Category: Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2014

Al & Anna’s Music Rant

By Colin Flaherty

The last time I saw Al Newstead and his Music Rant several years ago, he was on stage solo; dropping humorous truth bombs about the music industry. With the addition of co-conspirator Anna O’Bryan, the show has evolved into a slightly different beast that’s just as venomous. Covering topics including the ethics of music downloading/streaming, ghost songwriters, the diva demands of performers and the ignorance of certain “music fans”, they did a awesome job in informing while keeping us laughing.

Having two performers on stage allowed the show to move further into theatricality as Newstead and O’Bryan illustrated their topics using hilarious sketches to lampoon the sacred cows of the music industry. Using brilliant caricature they brought these, sometimes real life, colourful characters to life. Even if you were unfamiliar with the targets you were kept in stitches. They often used crazy facts that provided their own punch lines, pointed out to us by dropping briefly out of character to tell us so. Some tended to go on a bit too long but on the whole they kept the punters chuckling at the ridiculousness of the scenes.

The musical parody components were given a significant boost with O’Bryan’s inclusion. Not only did it broaden their scope to include many female performers, that Newstead would probably have struggled with on his own, but also allowed for some charming duets. They employed some spot on mimicry and if you listened closely enough you could also pick up some clever lines. Their show-stopper party piece involving a laundry list of 90s songs was less successful, with the recognition factor sometimes struggling to maintain the laughs over this lengthy routine, but their impressive singing kept us entertained nonetheless.

Audio visual elements provided interesting interludes to the sketches and songs. Quotes from song lyrics charmingly scrawled on cards introduced some topics; a cute recalling of the lo-fi roots of the original show. Pre-recorded advertisements for a certain streaming service provided giggles whilst the performers were off stage. An extended video of vox pops threatened to outstay its welcome but was saved by some brilliant ring-ins.

Newstead and O’Bryan bounced well off one another and kept the show bopping along at a breezy pace. This dynamic duo of the music scene have created a wonderful hour for music nerds and comedy fans alike.

Al & Anna’s Music Rant is on at the Tuxedo Cat until April 20
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/al-anna-s-music-rant

Flying Fruit Fly Circus : Circus Under My Bed

By Caitlin Crowley

You MUST take your kids to see this show. If you don’t have any kids – go anyway.

I’m stating that up front to ensure that anyone who even glances at this review gets the message loud and clear.

It’s hard to believe that the Flying Fruit Fly Circus performers are just teenagers. Surely they’re too young to be this talented? Maybe it’s like Grease or Beverly Hills 90210 and they’re really a bunch of thirty-somethings acting as teenagers.

Circus Under My Bed is an action-packed 55 minute show that had the audience gasping, laughing and cheering throughout. There’s a sweet narrative – Celeste is moving house but she’s sad about it and keeps putting off the task of packing her bag. Coming to Celeste’s assistance is the Ringmaster of her Imagination and with him all the colour, joy and spectacle of the circus.

Everything in Celeste’s room is brought to life: stuffed animals are tumbling sheep, books are acrobatic characters called Page and Libro and leftover party hats create a chaotic celebration with a clumsy chef. There’s everything we expect from a circus, amazing trapeze artists, hands-over-the-eyes balancing acts, raucous plate spinning, the sweet, sad clown and a decent cream pie to the face.

Even the back story to The Flying Fruit Fly Circus is inspirational, it was established in 1979 in Albury-Wodonga as a way of bringing the arts to young people in regional Australia. Thirty-five years later we’re watching a group of strong, talented young people support each other as they take enormous risks in front of a sold-out audience in one of our finest theatres. There’s an even bigger message in that.

In case you missed it the first time: You MUST take your kids to see this show. If you don’t have any kids – go anyway.

That’s my review – here’ are some thoughts from the intended audience.

Iris (10): I think it was interactive; like they came out to the crowd and showed us things which was good. My favourite was the trapeze and the aerials. It had a story behind it about this girl who was moving house and she didn’t want to move and she imagined up a circus and it helped her pack her bags and find her book and stuff. It was as good as an adult circus; better even. I would never be able to do that. The only people who wouldn’t like it are people who have a bad taste in stuff.

