Bob Downe/Mark Trevorrow Articles/Reviews

[Leishpod]

woah.. how specific was that - I dunno for sure - i found the mag on the train and nabbed it cos he was in it and I thought people here might be interested -
it's quite long - so if anyone would like it typed up - let me know and I'll find it

[cyborgsnail]

He was also in the age.

[Cherryish]

'Its 4KQ with pictures,' says Mark Trevorrow, of Bob Downe's new show, [i:post_uid1]Cold August Night[/i:post_uid1] "The Powerhouse will be like a taping of [i:post_uid1]Countdown[/i:post_uid1], it'l be fab."
Yes, Bob is back and ready to rock, promising a send-up of every gig you went to during the 1970's, '80s and '90s.
This time round, Bob's bringing his mother, and a tree-piece rock band. There's even rapping.
"I'm a fan of all music, as long as it's up," says Trevorrow. "About the only thind I can't stand is hard-core thrash metal and hard-core rap."
Trevorrow has been playing Bob since 1984. His debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1988 signalled Bob's arrival on the international stage. It's a measure of his success, and his popularity, that this year he fronts up for his 12th Edinburgh Festival.
There is no sign of the enthusiasm abating, either, on Trevorrows part or his audiences. "We've just finished six nights in Melbourne Town Hall, and we never played to less than a thousand people. It's extremely exciting, the audience has been building over the years."
Bob's popularity has grown far further than his hometown, reinforced by numerous festival and television appearances. Indeed, the UK has been so welcoming, Trevorrow splits his time between Sydney and London.
Not a bad time for a one-time copyboy and reporter on a Melbournce newspaper, awakened to the world of entertaining by a trip to [i:post_uid1]The Rocky Horror Picture Show.[/i:post_uid1]
Trevorrow, as a member of singing group The Globos, scored top 40 success with two singles and supported Keith Richard in the early '80s.
Just last year Trevorrow made another foray into serious music, performing cabaret shows under his own name.
While television tends to focus on Bob's musical numbers - "There's not a lot doing it, so if you can do it well, that's what they want." - only about one third of [i:post_uid1]Cold August Night[/i:post_uid1] is made up of musical comedy.
The rest is stand-up comedy, Bob-style: "It's family entertainment but with a very spicy twist, a little bit of backburn."
The key to Bob's enduring popularity is quality and honesty, Trevorrow says.
"Its a comedian doing good work, doing his job, telling the truth. Thats what comedians do. They're like court jesters, telling the king what people are saying, because only they could. That's the comedians role."
Bob's appeal runs wide, regardless of whether he's playing Edinburgh, Adelaide, or Montreal.
"I've just played festivals in Adelaide, and Melbourne and very few who were at my show went to see other acts," Trevorrow says of the niche he has carved for himself in the Australian comedy scene.
"They see me on Bert Newton's show or [i:post_uid1]Rove[/i:post_uid1], and I can look out on the audience and see three generations all singing along. There are some inner-city trendies, some gay, some students, but they're quite a small proportion. Most are from the suburbs... it will be mum and grandmum tapping and singing along.
"They know my act, they know what to expect. I won't change it for the kids. Children are welcome, but there must be a few questions in the car on the way home.
"But compared to what you can see on television - did you see [i:post_uid1]Sex and the City[/i:post_uid1] last night? Kids aren't meant to be watching, but I bet they were."
Television has been good to Trevorrow, with a number of shows in Britain, a Foxtel series in Australia, appearences on [i:post_uid1]Good News Week[/i:post_uid1] and [i:post_uid1]The Weakest Link[/i:post_uid1], regular visits to Newtons' [i:post_uid1]Good Morning Australia[/i:post_uid1] and as four-times commentator of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.
He sees [i:post_uid1]Cold August Night[/i:post_uid1] as the next step for Bob, who has put out two albums and an autobiography. "Bob has changed every year; I've changed, no one stays the same."
Trevorrow is excited about the new show's send-up of the rock world, drawing on 28 songs including [i:post_uid1]Love is a Battlefield[/i:post_uid1] and and AC/DC-infused [i:post_uid1]Radar Love[/i:post_uid1] with plenty of cross-referencing.
Bob's mum, Ida (played by Jane Markey, who performs the role on Trevorrow's Foxtel television series), sings [i:post_uid1]We Will Rock You[/i:post_uid1].
"It's a real jukebox," says Trevorrow, "half the fun is trying to pick all the music references."

