Tag: Rob Lloyd

Rob Lloyd – The Heart Awakens

By Elyce Phillips Rob Lloyd Heart Awakens

Every child has something in their life that opens their mind up to the possibilities of the future. For some, it might be a particular book. For others, it may be the discovery of a sport. For Rob Lloyd, it was Star Wars.

The Heart Awakens is the third part of Lloyd’s Obsession trilogy – nerds do love a good trilogy – exploring his first love, Star Wars. However, it’s more than an ode to a single film series. The show sifts through Lloyd’s serial obsessive relationships with pop culture entities. It’s an autobiography told through fandoms. With each new fascination, Lloyd discovers more about who he is and what he can become.

Lloyd tackles the topic of fandom with a lot of tenderness. There are plenty of niche jokes in there for the geeks in the audience, but the greater story of connection is one that everyone can relate to – largely thanks to a clever metaphor that Lloyd brings to life on the stage. Jen Speirs is fabulous as the various loves Lloyd has had over the years, capturing the sweet inspiration of their first meeting through to the bitter betrayal of later years/certain prequels.

The Heart Awakens is more heart-warming than it is tears-down-your-face hilarious. It’s a gentle comedy that provides interesting insights into how Lloyd got to where he is today. A beautiful ode to the power of popular art, The Heart Awakens is a must-see for anyone who has fallen in love – particularly if that love involves awesome robots.

The Heart Awakens is on at The Lithuanian Club – Loft until October 3

https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/program/event/view/abfc4b30-ff0e-4063-9532-c8502880fb53

FIVE GOOD REASONS TO SEE
 ROB LLOYD: THE HEART AWAKENS.

5. It’s Episode III of my Nerd Trilogy. This is the final part of a long journey that started in 2010 with my first ever, solo show A Study in Scarlet (A Study of
) about my obsession with Sherlock Holmes.

That show was a hit and lead me into following my next obsession, Doctor Who with my next solo show Who, Me.

To be honest I’ve been avoiding working on Episode III because of how daunting it is to look at the colossus that is Star Wars and now it’s been so long between shows I’m afraid this show might become the Godfather III or the A Good Day to Die Hard of my Nerd Trilogy.

To put your minds at ease I don’t have Sofia Coppola in this show, neither have I set it in Russia
so we should be alright. 

 

4. It was co-devised with David Innes. Mr Innes and I have been playing silly buggers together for about two years now. The input of Mr Innes with The Heart Awakens has been crucial, he helped me find the structure and sense of humour of this piece but most important of all
the heart.

 

3. It’s directed by Lliam Amor. I’ve known and admired Lliam for years as a supremely gifted actor and improviser. I’ve desperately wanted to work with him on a show of mine for ages. He has a keen understanding of character, genre and story
all perfect for a director. Plus he is very tolerating of nerds, so he creates a safe rehearsal space.

 

2. It co-stars Jennifer Speirs, who is a hugely talented actress and a massive Star Wars fan! (I mean her favourite character is Lando for god sake! How awesome is that!?!) I’m really excited to be working with Jen, she has an amazing energy and an enthusiasm that is totally infectious. We haven’t stopped laughing during rehearsals. In The Heart Awakens Jen has the responsibility of playing two important figures in my life, I’ve been impressed with her commitment and devotion to both characters. I can’t wait to show you what she’s got.

 

1. It’s Star Wars! I mean seriously
how awesome is Star Wars? All us die-hard fans have sat through the good, the bad and the Jar Jar but we’re still here. It’s been a massive part of the geek world for over 35 years but it is also a major part of mainstream culture. Even if you haven’t seen the films, you know the characters, the lines, the weapons, the costumes, the relations and the stories. The story of this show in particular focuses on what if being a fan of something was kind of like a love story and how would that play out? So even if you don’t get the fleeting specific references, everyone has had a first love…

Rob Lloyd: The Heart Awakens is on at The Lithuanian Club

https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/program/event/view/abfc4b30-ff0e-4063-9532-c8502880fb53

Who Are You Supposed to Be? by Keith Gow

By Lisa Clark 

Sometimes, though not often, I see a show that I think someone has written especially to make me happy and this is definitely one. A funny, intelligent and geeky romp through the sexual politics of fandom, bring it on.

Who Are You Supposed To Be? By Keith Gow first debuted at The Edinburgh Fringe in 2013 and Australian actress Jennifer Lusk played the lead Ashley but another person, UK-based Cameron McKewen played Gene Peterson. Like our own Rob Lloyd (and the character they play), Cameron is ‘Con Famous’ in other words he is a minor celebrity in the real life fan convention world, known for his Dr Who blog Blogtor Who. Rob Lloyd has also been involved with a Dr Who podcast, Preachrs Podcast is currently voicing the part of The Doctor in an audio series, has a Vlogcast about pop culture and fan conventions called The Con Artist and gained a reputation around the conventions with his Dr Who themed comedy show Who Me? as well as his striking resemblance to Tenth Doctor David Tennant. The casting of Gene is inspired, although Rob’s personality in real life bears little resemblance to the annoying introvert Gene, the blurring of character / performer adds another delightful layer to the play.

