Tim Minchin Articles/Reviews

[Renee_Turner]

Originally Posted by unfrufru

http://seven.com.au/news/entertainment/103230

...a ditty called The Palestine Peace Anthem, about bringing stability to the Middle East through an agreement to not eat pork.

That's not what's it's called! (or at least, that's not what HE called it)

[unfrufru]

Dud rocker, but can he tell a joke

29aug05

A FAILED Aussie rock wannabe who turned to comedy has won the prestigious Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Fringe arts festival.

Tim Minchin won the title yesterday after his debut at the world's largest comedy festival.
Minchin and Aussie Charlie Pickering, who became mates on Melbourne's comedy circuit, were both nominated.

Both won gongs at this year's Melbourne Comedy Festival, but it was Minchin who came out on top in Edinburgh from a field of five nominees.

Minchin was singled out for his bawdy and sophisticated performance in which he "addresses humankind's greatest challenges -- inflatable love, plastic bags, twist-top wine bottles and anger management".

His show, Darkside, combines his original musical numbers with more conventional stand-up.

"The reaction has been so unexpectedly positive and big, the nomination is a nice icing on the cake," Minchin, 29, said of his festival debut.

"I've achieved everything I possibly could have hoped to achieve."

[Lou_uk]

Yesterday I was idly flicking through a newspaper magazine supplement from just over a week ago, which I'd found lying around.

At one point I turned the page and saw something that surprised me so much it made me actually scream and shoot back in my chair. Mum (sitting opposite me) thought a big spider must have jumped out at me from between the sheets.

But no, instead I'd found myself being stared at by the big green eyes of.....
[Edit by Mythor - see attached image - image is from www.timminchin.com ]

The article was on a number of different Edinburgh comedians - Tim being the first one reviewed. He got four stars.

"The excellent Australian Tim Minchin gave this reviewer his first festival belly laugh during his opening love song to a blue up sex doll. The problem with musical comedy is that most comedians write songs that rhyme, so you can guessthe punch line before it is actually delivered. Not onle are Minchin's rhymes unexpected, they set up sub-gags about rhyming itself. Indeed, if there is a criticism, it is that he should do more music and less stand-up. His comedy songs are Bill Baily standard, while his gags are good, but merit only three stars."

This guy then gave the lady that won the actual Perrier award only 3 stars.

I'm still not over the shock of how COOL it was to turn the page of a newspaper and find a big pic of Tim staring back at me!! And this was from before he won the award too. Huzzah

PS - does anyone happen to know when he's actually doing the gigs in London that I've heard mentioned??? I can't find anything online...

[Renee_Turner]

Is that a Wombat photo?

[awaywithfairies]

Originally Posted by Renee_Turner

Is that a Wombat photo?

Dunno, but in Edinburgh I handed a Tim flyer to an Australian guy who told me that he took the series of photos that appear on the flyer (and in the post above). Had a short chat but didn't catch his name. If Wombat is a shortish fellow with fair hair, then that'll be him.

[unfrufru]

yup that's him and if that pic of tim is a wombat photo we are not allowed to use it.

[Mythor]

It's from Minchin's site. I forgot to put the URL in when I edited the post, oops.

[Gutter Monkey]

Originally Posted by awaywithfairies

Had a short chat but didn't catch his name. If Wombat is a shortish fellow with fair hair, then that'll be him.

Yeah, that sounds vaguely like Wombat. And I know that he's in Edinburgh, so it's probably him.

[poloniusmonk]

TIM MINCHIN - Don't Minchin It
Tim Minchin performs Darkside as part of the 2006 Perth International Arts Festival program at the Verandah on Monday, February 13, and Tuesday, February 14, at 8pm. Tickets are selling now through BOCS for just $30.


The name Tim Minchin is being bandied about a lot more frequently these days, and he claims to be more likely recognised on the streets of London than in his home town of Perth. A major accomplishment for a man who still remains for the most part, unknown in the city that saw the start of his career. And it begs the question, what is Perth missing out on? Thanks to his recent successes at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, those slightly behind the times in the incredible voyage that is Mr Minchin's career have a chance to get up to speed before he moves to London for good to take hold of rapidly growing international opportunities.