Jasper (10): It started off with a girl Celeste who had to pack her bag because she was moving house then this ringmaster came up in her imagination and he put on this show of all these wonderful acts and different people and it was super amazing and awesome and stuff and then she went to sleep and when she woke up they had to finish packing her bag and her mum was coming in and then she walked out again and then she had to go but she took her imagination with her. I liked the trapeze and I liked the bit when the chairs were balanced on top of each other and they did handstands on the top. There was a girl who had a ladder standing straight up and climbed up it without anyone holding her up which was pretty amazing. Parts of it were funny. Other parts were super amazing acts I’ve never seen before and believe me I’ve seen circuses. I’ve seen circuses with grown-ups but they didn’t do as good stuff as the Flying Fruit Fly. I think practically anyone would like it.

Circus Under My Bed is on at Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio until April 19
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/circus-under-my-bed-flying-fruit-fly-circus

Colin Hay : Waiting For My Real Life…

By Caitlin Crowley

Anyone who’s fronted up to a Colin Hay gig in the last decade won’t be surprised to find the former Men at Work front man performing in the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Hay has been keeping fans of his music entertained for years with his pre-song banter and Waiting for My Real Life is an extension of this – a 75-minute comedy show with songs.

Hay sets the tone for the evening when he walks on stage with his global hit Downunder playing in the background, but not the mega-selling Men at Work version, this joyful rendition is performed by the South Australian Primary School Orchestra. Straight away we know he’s not taking any of his success too seriously.

While Hay might officially be fresh to the comedy stage it’s obvious that he has decades of performing experience. He grabs a guitar and performs his own background music as he tells his stories of growing up in a music store in Scotland, arriving with his family as new immigrants at Station Pier and being in a band that went from the St Kilda pub scene to the Grammy Awards and back down again. Each vignette is tightly crafted and Hay is a master of accents from Ringo Starr to an affectionate rendering of the classic Aussie punter keen to ensure Hay’s not getting too up himself.

This is not musical comedy – it’s comedy with music and each story leads into an appropriately related tune ranging from a new song written for his late father to big hits like Downunder and Who Can it Be Now?

Hay’s voice has never sounded better, the acoustics of the Playhouse Theatre perfectly showcasing his pure clean vocals. Despite the size of the theatre there is a certain intimacy to the show – it really feels like you’re sitting around shooting the breeze with an old mate. While Hay might joke about being recognised as ‘someone who used to be someone’, it’s pretty clear the audience still hold a special place for him in their hearts.

Waiting For My Real Life… is on at Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse until April 12
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/waiting-for-my-real-life-colin-hay

Patrick Cross : Out Of Fear

By Elyce Phillips

Tucked away in the Greyhound Hotel, in a room above Drag Bingo, Patrick Cross is doing a show about fear. This out-of-the-way location might be part of the reason why on the night I attended Cross was facing a fear known all too well by emerging comedians – playing to a tiny audience. To Cross’ credit, despite the numbers the show went on, and he performed a show filled with amusing tales of social anxiety and phobias.

Perhaps fittingly, Cross’ nerves were apparent on the night. Playing to a group of three is a tough gig, especially when one of them is trying to be helpful by calling out encouragement every so often. Cross was rattled on a few occasions, blaming his demeanour on a particularly strong Red Bull he downed before the show. It’s a shame, because in the moments Cross hit his stride, he showed a lot of promise.

As a performer, Cross is very personable. His material about his social fears was relatable and entertaining. An exploration into how we develop phobias including a story about a young girl meeting his dog played out magnificently. A couple of heavier-handed jokes that were in there for shock value were funny, but hit a little too hard in the space. However, for a newcomer, Cross did a good job of adapting his act for the audience. The show was kept casual and he ad-libbed well.

Out of Fear may be a little shaky on its feet, but Cross is a young comedian with plenty of potential. If you’re looking to get away from the Festival Hub and see something a little different, this could be the show for you. Get out there and support the new kids.

Out Of Fear is on at GH (Greyhound Hotel) until April 19
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/out-of-fear-patrick-cross

Stuart Daulman is The Principal

By Noel Kelso

At the start of the 2014 comedy festival we overheard someone loudly telling their companion that ‘this is the worst show I have ever seen’. This person was pointing at a flier for Stuart Daulman’s show The Principal.

