》的制作复杂,不管是台上还是台下,都需要高度注重细节。紧凑的故事情节,频繁的形体夸张演绎,不断变换的服装,对道具的重视与依赖,赵琰将整场戏的各个元素做到了很好的调和。整场戏没有任何部分感到不自然,即使是大段的台词和动作,同时出现,反而增添了真实感,并让戏看起来更滑稽。 《今夜648》是一部完美细致的剧作。导演的凝聚力,演员的专业和所展示出来的天赋,使这部喜剧让人印象深刻。《今夜648》注定让在场的观众都得以享受愉快。 Matilda Millar-Carton Translated by Azalea Huang, from Theatreshow.Melb 翻译:Azalea Huang(墨尔本好戏连台翻译员) Continue reading Room 648: Five Star Farce 今夜648 ——一场五星级的闹剧