Tim Minchin has been called it all - actor, musician, composer, cabaret performer, rock star and, now, comedian. "I am not particularly good looking, I don't have the world's best voice and I have no formal acting training, but I have this ability to write satirical songs even when I am not trying to be satirical," he says.

Minchin's strength lies in his ability to showcase his various skills by merging them into a one-man show. This seemingly audacious move has sent Minchin's career off on an almost unexpected tangent. "Mum always thought I would end up as a composer - it's kind of weird that I ended up becoming a comedian. Even two years ago I had only toyed with the idea of doing stand-up comedy."

And his future looks set to remain just as challenging and varied, "I want to write a television series, I want to write a movie and I want to write a musical. I also want to perform in all those forms." Ambitious plans, but if anyone has the talent, determination and energy to pull it off, it's Mr Minchin.

Minchin's Darkside will be appearing for a very limited season at the Verandah (Perth Concert Hall) as part of the 2006 Perth International Arts Festival. "I never dreamt I would get invited to perform at the Festival, this time last year I was planning to beg my way into a slot," laughs Minchin. "I love coming back to Perth, it's my home, and played a role in the development of the show."

In the middle of last year, while he was in Perth during a stint treading the boards in Hamlet for Perth Theatre Company, he gave Darkside a bit of a test run. "We did a two night season to largely family and friends just to try out the material in a bigger room," he admits.

Armed with a greater belief in the product and sensing that after years of toil he was heading down the right path, Minchin headed to the Melbourne Comedy Festival determined to garner some mainstream interest. From there, in a remarkable journey, he took his satirical one-man show from a 50-seat room in Melbourne to the Royal Albert Hall and a house of 900. What followed was an invitation to perform Darkside at the Edinburgh Fringe, where he became the winner of the prestigious Perrier Best Newcomer, and now a season at PIAF. "[Bringing the show back to Perth] will be like the end of a chapter," Minchin relates.

For those who have seen him on stage previously, the promotional image associated with the new show may not add up to the barefoot, low status, white ensemble clad piano player who appears on stage with no pretences and a seemingly unstoppable sense of humour. The borderline gothic representation of Darkside implies a brooding, glam rock image. "I wanted to create an anti-classical look, with Mozart-ian hair and heavy eye make up." And this transformation has allowed Minchin to create an alter ego, a heightened version of himself onstage. "I have given up on trying to come up with poster images that attempt to explain the show," says Minchin of his current promotional material.

Which goes someway to explaining how the man who is becoming notorious for making the taboo laughable, came up with a look that focuses on the 'dark' side - his black sense of humour - rather than attempting to provide punters with an insight into what ultimately has to be seen to be understood. "The character is a radicalised version of me, his history is an exaggerated version of my history. He is an uber-quirky me, with bigger hair!" he laughs.

The Darkside image contributed enormously to the success of the show in Edinburgh and embodied the feel of the whole Fringe Festival, made evident by The Scotsman newspaper using the image as the cover for their Fringe lift-out, and naming him the hot ticket of the festival.

Interestingly though, the man who is seeking to project uniqueness through his performance style, content and image, admits his current look was influenced by the overall feel of this year's Melbourne Comedy Festival. "I spent some time looking through the Melbourne Comedy Festival brochure and the thing that was a recurring theme was strong eyes. [So] I organised a photo shoot and worked on creating an image with a very strong piercing gaze."

Just another paradox in the seemingly unfathomably brilliant mind that is Tim Minchin, and it goes to show that even a man who defies convention in every sense of his work, can still kind of want to look like everyone else... just a little.... at the end of the day.

_AARON BEACH


Posted on November 16, 2005 05:35 PM

[unfrufru]

coupla things here

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatr...rce=Metro&ct=5

Tim reveals his Darkside
Reviewed by Sharon Lougher, Metro (28 February 2006)


It's taken some time to get a proper London run out of Melbourne's Tim Minchin since he left Edinburgh last summer as the highly deserving winner of Perrier's Best Newcomer award. But it's been worth the wait.