Rob and Jennifer each play their parts beautifully, Jennifer as the strong, plain talking, yet vulnerable Ashley carries the play effortlessly and Rob’s dweeby Gene who grows in insight and warmth as the narrative progresses is a lot of fun as her nemesis cum potential boyfriend. Ashley has travelled to London for a UK holiday that includes a trip to a scifi convention where she has the chance to meet her favourite Dr Who actor Peter Davison. While there she meets Gene and though they don’t really know each other it turns out they have communicated previously through social media, a lovely touch that reflects a lot of modern life relationships. An awkward and bickering friendship develops despite their disagreements about women’s involvement in genre and “non-canonical boobs” (my favourite punny line in the play). There are scenes on each of the four days of the convention and you can tell it is a new day from Gene’s new geek Tshirt of the day. One of the scenes has them on the phone alternately discussing each other with someone else which worked a treat. The themes discussed by the pair go to the heart of all that is good and bad about the modern fan scene and issues discussed passionately on-line. I was also impressed by a beautiful line in the play that referenced something that had happened in a new Dr Who episode of only a week earlier!

Written as a tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Dr Who, it is a very Who heavy script though there are many other geeky references; some as obscure as a character from Babylon 5, others as mainstream as a quote from Toy Story. Intelligent, and funny, this is one of the best Dr. Who tribute plays I’ve seen as Gow explores modern geek culture and relationships with laughs and tenderness. Ten years ago I might’ve thought that this is too niche to fandom for success as a play, but things have changed and nerd culture has grown and seeped into the mainstream and there is a huge audience ready to love this and ‘get’ it. If you enjoy Doctor Who or have been to a fandom convention, you simply must see this play.

Who Are You Supposed to Be? is on at The Owl & The Pussycat (opposite Richmond Station) until October 5th

http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/fringe-festival/show/who-are-you-supposed-to-be/

Five Good Reasons to see WHO ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE?

1. Time travel! By the end of the show you’ll be one hour into the future and you’ll wonder how we packed so much hilarity into sixty minutes!

2. “It’s The Taming of the Shrew with sonic screwdrivers and a TARDIS travel case,” said Geek Chocolate in Edinburgh. We tested it out in the UK and it passed, so now it’s coming to Melbourne Fringe!

3. See Rob Lloyd (star of Who Me, The Science of Doctor Who and BBC America’s Doctor Who: Earth Conquest) act like a geek at a science fiction convention. See him stretch his muscles as Gene, who thinks Captain America is better than Batman – and that Rose is the best New Who Companion. (You can shout at him after!)

4. See Jennifer Lusk dressed as Peter Davison’s Fifth Doctor. Marvel at how many more curves the Fifth Doctor has now – even more than he had in Time Crash. (Jen has toured with the show to Edinburgh and London.)

5. Come and laugh with Rob & Jen (as Gene & Ash) about Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek and so many other science fiction franchises it would require an encyclopedic knowledge of the genre to list them all.

For Information and tickets go to the Fringe website

http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/fringe-festival/show/who-are-you-supposed-to-be/

5 Good Reasons to See Benjamin Maio Mackay & Rob Lloyd 50 Years of Doctor Who: Preachrs Podcast Live 2!

1. Because you know you want to and its “Completely Entertaining” 4.5 stars – Kryztoff RAW

2. Our show features pre-recorded appearances from stars of Doctor Who – for your eyes only!

3. We sold out our shows in Adelaide and Melbournians don’t like to be left behind.

4. You want to try and win some jelly babies because no Doctor Who fan should go anywhere with their bag of babies!

5. There will be actual Daleks and a Cyberhead (that’s right a head) to get up close and personal with – at your own risk!

The Preachrs will be podcasing at Club Voltaire for only 5 shows from April 16

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/50-years-of-doctor-who-preachrs-podcast-live-2-benjamin-maio-mackay-rob-lloyd

5 Good Reasons to see Rob Lloyd and Kelsey Gade in Pride Hard

This year for Melbourne Fringe Rob Lloyd (Who, Me and Ch 31’s Live on Bowen) is teaming up with new, up and comer Kelsey Gade to present the ultimate cinematic/literature mash-up…PRIDE HARD…Die Hard in the style of Pride and Prejudice.

1. This is a completely different approach to the ‘mash-up’ format! I’ve done enough scenes, sketches and whole shows where we take something ‘classical’ and do a ‘modernized’ version of it, either through the genres of action, sci-fi or stuff like that. I wanted to take a risk this year and see if I could pull off a ‘modern’ story on a ‘classical’ style! It’s been great working with both Kelsey and Scott Gooding on this show.

2. All the characters are so great…it’s been so much fun throwing them all ‘into the pot’ as it were and seeing how they play together! From ‘wise guy’ hero John McClane to the ultimate suave bad guy Hans Gruber! From the creepy Mr Collins, the over the top hysterics of Mrs Bennet to the silly, giddy Kitty and Lydia. Two worlds really collide…but also somehow weirdly work.

3. You don’t have to be a Die Hard fan or a Pride and Prejudice lover to like the show…the story and the characters speak for themselves. Plus there are enough other pop culture references; from Harry Potter, South Park, Dr Who, Star Wars and the Disney movies to keep you interested!

4. It’s an extremely high energy show! Trying to cram a two hour film, a 367 page book and roughly 20 characters into under an hour takes quite a lot of stamina. On top of all that, the show is just two actors on stage creating the entire world with their bodies, voices and interactions. You won’t see this type of stuff on ‘The Shire’.

5. Basically it’s a show with everything: love, drama, comedy, action, dance, song…plus two performers in singlets…what more could you want in a Melbourne Fringe show?

Pride Hard is running til the 13th of Oct at The Meeting Room. North Melbourne Town Hall.
Tuesday to Staurday at 8pm. Sundays at 7pm.

To buy tickets go to: http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/fringe-festival/show/pride-hard/

Or for more information about the show go to: http://pridehard.com.au/