Alice Tovey – Squirrel Comedy

5 Good Reasons to see Alice Tovey Doggo

1. The show is about dogs. The universally loved best friend of humanity. This is reason enough to see the show. But I will give you 4 more because I like you very much, person reading this article. You have kind eyes and deserve the best.

2. You might see my butt. It is one of my top 10 greatest physical features (number 1 being my cheekbones. Modesty is for chumps).

3. If you come on the same night as my grandma, you get to meet her. Honestly, she’s the best.

4. To honour the life and times of Sir Michael Parkinson. If it were not for Parky, I wouldn’t exist. Honestly. My mum physically ran into Parkinson in a restaurant after my dad proposed. Mum and Mikey talked it all through and then boom, she said yes. 27 years later, I’m here baby! Thanks mate.

5. I am the funniest person to ever have lived.

Alice Tovey Doggo is on at The Butterfly Club April 2 – 11 at 7pm

Tickets available Here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2021/shows/doggo

Alice Tovey – Existential Crisis (A Rock Opera)

By Samara Barr

If you’re into Musical Comedy, intelligent critiques, and against Peter Dutton, then book yourself in to see Alice Tovey – Existential Crisis (A Rock Opera). Known for her sold out 2017 Fringe Show Mansplaining, Tovey dives head first back in to another smart musical number delving into the modern day issues affecting Millennials.

Up in high in the tower of the Coopers Malthouse Theatre, the stage is set for a night of gems with a four piece band ready for action behind a giant red iridescent sequinned TOVEY sign. Alice Tovey saunters out bedazzled in her sparkly sequin David Bowie like full body Jumpsuit and delights the audience with banger after banger.

As a self respecting Millennial and Feminist, I related all too well to Tovey’s chosen topics of contemplation. Opening with the soul inspiring song “One day we’re all going to die” further depressing themes of Zombie Apocalypses, the Housing Crisis, and Climate Change expanded on how screwed we all really are. But Tovey’s humour and dulcet tones made us laugh rather than cry in despair.

The band accompanying Tovey – The Apostles, were flawless in their enhancement of the night, leaving me jigging and bobbing along in my seat. While some songs were a little more somber and mellow, on the whole Tovey’s self introspection and delivery made otherwise bleak topics a blast!

Tovey’s Rock Opera is a sure fire hit, with Millennials especially loving the experience, if you’re a Peter Dutton fan maybe give it a miss but otherwise you’re in for a night of joy, because remember, one day we’re all going to die.

Alice Tovey – Existential Crisis is playing at the Coopers Malthouse Theatre till April 8
http://malthousetheatre.com.au/whats-on/alice-tovey-existential-crisis

Seemingly Evil – Mix Tape

by Elyce Phillips

Melbourne locals Seemingly Evil (Alice Tovey, Clare Rankine, Melissa Trancia, Sam Garlepp, Lachie McKenzie, Will Reinehr and John Liacopoulos) returned to MICF this year with a fresh bunch of sketches. As the title would suggest, Mix Tape is a grab bag of skits with no unifying theme. Some are snippets of satire with a local bent, poking fun at tram inspectors and the like. Others wander into the realm of the absurd, such as a man going through a painful break-up with his microwave.

A good mix tape is well-constructed, paying careful attention to the transition from song to song. Seemingly Evil’s Mix Tape was more akin to an iPod on shuffle, fading to black and re-setting after each sketch. I found these cuts detracted from the momentum of the show somewhat, and served to emphasise the disconnected nature of the content. This would have been fine if the quality of the sketches was consistent, but pausing for applause after each sketch really highlighted when one wasn’t received as well as the others.

For an up-and-coming sketch group, Mix Tape is a solid piece of work. The show was uneven, but entertaining. There were plenty of good nuggets of comedy, but pacing was an issue. A few of the sketches fell flat, taking a long time in the set-up without enough of a pay-off. However, there were also some hits. One sketch featuring some alfoil-hatted visitors from the unforeseeable future of slightly later in 2015 was particularly hilarious.

The troupe work really well together and they look like they’re having a heck of a lot of fun on stage. There were plenty of fans in the audience and the room was filled with laughter the whole way through. Mix Tape may be a little shaky, but Seemingly Evil is a group to watch – they’ve got the talent and the ideas to produce something really great, and they’re almost there.

5 Good Reasons to see Mix Tape

1. A sketch show with a mix of everything – from the topical and observational to the down-right absurd. Think Monty Python meets Mad as Hell.

2. We’re the creative brains (and the not so creative kidneys) behind comedy shows like the Melbourne Uni Law Revue (2012-2014), ‘Tres Miserables’ (2014-2015) and ‘Office Party’ (2014).

3. EVERYONE GETS A CAR!!!…sometime in their life.

4. We’re at the beautiful Trades Hall on Lygon, so come grab a bite and a drink at the bar. Get another and we’ll be funnier still.

5. It starts at 7:15, so why not bring a date? Both sexes are attracted to people who make them laugh. So this will be a horrible first date for you, but we’ll do alright.

Mix Tape is on at Trades Hall from April 7 until April 19
For booking information visit the Comedy Festival website :
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/mix-tape-seemingly-evil