Curious to discover what could possibly prompt such a definitive criticism I attended the show to find out for myself.

Spoiler: this is very funny, clever comedy.

Entering the room the audience sees an actual set on the stage area, a rarity at the Imperial Hotel and in the Festival generally. There is a paper-strewn desk behind which most of the performance occurs and a radio-controlled helicopter, both of which get a lot of use throughout.

If you have fond memories of shows such as Welcome Back Kotter, Head Of The Class or even Degrassi High then you are likely to love and recognise all of the touchstones of humour which are mined in this performance.

Presented like a shoddy 80s sitcom complete with some canned laughter, this is a carefully fashioned show skilfully presented in a manner which gives the appearance of being shambolic. The gags revel in their knowing references to the shows being lampooned and the self-referential, repetitive nature of many just make each rendition funnier than the last.

This is a complex and knowing show which has the veneer of unplanned unprofessionalism and is all the more hilarious for this. Daulman’s clowning skills turn each situation into a chaotic mess of misunderstandings and poor co-ordination. His unseen secretary makes her announcements unintelligibly and seems incapable of remembering appointments. One particular gag involving an important letter was so unexpected that the room dissolved in gales of laughter for a good while after.

The audience were kept laughing throughout at the clowning skills of Daulman as he rustled papers, looked wistfully into the middle distance or broke into impromptu dancing with guest student Mo Mann. This ridiculous comedy had me giggling like an idiot throughout and, to be perfectly honest, I’m not entirely sure why.

If you fancy some late-night meta-comedy then this show is highly recommended.

The Principal is on at the Imperial Hotel until April 18
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/the-principal-stuart-daulman-is

Suns of Fred : Excited!

By Colin Flaherty

Three guys and a guitar has been a staple of musical comedy over the years so it’s important to differentiate your trio from what has come before. In the case of Suns of Fred (Sly, Micky J and Foxy), they have crafted a show with high energy dancing and choreography that’s tighter than a duck’s rear end. Even though they can sing up storm, it’s a shame that their attention to detail in the songs didn’t match that of the dancing.

Although there was the odd amusing line to be found and chuckles of recognition to be had through parodied song-lines, most of their tunes were one joke songs that often read like a laundry list of mildly amusing words thrown together to fit the theme. Thankfully most of the songs were relatively short thus reducing the tedium. The theory of the guitar being an automatic applause machine sadly held true here as each song ended with overly-flourished bows awaiting our Pavlovian response.

There were plenty of lewd lines to titillate and homoerotic innuendo, but their lyrics and banter were ham-fisted and lacked any finesse. When attempting to go to some dark places, they were quite crude and blunt; being shocking for the sake of it. These lines stopped a song dead in its tracks as the audience audibly recoiled at the abhorrent nature of it with a smattering of nervous laughter. They didn’t attempt to soften the blow with a witty comment, usually just ploughing on with the rest of the song.

Other times it was Foxy’s series of one liner Dad Jokes set to music that successfully played on his character’s lack of wit and provided nice little quiet interludes. A mimed rollercoaster ride, also set to music, was an amusing highlight that didn’t overplay things too much.

Where Suns of Fred excelled was in the dancing and miming that provided the most humour. Their dance moves were flawless, constantly mugging for the crowd and faux harassing the girls in the front row. The running joke of Excited! high energy dancing was cute but only gave us titters of embarrassment. Synchronised hand actions to the song lyrics provided laughs where the words failed to.

From their matching hand decorated vests and funky haircuts to the character tropes (the dim one, the dangerous one and the pretty one), everything screamed “We want to be edgy and dangerous just like the Doug Anthony All Stars!” This trio even pulled out the done to death “band break up on stage” routine but didn’t do anything amusing, let alone original, with it. It got all the appropriate pantomime responses but the biggest laugh came from an audience member’s comment rather than anything they did.

There were a number of punters who were getting off on the boy’s shtick, laughing heartily throughout. If you’re in the mood for some simple puerile comedy with lots of colour and movement, this would be the perfect musical comedy junk food. However if you fancy something more substantial you’d be advised to look elsewhere.

Suns of Fred is on at Five Boroughs until April 19
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/excited-suns-of-fred