Tag: Joe Bone

Bane : Trilogy

By Elyce Phillips

Bane 3 is a one-man action thriller about killer-for-hire Bruce Bane. Joe Bone, with nothing more than some musical accompaniment from Ben Roe, spins an epic tale of love, betrayal and violence. This show is part of a trilogy, told over three nights, however, the shows can be seen individually and in any order. For those who have missed parts 1 and 2, there is a handy quick-fire recap of the story to kick things off.

Bone is a skilled performer. His ability to flip between characters is truly impressive. Bane 3 is incredibly physical. With no props, not only is Bone managing a whole cast of characters, he is also creating scenery and miming daring getaways on motorcyles. The humour in Bane 3 is often found in the physicality of Bone’s performance. Fight scenes quickly become complicated as he shuffles between characters at an intense rate. Goofy voices also got laughs, particularly a creepy whispering henchman.

All the usual clichés of gangster stories are here – the bad guys are gruff Italian-Americans, a greedy and slightly thick brother-in-law is the comic relief, and the few women are either saintly motherly figures or eye candy. It’s a genre that has so much to play with, but aside from the odd wacky name or silly exchange not a lot is done with it. The stereotypes are exaggerated but rarely questioned. As for the plot of Bane 3, it’s straight-up drama. The ending in particular is serious and jarring, and the lack of a punch line felt anti-climactic.

This is an accomplished show from a talented performer. Joe Bone knows what he’s doing. Bane 1 has previously done well at several Fringe festivals and has picked up several awards along the way. However, it feels like an odd fit for the Comedy Festival. I went in expecting comedy, and while the show got some laughs, I found it lacking. Bane 3 is, however, an impressive one-man action drama. Go in with an open mind and there’s plenty to enjoy.

Bane is on at the Victoria Hotel – Acacia Room until April 20
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/trilogy-bane

5 Good Reasons to see Joe Bone’s Bane Trilogy

1. If you’re on a diet, it’s a great way to not think about food for an hour.

2. You’ll get to glance around the room and hear someone else’s weird over exuberant laugh.

3. If you’re attempting a charity fundraiser to “Not laugh for one year”, it’ll be an interesting test of your mental strength. But you’ll probably be fine.

4. It’s won loads of awards and stuff, and has a Brazilian translation running in Rio called Billdog. If you really like Bane, and you speak Portuguese, and you have a spare $1500, and you’re fucking nuts, you can jump on a plane and watch Billdog in Rio, just before the World Cup.

5. There’s three shows!! All different. If you like Bane 3, come back and see Bane 2 and Bane.

Joe Bone’s Bane Trilogy at the Victoria Hotel

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/trilogy-bane