Tag: Chloe Black

Recommended and Previously Reviewed shows at Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Here Comes Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2019! There are more shows than EVER before and we Squirrels are here to help.

We have a list of all the shows we’ve previously reviewed and also a few that we’re excited about or keen to recommend.

The Aspie Hour had a short run at 2018 The Melbourne Writers Festival. It was a fabulous musical comedy in two parts by two brilliantly talented performers who apparently are both on a spectrum. It’s top notch comedy cabaret for those who love Broadway with laughs.

The Fringe Wives Club has welcomed new members and has grown from 3 to 5 performers. Last year we all rushed out to see Glittery Clittery and adored the crowdpleasing feminist cabaret, but we didn’t manage a review, sorry but the simple review is: We all LOVED it. This year we’ll be rushing to see their new show Glittergrass and make sure we review it.

Tom Ballard is being very busy after having his ABC show Tonightly cancelled. He’s jumped into the festival with gusto. As well as his own show, Enough, which is having a full season run, Tom will be hosting one of the political Tuesday nights at the Festival Club and most intriguingly he’s written a satirical political play called KWANDA. It’s about a Monday night political panel show but it’s not about QandA at all. No. Of course not.

Demi Lardner and Tom Walker both have solo shows again this year, but they have also teamed up to perform We Mustn’t and it’s bound to be weird, wonderful and hilarious.

Don’t forget to check out the alternate guide to the Festival:
The Safety House Guide.
Says creator and stand up comedian Lisa-Skye:
“The Safety House Guide is a free magazine featuring nearly 100 of the best acts of the fest. Safe, but never tame, it’s not about censorship, it’s about empowering audiences to make the right decisions about the shows for them. It gives more info about stuff like content, access and the level of audience participation. It also has fun stuff like letters from comedians to their potential audience, info on workshops and quizzes. Grab your free copy around town, or at the launch!”

Sam Simmons is a late entry to MICF with his new show 26 Things You’ve Been Doing Wrong with Sam Simmons suddenly be added to the Festival program.

On the down side some performers have already cancelled….But NOT……Tom Cashman XYZ, we read that he had but he has NOT cancelled. Go see him!

Shows that have been Cancelled:

Ronny Chieng has had to bow out due to being cast in a sitcom in pilot season in the US. We wish him all the success, but worry he may be too successful to perform here again… He has rescheduled his Australian shows for July.

Benny Darsow Ad Lib

Charlie Pickering Us & Them

The Elvis Dead by Rob Kemp,

Let’s Get Wild

One Man Breaking Bad by Miles Allen

Thomas McMahon and Nick Quon Total Business Solution

Blanc (That weird fashion circussy thing at Chadstone)

And NOW, Finally…..

Previously Reviewed shows – and links to our reviews:

Annie Louey – Before I Forget

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13164

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/annie-louey-before-i-forget

Barnie Juancan – Tap Head

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13221

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/tap-head

Bunk Puppets – Stark and Dormy

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13151

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/stark-and-dormy

Clare Cavanagh – Literally

Melbourne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13192

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/clare-cavanagh-literally

Chloe Black – Transistor Sister

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13202

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/transistor-sister

Felicity Ward – Busting a Nut

Edinburgh Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=12927

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/busting-a-nut

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience

Edinburgh Fringe 2008: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=1633

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/faulty-towers-the-dining-experience

The Breast of The Fest

MICF 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=12624

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/the-breast-of-the-fest

The Dizzy Biz – The 2007 Wonthaggi Blue Light Disco

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13180

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/the-2007-wonthaggi-blue-light-disco

Wool! A History of Australia’s Wool Industry: The Musical by Kit Richards

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13145

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/wool-a-history-of-australia-s-wool-industry-the-musical

Chloe Black in Transistor Sister

By Lisa Clark 

Chloe has been performing for many years and is a charming and relaxed presence on stage. She eases her audience into the show with some random gags about relatable observations such as the tininess of the performance space, (no, really, I don’t know if I’ve seen a smaller “stage” as the one at Pilgrim) and the voraciousness of Tasmanian ants before getting to the main topic of the show; her experiences in the world as a newly out transgender woman.

Transistor Sister is no angsty “Coming Out” festival show, it’s a sharing of some interesting and annoying life experiences with warmth and humour. Chloe is great at getting laughs from the dumbass ignorant behaviour of human beings but wise enough to take it in her stride and find the humour for us. There are also parenting stories, with some being pretty relatable and others being amusingly unique.

Chloe’s years in the “Poetry Scene” have taught her performance skills that are a great help in a comedy career. She’s used to creating her own performances, is very comfortable on stage and handles her own tech well. It is also indicative of her love of wordplay and she loves creating silly anagrams. There is a section of the show about her love of anagrams but I reckon they would’ve been great sprinkled throughout the show, or even used as chapter headings or to underline topics as they came and went. Chloe also has a lot of droll comments and funny stories about spoken word that will find their mark with comedy fans.

The structure of Transistor Sister could do with some tightening and tweaking. At various times she talks about coming out to family, to friends and to herself which could form the backbone of this show. Some signposts, maybe even more use of her screen, could’ve helped balance the show and kept the odd bits of repetition at bay. Otherwise, this was a really lovely show in a supportive atmosphere from a comedian who I hope to see more of in the future.

Chloe Black performs Transistor Sister at Pilgrim til Sept 28 (except the 27th)

https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/chloe-black-in-transistor-sister/

5 Good Reasons To See Chloe Black in Transistor Sister

1. You will feel a little closer to humanity.

2. You will become a hound for anagrams

(my show features quite a few anagrams, I’m very proud of them. They’re fun and very addictive)

3. A show for introverts and extroverts alike

Whether you’re out,  loud and proud or prefer the creature comforts of home, there is something for everybody!

I’ll even allow you to bring your cup of tea into the venue!

4. Everyone who sees it raves about it. Don’t be left behind, be a part of the buzz, get into it before everyone else does

5. All genders and identities are welcome!

Chloe Black performs Transistor Sister at Pilgrim 20 -28 Sep (not 27) at 8.30

https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/chloe-black-in-transistor-sister/