[21-09-2004] Melbourne Fringe Festival

[Glynna]

Okay it has to be said we (the bar staff) did great!
And the others didn't even know it was us until Alan said so at the end of the trivia!
Go Bar Humbug!
And no one even noticed the very slight amount of spying going on as certain bar people cleared drinks... not that it happened *cough*

Alan rocks. Loved this one:
What movie was shot with *blah and blah - can't remember their names* in Melbourne in 1953? The bar staff are in trouble with this one because none of them are over twenty five!'
Us: 'Hey... oh yeah. True!'

Fringe has retaken the month of October from the International Arts Festival (who won last year)! Sucks to be them!

And just one last thing... Comedy Festival people who had us running a tab for them all night! You rule! Very big tip... very happy volunteers!

~G

[unfrufru]

Morning Gory

Reviewer Daniel Ziffer
September 29, 2004





Chris Kennett and Declan Fay of The Pinch.
Photo: Supplied




THE PINCH: MORNING GORY
North Melbourne Town Hall, 9.45pm, until October 1

Breakfast television feels the pinch in an accomplished music-filled show from this on-the-make comedy trio.

3RRR radio hosts The Pinch chart another hit on top of their previous Fringe and Comedy Festival successes, Radiodead and 1994.

After an unfortunate contractual clause that means Channel Ten's Rove McManus owns their souls, the team is forced to create the televisual wake-up call of wage-slaves.

The TV set-up suits them well, with advertisement breaks playing radio sketches and musical segments displaying their talent for tackling genres. The many costume and tone changes are tight, with the studio lights flashing up to cleverly denote the on-air sections.

Declan Fay and Chris Kennett are hilarious as they follow their well-worn roles from previous shows, where they attempted to hit the big time in radio and rock music. This time it's the box, and Fay is a steamroller of ambition in his quest for fame. Kennett's cringing cynicism is played for strong laughs, and his performance as a menacing alien leader is a highlight.

Composer Chris Mildren will be prompting a few calls to the national security hotline with his brutally funny method of removing the current Prime Minister from office.
And although you may already have seen their hilarious piss-take of local indie band The Lucksmiths - and cardigan-wearers in general - it's still brilliant. Tunes about "hearts on fire by the tumble-dryer" eke out the concerns of a pretend band who proudly declare they have played gigs from Fitzroy . . . to Fitzroy North.

The musical highlight is the three-pronged rap assault of Christian hip-hop posse "The Hillsong Hoods".

However, the occasional jokes about abortion, retarded children and Iraqi prison abuse mean the show is not for all punters. The gags come so quickly that the shock of one is barely over before the next is upon you.

But if you're not easily offended, or if you just wish to see serious talent doing it right, this is your ticket.

[Edward]

I went to Stellar by Westside Circus last night. I really loved their performance at last year's Fringe Festival, and this one was good, but perhaps not quite up to the same standard (the one character that speaks to any degree gives the whole thing a kind of children's theatre feel).

THe Edge is a great venue, particularly for this kind of physical theatre, but the seats (though initially very comfortable) are hard, so I would advise BYO cushions. You might look a little odd - I've never seen anyone walking in there with a cushion, but I might next time.

[Gutter Monkey]

The musical highlight is the three-pronged rap assault of Christian hip-hop posse "The Hillsong Hoods".

Yeah, the Hoods are brilliant. I made sure I went and saw The Pinch as early as possible - highly recommended, a great show.

[unfrufru]

gm i've been looking for your review but can't find it

[Gutter Monkey]

Originally Posted by unfrufru

gm i've been looking for your review but can't find it

Yep, looks like it was too insignificant for the Age to put it online. Oh well.

Here's another 'review' from Theatre Australia:
http://theatre.asn.au/read.php?f=24&i=2425&t=2425

[Duhkha]

Yay, I finally got to see SHRH and it kicked!! Was brilliant
Loved when Optimus went and got drunk at the petrol station hehehe
Saw Middle Class Hero too which was also really good, and yeah Dave does seem like a top guy... even if he did keep picking on me (although not as much as he was picking on the New Zealanders )

[Gutter Monkey]

Originally Posted by Duhkha

Yay, I finally got to see SHRH and it kicked!! Was brilliant
Loved when Optimus went and got drunk at the petrol station hehehe

Aw, thanks. Hope you scored a poster on your way out. Hey, if anyone out there wants a SHRH poster then gimme a yell, there's still a few around.
And there's some photos from the show
here.

