Tag: Alexis Simmonds

5 Good Reasons to see Alexis Simmonds and Helene Murray in 7 Simple Life Lessons with Lexi & Lilith

1. You’re feeling nostalgic for all female 90s indie punk bands. Don’t worry, so is Lexi. With the help of Lilith and Lola (the ukulele), she will cure your ills.

2. You regret that time you went to that concert of that band you really love and you didn’t buy the t-shirt because your friend who was with you at the concert of that band you really love told you not to, because they don’t understand how much you love that band and wearing t-shirts.

3. You’ve always wondered about the secret inner workings of the CWA.

4. You belong to a generation. That’s right, any generation at all. At some point, you were born into this crazy world. Now Lexi and Lilith will combine their wisdom to help guide you through it.

5. You like moist cake. Or just the words “moist” and “cake”.

Alexis Simmonds and Helene Murray perform 7 Simple Life Lessons with Lexi & Lilith The Grand Mercure Hotel

For more information to the MICF Website:

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/7-simple-life-lessons-with-lexi-and-lilith-alexis-simmonds-helene-murray

 

Shows at the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival previously reviewed by Squirrel Comedy

By Colin Flaherty

It’s not long until the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival gets into full swing. To assist you in navigating the colossal program, here are 26 shows that we have reviewed in other festivals. Keep in mind that all shows will have undergone a fair bit of spit and polish since we last saw them.

2014 – When We Were Idiots: A Comedy Walking Tour Hosted by Xavier Toby
Burke & Wills Statue, City Square
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4924 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Alexis Simmonds 0-9 Tales of a Straight, Single Cat Lady
Comedy On Collins
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3406 (MICF 2013)

Andy Matthews – String Theory
ACMI – Games Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5133 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

The Boy With Tape on His Face – More Tape
Forum Theatre – Upstairs
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5466 (Adelaide Fringe 2014)

Cam Knight – 100 Percenter
The Upstairs Lounge @ Hairy Little Sista
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5443 (Adelaide Fringe 2014)

CJ Delling – Reality Bandit
The Bull and Bear Tavern
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5448 (Adelaide Fringe 2014)

FanFiction Comedy
Melb Town Hall – Cloak Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4332 (Edinburgh Fringe 2013) & https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3380 (MICF 2013)

Impromptunes: The Completely Improvised Musical
Trades Hall – The Annexe
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5083 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

The Improv Conspiracy : A Night in Chicago
The Croft Institute
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4865 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Marek Platek : Wormhole
The Provincial Hotel
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5009 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Juliette Burton – When I Grow Up
Trades Hall – The Meeting Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4284 (Edinburgh Fringe 2013)

Late Night Letters and Numbers
Melb Town Hall – Powder Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3846 (MICF 2013)

The Little Dum Dum Club Live Podcasts!
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3469 Five Boroughs
(MICF 2013)

Marcel Lucont : Gallic Symbol
The Tuxedo Cat
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=2701 (Adelaide Fringe 2013)

Nellie White is The Shitty Carer
Imperial Hotel
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5093 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Political Asylum Late Night Riot!
Melb Town Hall – Supper Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3785 (MICF 2013)

Pop Mashup : Happy Birthday Doctor
The Butterfly Club
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5101 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Radio Variety Hour
Comedy On Collins
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5089 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Rhys Nicholson – Eurgh
Portland Hotel – Gold Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5424 (Adelaide Fringe 2014)

Sam Allen & Chris Harrigan Inside the Egg: The Life of Anne Geddes’ Prisoner Children
ACMI – Games Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4842 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Set List
Melb Town Hall – Lower Town Hall & Victoria Hotel – Vic’s Bar
ttp://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3748 (MICF 2013)

Simon Taylor : Funny
Imperial Hotel
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5024 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Sitcom Theme Song Singalong and Trivia
The Provincial Hotel & Imperial Hotel
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4930 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Stephen Hall : Raiders of the Temple of Doom’s Last Crusade
Comedy On Collins
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4983 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Wizard Sandwiches : The Last Lunch
Trades Hall – The Music Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5004 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Wolf Creek : The Musical
Trades Hall – Old Council Chambers
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5049 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

bytestories

By Luke Simmons

Everyone has a (funny) story to tell

Made in St Kilda, by  Brendan McKenzie, Pieter Malherbe and yours truly Luke Simmons,  bytestories is a new storytelling site which can provide you with your “sit-down-at-the-keyboard comedy” fix on demand. Dedicated to short, byte-sized stories (There is a 1500 character / 200-250 word limit) based on true events, it’s proving to be a popular writing space for some of Australia’s favourite and up-and-coming comedians.

MICF 2013 comics who have shared that time when….

Brad Oakes and Michael Connell have already revealed some of their most embarrassing stories, Alexis Simmonds has exposed why her Uncle deviously volunteered to learn craft while at school and Becky Lewis takes you through what it’s like to work in a bar full of hard drinkin’ cowboys. 

Brad Oakes – Embarrassing encounter with the floor polishing machine

Michael Connell – Do Not Say This In Japan

Alexis Simmonds – One tale from Tales of a straight, single cat lady

Becky Lewis – 7 rum and cokes thanks, no ice

 

Other recommended authors on the site include: Andy Thompson, Nick O’Connell, Jennifer Burke, Tom Middlebrook, Ron Hailes, and Torre De Roche.

Anyone can submit

If you’re thinking about sharing a story, it would suit if you do not wish to have the hassle of setting up a blog OR if you’d like your funniness to reach an International audience. It could also be a good way for performers to work on ideas for a routine or festival show.

The site is cute and ideal for killing time while at home or on your mobile (i.e. sitting/staring on public transport). The reader in you can get on-demand chuckles and the comedic writer in you will enjoy gathering a fan base.

Check out www.bytestories.com and get involved!

Alexis Simmonds : Tales of a Straight, Single Cat Lady

By Colin Flaherty

Alexis “Lexi” Simmonds is 41, single, heavily into craft and the proud owner of two cats and a dog. After bounding onto the stage as a wannabe leather Cat Woman, this self-professed Cat Lady tells us colourful stories from her life; from dates with dodgy characters to being a crafty superhero. Some would argue that there is too little obsessive adoration of her feline friends but the stories are interesting enough to hold your interest.

There are quite a few interesting ideas and amusing lines in this show but Lexi’s poor delivery works against it. Her lack of ease on stage could possibly be dismissed as the timid and socially awkward stage persona she is attempting to portray but her bold introduction suggests otherwise. Her timing isn’t the greatest and words often fail to flow easily. The result is punch-lines that lack the required punch and too many flat spots. It is more like a friend telling stories in her lounge-room and regularly getting herself into a verbal twist as she tries to get all the details correct.

Many props emerge during this performance, mostly her highly creative crocheted covers for mundane objects to transform them into items of power. These possessions are passed around the audience for all to witness their beauty and ingenuity.

Lexi has clearly put in the hard yards to include plenty of colour and movement in this performance. She sings a number of parody songs based upon various popular indie tracks that relate to the story at hand. Her singing voice is pleasant enough to listen to, but most of the backing tracks still have their original lyrics intact revealing that she has only changed some of words. This makes clarity an issue and things regularly become glorified karaoke.

A lack of experience and a lot of rough edges results in this show being a bit too patchy to be a barrel of laughs. Spending time with this kooky lady could give you a few chuckles.

Tales of a Straight, Single Cat Lady is on at Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets.
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2013/season/shows/tales-of-a-straight-single-cat-lady-alexis-simmonds