This barefoot Sideshow Bob lookalike has only done stand-up for a couple of years but the marvellous collision of mirth and piano in this show places him as Victoria Wood's darkly cerebral polar opposite.

Minchin has a CV that includes acting, bands, musical directorships and solo music work - and he is super at tinkling the ivories. As a songwriter, his strength lies in inventive detail and witty wordplay. Rock'n'roll Nerd - about a middle-class lad whose dangerless life robs his songs of depth - playfully hints at autobiography.

He also does a good line in mocking the music biz, religion and moneyed lefties. His delightfully upbeat ditty, Anthem For Palestine, has lyrics to make you gasp. The hilariously egocentric Canvas Bags sees a rapping Minchin revel, arms outstretched, among disco lights and pre-recorded harmonies. Rounding out the package is Minchin's ability to keep this show tight. His playing is energetic, his between-song patter fun, low-key and brief. He even works a guitar and poetry into the show. Other comics will be writing their next Edinburgh shows about now - here's hoping Minchin has another in the (canvas) bag.

http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/cam...A25%3A53%3A750

<H1>Comedy: Minchin towards success

editorial@hamhigh.co.uk
03 March 2006


Widely - and rightly - tipped as the next big thing, Aussie Tim is a nice middle class boy with rock star looks and some hilarious songs, writes Matt Eley

TIM Minchin looks like a rock star with the rough edges smoothed out. All the elements are in place: the wild hair, slightly mad-looking eyes and an undoubted musical talent.

But, as he admits in one of his opening songs, the teen market is just not after nice and middle class with no major personal issues.

After years of failing to make it in the music world, the pianist has turned his attention to comedy. Last year he won the Perrier Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Festival and now he has brought his one man show, Darkside, to the Soho Theatre.

On this performance it is no surprise that he is being hailed by many comedy critics as the next big thing.

The show features the Australian, a piano, a guitar and a selection of amusing songs. These range from the silly Inflatable You, about a relationship with a blow-up doll, to the satirical when he tackles issues such as the Middle East conflict, and then others where he focuses on his own internal world.

To label them as just comedy songs is doing Minchin something of a disservice. Primarily he is a musician who crafts and sings good songs that just happen to be funny as well.

His act marks a return to the days of variety where performers had more than one string to their bow. In between songs he steps away from the instruments to deliver his stand-up routine to prove he is more than just an amusing musician.

It is an excellent alternative cabaret show where the audience is laughing throughout and occasionally clapping along as well.

</H1>

[Lou_uk]

I saw Tim in London on Saturday.... his show's been regularly selling out there, which is nice to know. (140 capacity) Seems like it's going nicely for him over here still... And there was much buying of bags and CDs after the show.

Oh, and here's another review I've found....

William Cook
Saturday February 18, 2006
The Guardian
Preview - Tim Minchin, Dark Side

With his bird's-nest hair and spaced-out stare, Tim Minchin looks like he ought to be running a vegan cafe. In fact, he's a successful actor, writer and composer - and at last summer's Edinburgh Festival, he won the Perrier Newcomer Award. This bauble doesn't attract the same attention as Perrier's main prize, but it serves a more useful function, by introducing punters to a comic who's more or less unknown, rather than giving a helping hand to a rising star who's usually well on their way already. Past winners include Harry Hill, The Mighty Boosh, Tim Vine and Milton Jones, and if Minchin's recent turn at the Albert Hall is anything to go by, this grunge generation Victor Borge might eclipse the lot of them. Like all the best musical comics, he could entertain without any gags to fall back on, yet his Cowardesque couplets would stand up without any accompaniment.

Highlighted the bit that makes me giggle with glee at the mere thought of it.

[unfrufru]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts-r...344122118.html

Tim Minchin

By Cameron Woodhead
April 19, 2006



Last year's festival director's award winner doesn't disappoint.



