Tag: Ethan Cavanagh

The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase

By Colin Flaherty

Ever since Dave Gorman searched for others with his name back in 2000, PowerPoint has become an important tool in the arsenal of comedians the world over. The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase is a celebration of the modern slide night, featuring five guests every Thursday to Sunday, each delighting us via comedic multimedia slideshow. The evening I attended was an Aussie filled showcase (with a Kiwi for diversity).

For those with decent phone coverage (unlike I [thanks 3 mobile!]), random QR codes kept us entertained before the show proper with links to silly websites. It was a rare evening where the technology gods decided to cause trouble for them but after a deft adlibbing by our hosts, and turning it off and on again, things were soon back on track.

Our dapper hosts Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh presented some hilarious tales from when they were promoting their previous Australian show Presentation Is Everything. Throw in some singing and dancing razzle dazzle, and it was delightful introduction to the hour.

First up was Jenny Tian who presented part of her current show Chinese Australian, an eye opening look into being an Internet Influencer. Her TikTok duets were particularly delightful and a cheeky bit of audience participation was fun.

Nick Shuller gave us a collection of random silly jokes with images tacked on. He was hilarious with his droll delivery and seemed genuinely surprised by some of the images appearing behind him.

Michael Shafar told a brilliant tale of being mistakenly outed for profiting from CoVid conspiracy theories. His documentarian type slides made this crazy tale even more amusing.

Sarah Bradley gave a hilarious lecture about her research into human attractiveness. Delivered straight, it was a clever and brilliant lampoon of the Male Gaze theory and a celebration of women’s objectification of men on social media.

Alex Lowes rounded out the night with a wacky game show “Who’s That Baby”. It was ridiculously over the top and had the audience whipped in a frenzy.

The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase is wonderful way to end your night at Fringe. Bring all your friends and have a smashing time.

Four stars!

The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase is on at Assembly George Square Studios until August 24

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/late-nite-powerpoint-comedy-showcase

Sweeney Preston & Ethan Cavanagh – Presentation Is Everything

Reviewed by Bren Carruthers

Melbourne’s best-dressed comedy duo return to the stage for the aptly-named Presentation is Everything, after a sold-out debut show at last year’s Comedy Festival. Not just a reference to the clean-cut and sharp-suited stylings that Ethan Cavanagh and Sweeney Preston have been making their trademark, this show plays with a much-derided medium – the humble PowerPoint presentation.

Multimedia has had a big renaissance at this year’s festival – possibly a hangover from a few too many Zoom meetings during lockdown – but few shows have quite blended stage and screen as Presentation is Everything. Undoubtedly crafted as a live performance, the presentation itself takes a starring role and includes more than 600 transitions, covering both the best and worst that the ubiquitous software has to offer.

Although the format is perfect for delivering a wealth of quick-fire punchlines, it is the longer form anecdotes that are the highlight of the show. Ethan’s adventure in country Victoria, which approaches True Crime levels, is as heartwarming as it is hilarious, and a prolific misunderstanding about their “working relationship” gracefully delivers plenty of giggles.

It’s a delight to see two relatively-new comedians play with format, expanding and challenging their repertoire, a testament to both their talent and their diligence. Keep this duo in mind for future festivals – Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh are two fresh faces going places.

Presentation Is Everything has completed its run, but Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh will host one last performance of The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase at Trades Hall on Saturday April 23

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/the-late-nite-powerpoint-comedy-showcase

5 Good Reasons to See The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase

1. This show will be a first-of-its-kind at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Witness history in the making.

2. The absolutely stacked lineup will feature comedians from MICF’s The Gala & Allstars Supershow as well as Melbourne Comedy Festival award nominees & Melbourne Fringe award winners.

3. It will be MC’d by Melbourne comedians Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh who intend to ‘wipe’, ‘swivel’ and ‘random bars’ their way into your hearts.

4. The show will be performed at Melbourne’s famous Trades Hall in response to both Sweeney and Ethan’s parents pleading with them to both learn a trade.

5. A picture says a thousand words, and with more slides than Wet’n’Wild, The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase offers more words per dollar than any other show in the Festival.

The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase is on at Trades Hall Fridays & Saturdays at 10pm Apr 8 – 23

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/the-late-nite-powerpoint-comedy-showcase

5 Good Reasons to See Presentation is Everything – An Hour of Power(Point Comedy) 

1. Presentation is Everything is the antidote to every bland lecture, dull pitch and boring presentation you’ve ever had to endure. Come and heal.

2. Sweeney & Ethan just finished a sold out run at the Adelaide Fringe where they swear they went for a comedy tour and not a wine tour(s).

3. The show will be performed at Loop Bar Melbourne – a venue that literally has more indoor house plants than chairs. Zen/10.

4. This Microsoft PowerPoint show is the only festival gig where you can say “I think Bill Gates is behind this” and not sound conspiratorial.

5. The first few shows are very nearly sold out so get in quick. They’d hate for you to have more technical difficulties buying tickets than Sweeney and Ethan did building this PowerPoint show.

Presentation is Everything – An Hour of Power(Point Comedy) is performed by Ethan Cavanagh and Sweeney Preston at Loop Project Space & Bar Wednesdays and Thursdays from March 30 but NOT the 14th!

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/presentation-is-everything

5 Good Reasons To See Ethan Cavanagh & Sweeney Preston: Very Mature

1. PRICE. This is the cheapest we’ll ever be, ever. ($17-22). Either due to imminent success or more likely, inflation.

2. LEARNING. If you’re in your 20s, ever have been, or ever will be, this is the perfect how-to guide. Or rather, the perfect how-not-to guide.

3. ACCESSIBILITY. The material is relatively inoffensive. You can bring your mum, your friend’s mum, or your neighbour’s mum. Just don’t bring our mums, they’re sick of our shit.

4. SAFETY. We’re not gonna spend 10 minutes picking on you if you’re in the front. We’re like spiders, more terrified of you then you are of us.

5. CONTRIBUTING TO DIGGING US OUT OF A HOLE THAT WE, OURSELVES, CREATED. We drunkenly told a bunch of people from our high schools that we’re on an extensive national tour so we need to sell these tickets to visit more than two cities.

Ethan Cavanagh & Sweeney Preston perform Very Mature at Mantra on Russell from Mar 25 – 28 (short run get into it!)

Tickets Available Here:   https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2021/shows/ethan-cavanagh-sweeney-preston

5 reason to see Sweeney Preston & Ethan Cavanagh in Very Mature

1. PRICE. This is the cheapest we’ll ever be, ever. ($17-20). Either due to imminent success or more likely, inflation.

2. LEARNING. If you’re in your 20s, ever have been, or ever will be, this is the perfect how-to guide. Or rather, the perfect how-not-to guide.

3. ACCESSIBILITY. The material is relatively inoffensive. You can bring your mum, your friend’s mum, or your neighbour’s mum. Just don’t bring our mums, they’re sick of our shit.

4. SAFETY. We’re not gonna spend 10 minutes picking on you if you’re in the front. We’re like spiders, more terrified of you then you are of us.

5. CONTRIBUTING TO DIGGING US OUT OF A HOLE THAT WE, OURSELVES, CREATED. We drunkenly told a bunch of people from our high schools that we’re on an extensive national tour so we need to sell these tickets to visit more than two cities.

Very Mature is on at Crowded In The Vaults from March 24 to March 29
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2020/shows/very-mature