5 Good Reasons to see Improvilicious – The Improvised Guide to Spooky Stories

1. It’s at a highly convenient location and time for a school holiday activity (Melbourne Town Hall, 2.00pm).

2. It’s scary in a good way.

3. You get to shout out audience suggestions.

4. The entire team of performers and producers is from Perth and we all have dogs.

5. It’s the only kid-friendly improvisation-based show in the Festival (improvisation without swearing or sexual references is TWICE AS IMPRESSIVE and FOUR TIMES AS FUNNY).

Improvilicious – The Improvised Guide to Spooky Stories is on at Melbourne Town Hall from March 28 to April 12
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2020/shows/the-improvised-guide-to-spooky-stories

5 GOOD REASONS TO SEE THE BIG HOO-HAA! 

1. Every show is completely unique, like a snowflake! Because it’s all made up on the spot, you will never see a show like it ever again, like a snowflake! It’s also really cool, like a snowflake!

2. Improvisers are the happiest people you will ever see (on the outside). Even if they’re being crushed from the inside out by their own existential dread and will eventually become one with the universe like a dying star, their smiles and buffoonery are just for YOU.

3. Sorry, I can’t concentrate on this one because there is legit a rooster in my neighbourhood and it’s crowing, what is this, Of Mice and Men or something? JOKES: That was an improv! See? We can literally do anything!

4. The Big Hoo-HAA! ensemble contains some of Melbourne’s hardest working comics who can, outside of being seen in this show, can also be seen on TV and other cool things! Par example, Lliam Amor (The Micallef Show), Gillian Cosgriff (ABC2’s Written it Down), Lee Naimo (Axis of Awesome), Dan Debuf (The Loop) and Brianna Williams (The Bachelor Unpacked).

5. If you want to feel as though you have some control in this crazy world, as we hurtle toward irreversible climate change and animal extinction, improv will not only give you the chance to yell out suggestions and have a hand in creating the comedy, but you can also be distracted from these problems for an hour! Ha ha ha! Comedy truly is the world’s greatest medicine (also penicillin)

The Big Hoo Haa is performing at The Melbourne Town Hall throughout the Festival

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2018/shows/the-big-hoo-haa-melbourne

Brianna Williams : Little Mountain Goblin

By Colin Flaherty
little mountain goblin brianna williams

The Goblins Brianna Williams refers to are those of the psyche and form the basis of this interactive, autobiographical, one woman sketch show. We encounter all manner of unhinged characters as we explore the social minefield that is the modern world and all the anxieties that go along with it.

This show involves audience interaction for almost all of the sketches; a clever device for making this performance something more than a series of monologues. Don’t expect this to be a fully improvised show where she uses all the skills acquired whilst working with the Big HOO-HAA.

On this particular night Williams was working with a rather timid crowd so it was nice to see her put the volunteers put at ease; never pushing beyond their comfort zones with the jokes firmly at her characters’ expense.

With a script that she needs to follow, the questions are often loaded to get to where she needs to be. If an assistant wanders off script she gently nudges them in the right direction, laughs off their comment using the bitchiness of the character or simply cuts them off. Another method of getting out of a scene involves presenting a challenge few can hope to pull of successfully so both parties save face when fails. God help her if she encounters a rowdy mob, each wanting to be the centre of attention!

In some of the scenes audience input is vital to the narrative, particularly in one scenario where the punters seem to do all of the work. Williams’ ability to provide a witty quip to a response is brilliant when she chooses to do so and repeatedly calling on the same “volunteers” allows her to involve them in overarching storylines with wonderful results.

There are times when the scenes tend to outstay their welcome, even when there is a decent payoff at the end. Sometimes this is a heavy handed method of getting the joke across but the repetition often demonstrates the nagging doubts of the character. It may be consistent with the theme but Williams does so at the expense of laughs, resulting in nervous titters rather than the bigger response she was aiming for.

Mining both high and low culture for humour there is plenty to tickle your fancy. This is a fun hour presented by a charming and witty performer.

Little Mountain Goblin is on at Belleville until April 2

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/little-mountain-goblin-brianna-williams

5 Good Reasons to see Brianna Williams in Little Mountain Goblin

1. Performer Brianna Williams is very, very small. Comically small, some might say. If you like to feel as though you are a mythical giant, then this is the show for you!

2. This show contains references to the greatest movie of all time: Jurassic Park. It is empirically the best one. If you agree, or would like to be convinced to to agree, then this is the show for you!

3. I think we can all agree that everyone loves “Kissed By A Rose” by Seal. It is such a good song. Do you like this song? You DO? Well then, this is the show for you!

4. A.B Banjo Paterson is a national treasure. You agree, don’t you? You DO? Well then, this is the show for you!

5. If you have ever felt the crushed and impotent due to agonising anxiety, experienced a sleepless night at the hands of the mercilessly grim narrative constantly running through your brain, the indescribable fear of nothing and the terror of being unable to cope with the future, then I’m really sorry to hear that. It’s awful to experience and I hope you feel better soon. This show is about the performer’s experiences with the same thing, so potentially: this is the show for you.

Brianna Williams performs Little Mountain Goblin at Belleville

For more information see the MICF website:

 http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/little-mountain-goblin-brianna-williams

5 Good Reasons to See Good Show: ROBOTS ROBOTS ROBOTS

1. Sketch topics include: Love! Housefires! Corn! Bats! And many more.

2. This gender-balanced sketch group is made of four of Melbourne’s MOST improv comedians and performers. That’s right. We know what we said.

3. Learn exactly how to please our glorious robot overlords.

4. As we hurtle toward the advent of artificial intelligence surpassing the sum of human achievement, what else is there to do but laugh?

5. Help us get Luke’s ex-wife back.

 

ROBOTS ROBOTS ROBOTS is on at The Lithuanian Club

https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/program/event/view/08978f69-075b-4ca1-9516-b15c7ecfaaca

5 Good Reasons to see Little Mountain Goblin by Brianna Williams

1. If you’re perpetually late, just can’t return texts or emails and sometimes find yourself lying awake thinking about that weird thing you did to Sarah Glenister at year 9 Music Camp, you will enjoy this show. (Sarah Glenister probably won’t though.)

2. You like, you know, human things. Like laughing and connecting with people. Those are things, right?

3. It’s been a bit too long since you’ve heard Jason Donovan’s “Sealed With a Kiss”. I’m here to help you with that.

4. You enjoy the aroma of freshly cooked popcorn* (outside of a trauma to the brain).

5. You want to know exactly what a Little Mountain Goblin could be.

* Only crazy people do not enjoy this delicious smell.

Little Mountain Goblin by Brianna Williams is on at The Butterfly Club

For Tickets and Info: https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/program/event/view/b4105a7d-1e95-40a7-a1b9-f60b539d9078