Tim Minchin doesn't so much play the piano as attack it.
Photo: Simon Schluter




GenreCabaret, Musical, ComedyLocationHi-Fi Bar & BallroomAddress125 Swanston Street Walk, MelbourneDate13 April 2006 to 29 April 2006Tickets$20-$22 ($18 Tue)Phone Bookings1300 660 013Online Bookingswww.ticketmaster.com.auDetailsTue-Sat 7.00pm, Sun 6.00pm.
COMEDY FESTIVAL REVIEW

TIM MINCHIN'S crazy cabaret won him a festival director's award at last year's Comedy Festival and best newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe. High praise creates high expectations, and Minchin doesn't disappoint.

He arrives on stage barefoot, in a suit buttoned all the way to the top, with hair teased wildly backward, as if he's tried to stare down an industrial fan at close range. He looks like a cross between a concert pianist and Igor, the mad retainer from the Frankenstein movies.

This resemblance is reinforced by Minchin's rapid and seemingly inexhaustible array of nervy expressions, including one half-squint, half-ogle that should by rights be anatomically impossible (if only on the grounds of taste). In short, he's a man who can make you laugh before even singing a note.

What makes Minchin special is his versatility. As he yoyos between piano and mic, you're struck by the fact that he's simultaneously an excellent stand-up comedian, a purveyor of physical comedy, an accomplished musician and a lyricist of diabolical ingenuity.

The tunes range from pop pastiche and patter-songs through to the most unpleasant love ballad ever, animated by the same savagely satirical spirit. Witty, smart, and unabashedly offensive, the lyrics sound as if they were written by Noel Coward with his head in a microwave.

As for performance technique, Minchin doesn't so much play the piano as attack it kung-fu style.

Minchin's stand-up isn't quite as good as his songs - the piano is clearly his comfort zone - but this experienced entertainer rebounds effortlessly from potential falls.

When his gags are good, they're hilarious; when they're bad, you get to watch Minchin haul his lead balloon across the stage and kick it into the wings, which is almost as funny.

[unfrufru]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts-revi...335645941.html

Tim Minchin's Dark Side
By Colin Rose
May 1, 2006

Minchin may be a late bloomer but his star is finally on the rise.

"Heard the one about the happily married rock star?" Tim Minchin



GenreCabaretLocationThe Studio, Sydney Opera HouseAddressBennelong Point, SydneyDate9 May 2006 to 14 May 2006Tickets$20-$27Phone Bookings02 9250 7111Online Bookingswww.sydneyoperahouse.comDetailsTue-Sat 9pm, Sun 7pm
Preview

Tim Minchin is a late bloomer. It took him most of his 20s to find his forte, a uniquely off-kilter brand of comedy songs, stand-up, even some poetry (as written by a psychotic). Having at last tasted success, he says he's now "going to push this puppy as far as it goes". With offers pending from BBC TV and radio, and managed by the same people who look after comedy luminaries Barry Humphries, Eddie Izzard and Lenny Henry, Minchin and his "puppy" could be in for quite a trip.

The past year for Minchin has been the sort of overnight sensation stuff you'd expect from a Judy Garland movie. He took his solo show Dark Side, only the second he's penned, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he was so little known that his sister went with him to hand out flyers. He came away with the prestigious and career- boosting Perrier Award for best newcomer, which is kind of ironic since he was just about to turn 30.

Sydney audiences will get a chance to see what all the fuss is about when he performs Dark Side next week at the Opera House's Studio theatre.

Perhaps the reason it took Minchin some time to (literally) get his act together was that he was pushing in several directions at once, none of them having much to do with comedy. He's acted in plays, written musical scores for the theatre and performed with a couple of bands, Timmy the Dog and Rosencrantz.

"I lack a comedy heritage," Minchin says over the phone from Melbourne, where he's appearing at the comedy festival. "I'd never been to see a comedy show up until I started doing it. At the risk of sounding like a complete wanker, I was more interested in Shakespeare, [playwright Tom] Stoppard and the theatre."