[b:post_uid1]Bob Downe, [i:post_uid1]Cold August Night[/i:post_uid1] Brisbane Powerhouse, May 8 - 26.[/b:post_uid1]

There was also a photo, but it was just the usual advertising one for Cold August Night.

There you go I hope there wasn't too many mistakes...

Cherryish

[baby G]

Thanks very much Cherryish.

[Cherryish]

Thats ok!

Cherryish

[Kitsunegari]

you beat me to it Cherryish!!!!
loved the piccy....

til next....
~Kits~

[Spoofy]

You can't keep a good man Downe
by Louise Nunn

Adelaide Advertiser - 24 February 2004

The comedian behind the persona of Australian entertainer Bob Downe has emerged from under his wig for the Adelaide Fringe.

Mark Trevorrow has ditched the garish costumes, big teeth and bad hair to perform songs from his first album recorded as, well, Mark Trevorrow.

"I've just turned 45 and I think there's something a bit undignified about hurling yourself around the stage at this age," he said yesterday.

Trevorrow will present five shows with the John Thorn jazz trio at the Regal in Rundle Park at 8pm from today.

The season will feature songs fom his new CD, It's About Time, which arrived in stores yesterday.

Trevorrow said the compilation of jazz, pop and show tunes gave him a chance to explore "emotions I can't go to in a comedy show".

"People have been asking me to sing as myself for years," he said. "They say you've got such a great voice so I thought, damn it, I will."

Coming out from under Bob's shadow has been a gradual thing, Trevorrow said.

He has been making television appearances as Mark Trevorrow and this year will host the new ABC documentary-chat show The Way We Were, about Australia then and now.

He will celebrate Bob's 21st anniversary next year but does not expect to share a wardrobe with the popular gay icon forever. "The nice thing about singing as Mark Trevorrow is that I can go out in a nice suit without makeup," he said.

"But I'm not replacing Bob just yet, he's just having a quiet rest in the country.

"He couldn't do anything at the moment even if he wanted to - I've got his wig."

[GentleZephyr]

If he lost the facial hair, he'd be a damn attractive guy. But I digress, can't wait to hear something from his album. I love Bob Downe's work, it will be nice to hear Mark sing too.

[Spoofy]

Originally Posted by GentleZephyr

[color=darkblue]If he lost the facial hair, he'd be a damn attractive guy.

yes but still gay!!

[GentleZephyr]

I did say that he'd be perfect. Just cute.

[unfrufru]

but for 45, he's looking fantastic!

[GentleZephyr]

Damn straight! *excuse the pun*

[spuddles]

Heard parts of the cd at my local sanity yesterday.

Not bad, but he sounds better singing as Bob Downe.

Windmills in my mind just doesn't sound the same.

[GentleZephyr]

But unless you can see him dancing (as Bob) to Windmills, of course it will be lacking.

[unfrufru]

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au...E30782,00.html

You can't keep a good man Downe

24feb04



THE comedian behind the persona of Australian entertainer Bob Downe has emerged from under his wig for the Adelaide Fringe.

Mark Trevorrow has ditched the garish costumes, big teeth and bad hair to perform songs from his first album recorded as, well, Mark Trevorrow.

"I've just turned 45 and I think there's something a bit undignified about hurling yourself around the stage at this age," he said yesterday.

Trevorrow will present five shows with the John Thorn jazz trio at the Regal in Rundle Park at 8pm from today.

The season will feature songs from his new CD, It's About Time, which arrived in stores yesterday.

Trevorrow said the compilation of jazz, pop and show tunes gave him a chance to explore "emotions I can't go to in a comedy show".

"People have been asking me to sing as myself for years," he said. "They say you've got such a great voice so I thought, damn it, I will."

Coming out from under Bob's shadow has been a gradual thing, Trevorrow said.

He has been making television appearances as Mark Trevorrow and this year will host the new ABC documentary-chat show The Way We Were, about Australia then and now.

He will celebrate Bob's 21st anniversary next year but does not expect to share a wardrobe with the popular gay icon forever. "The nice thing about singing as Mark Trevorrow is that I can go out in a nice suit without make-up," he said.

"But I'm not replacing Bob just yet, he's just having a quiet rest in the country. "He couldn't do anything at the moment even if he wanted to – I've got his wig."