That R2D2 turned out pretty good for a piece o' shit droid that was thrown together in 2 days!

And on the final day of SHRH we apparently had a guy drive down from Canberra especially so see his favourite Transformer perform live. Wow.

[Duhkha]

Originally Posted by Gutter Monkey

Hope you scored a poster on your way out.

WHAT?!?! POSTERS?? Bloody hell I missed them! I can't believe i missed them, I am usually so good with nicking posters...

[Edward]

Got to see some dirty carney folk on Friday night - The Candy Butchers with their performance A Circus Sweetmeat. Great circus fun - aerial acrobatics, tumbling, shovel love, hula hoops, fresh fairy floss, everything you could wish for. There's plenty of dates left - go see it.

Saturday, after a brief reconnaissance mission to the Vic Market (assisting a contestant in Shop Till You Drop), I went to the show I'd been ordered to see - The M.U.K. Ukulele Big Band Show. I think this was my big fringe moment for this year - the great thing about Fringe is going to see acts you know nothing about and finding a great show like this one. It was, and this isn't a word I use lightly, uketastic. Big ukes, small ukes, steel ukes, electric ukes - more ukuleles than you could poke a stick at - and the Melbourne Ukulele Kollective obviously just really enjoy playing - you can't help but enjoy it with them. Unfortunately this was a one off performance, though I've been told that some of them will be doing some more "adult" and "experimental" ukelele music at one of the Fringe music venues. Keep an eye out for the Melbourne Ukulele Kollective.

Saturday night I saw The Brothers McKenzie: An Old-fashioned Scarytale. The name pretty much sums up the show - it was a good yarn, and pretty damn funny too. Probably could be tightened up a little bit - it did seem to drag on a little and there were some short sections which seemed to serve no purpose at all. Overall though it was good fun - go, enjoy, many dates remain.

Sunday saw more recon at the Vic Market leading up to Shop Till You Drop , then I was action photographer and second pair of eyes for the contestant I was assisting. She was, of course, a clear winner .

I was really hoping to see Empire on Sunday night, but we got lazy and ate cheese, drank copious quantities of wine, and watched Australian Idol instead.

[nikksta]

I'm still giggling my ass off at The Brothers McKenzie!!! It was so wrong and so right in all of the right places. Hats off to the guys for the bits of impro because of the heckling child. Eg, "I'm not scared" Highly recommended as it touches the inner child within. Not literally, 'cos that would just be weird.

Also saw Mr. Al and Mr. Nick Hurt People this weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed that one. Nothing like two men in black and white *g* suits trying to start a show. If you'd like to know what I mean, then go along and see it. It also stars a few people you may have heard of... some of them like pirates and making little docos about things.

[smuffy]

Okies, so I didn't end up seeing SHRH *sulks* but DID see you guys on GMA - Richard weirding out Bert was good value. The man clearly doesn't know his robots. I managed to get to The Brothers McKenzie - very good. Also, the Candy Butchers - I think I was expecting something similar to Circus Oz but on a smaller scale, and was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't. Michael Chamberlin's show - if you're a stagetime regular you will have heard most of it already, but if you're not, go check it out.

The only other thing I've got from fringe is a reason to not volunteer for it unless something changes next year.

[VAxwell]

Originally Posted by smuffy

The only other thing I've got from fringe is a reason to not volunteer for it unless something changes next year.

There was an email though... *smirks* It was all explained.

[Glynna]

Yeah, there was an email because smuffy got mad and sent a *ahem* terse... email to the person.

And it's not that we were feeling neglected she was being badly organised.

~G

[dassalo]

G'day folks,
Big finale show of 'Straight Up!' tonight, so if you're not doing anything between 7.30 and 8.30 come down and help us go out in style!

Wesley-Anne, 250 High st. Northcote, $10, 7.30

Thanks for your time.
tommy d