His literate approach to songwriting for Timmy the Dog didn't do anything to ingratiate the band with prospective record companies.

"My compulsion to write satire was confusing them," he says. "So I thought, 'I'll put together a show that shows off my comic writing, playing and singing, get this thing off my chest so I can go back to writing serious songs.' But the fact is, I've never really had much patience for the serious songs. I've got a lot more time for the silly ones.

"And I didn't predict the feeling of, 'Well, this is what I should be doing' that I got after that first performance. I just went, 'Bloody hell! This is it."'

Minchin's on-again-off-again career in a rock'n'roll band, however quirky, wasn't wasted: much exaggerated, it became the stuff of his comedy.

"The dream of being a rock star, the comic potential in juxtaposing rock behaviour with totally non-rock subject material is kind of what I'm playing on. I can sing pretty rocky, I can write an anthemic tune and I can wear make-up. What I don't have is the angst: I've been married since I was 26, I really like jogging and taking care of myself - boring stuff like that."

Things moved so quickly for him at the Edinburgh Festival that Minchin says "it was like five years of a career in a month".

"I must admit, at the awards ceremony I was standing there going, 'I hate this. I wish awards didn't exist. If I don't win, I'm going to be really disappointed.' Which is ridiculous. How dare I be disappointed, regardless of winning?"

But win he did and the hectic pace isn't slowing. In a few months' time he'll be based in London.

"I'm packing up my house at the end of May," he says. "I go to Perth to play Mozart in Amadeus. Forty-eight hours after finishing in Perth, I do Dark Side in Montreal at the Just for Laughs comedy festival, then straight to Edinburgh. And then I'm going to London, where my wife and I are going to find a house."

[Leishpod]

nooooooooooooo! he's leeeaving uuusssssss *sob*

[unfrufru]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...001562,00.html

tim starring as mozart, be afraid, be very afraid,

Amadeus
By Peter Shaffer. Perth Theatre Company. His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, July 4. Tickets: $55-$65. Bookings: (08) 9484 1133. Until July 15.



WHILE the world celebrates Mozart's 250th anniversary with countless concerts and opera performances, His Majesty's Theatre and Perth Theatre Company have joined forces to present Peter Shaffer's contentious play, Amadeus. The plot, that Mozart was undermined and eventually murdered by his jealous colleague, Salieri, will already be known to many, given the widespread acclaim of the 1984 Academy Award-winning film version.

Having seen the film, one is also prepared for Mozart being portrayed as a foul-mouthed, conceited buffoon, albeit a genius and sensitive artist. For anyone who venerates Mozart's music, the finesse with which his character is conveyed will make or break the play.

I was relieved to discover that comedian and actor Tim Minchin makes an excellent Mozart. Minchin brings subtlety and charisma to this challenging role. His Mozart is complex and multi-layered, bristling with energy and enthusiasm, aware of his extraordinary gifts as well as his weaknesses.

And while there are moments when the brashness grates, at least his laugh is more endearing than in the film. Minchin also impresses with a dashing turn at the fortepiano when Mozart parodies a march by Salieri.

The strength of this production, however, rests largely with Dennis Olsen's outstanding performance as Salieri. Olsen is infallible in his delivery, both as the younger composer and as the old man at the end of his life. His vast stage experience is evident as he brilliantly captures moments of humour and delivers the dark torment of Salieri's struggle with envy and revenge. The supporting cast is strong, especially Kate Mulvany as Constanze.

Director Alan Becher does an excellent job keeping the audience engaged in a play that is rather wordy and sometimes in danger of sagging dramatically. Steve Nolan's designs create a warm opulence and Graham Walne works wonders with the theatre's new lighting rig. Perhaps a new sound system should be next on the list as the quality of the music reproduction was below par.

So, how does Amadeus contribute to our understanding of Mozart in this anniversary year? Perhaps not so much in the exaggerations and speculations as in the context of the extreme financial, professional and domestic pressures he suffered while effortlessly turning out enduring masterpieces. That may well be worth reflecting on next time we are transported by a sublime aria or symphony.