Category Archives: Comedy

Golden Phungs Encyclopedia Of Everything

Posted on by peteskiau
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Golden Phungs Encyclopedia Of Everything
If you come away with anything after watching this slick sketch comedy show, I only hope that its the following: The world needs more Antiques Roadshow sketch comedy.

As I said in my opening paragraph for Love Child, I have no idea about local theatre; this also applies to local comedy. I’ve got NO IDEA who is good or bad, but these guys were f#&$ing ace. The technical production was surprisingly slick, with no screw ups from what I can see. The audio & video set up worked well to fill the time while the performers were preparing for the next scene.

It is a funny, quick, witty & sarcasting show and its some what relatable to everyone (the centrelink job-seeker scene is eerily close to an experience I once had) and the puns & jokes aren’t over thought and they’re not stupid either. The team knows how to perform to a crowd, and knows the right moment to break the fourth wall.

The Worldsend Hotel was a great venue for the show too, great location, great atmosphere and it feels similar to one of the smaller performance spaces of the Adelaide Town Hall; intimate & comfortable.

I’m definitely keen to see these guys perform again, and i’ll be keeping an eye out for them in the future.

Imperial Fizz

Posted on by Katie
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You may find yourself feeling vaguely unsure about what’s going on in Imperial Fizz. Never fear, sit tight and all will be revealed. This is absurdist tragicomedy the likes that I have not seen before.  The charismatic David Calvitto and beautifully expressive Beth Fitzgerald both delivered brilliantly energetic performances. I was amazed at the amount of lines that these two had to remember! Costumes were perfect and the stage design and props, although minimal, were spot on. I took my mother, a long time theatre critic along (she’s been involved in theatre in performance, backstage and front of house since she was a small child). She loved it. I loved it. We sat together, we watched together and most importantly we laughed together.

If I say any more I’ll spoil the performance for you. If there’s anything that you take away from this performance, I hope it will be one of these tremendous one liners:

The woman: They accused you of running from responsibility
The man: I needed the exercise!

The man: I suggest that you drove her to her grave
The woman: No dear, the hearse did

The Imperial Fizz season runs right through until Sunday the 18th of March at Higher Ground and forms part of the CITAdelaide offerings.

Abandoman

Posted on by alanablah-na-na
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I was already in a good mood before I saw this show: apparently reviewing makes you ‘part of the Fringe’ which in turn results in a 50% discount at the popcorn stand in the Garden. ($2 popcorn: try matching that Event Cinemas!) Another thrill the commercial cinemas can’t hope to replicate is the adrenalin rush one gets from seeing an awesome off-the-cuff live performance, which is exactly what Abandoman provided on Tuesday night.

Abandoman: Irish rapping superhero!

Abandoman is a one-(Irish!)man, one keytar sort of show that relies heavily on the performer’s charisma and connection with the audience to work. The night I saw him, he used this connection extremely well, drawing audience members out of their seats and out of their comfort zones. Things certainly got personal, and all the better for it. After some coaxing, various audience members confessed their most pedantic pet hates, which provided ammunition for some impressive free-styling. Anyone who can smash rhymes about the annoyance of a vacuum cleaner turned off at the power point, chocolate bars that are too thin (take note makers of Lindt chocolate: you need to beef up your blocks!) and the supreme disgust of patting a cat only to be given the ‘brown eye’, well that sort of talent is just flat-out impressive.

To be honest I had a heads-up about the show, which is probably best described as a hip hop stand-up comedy mash-up. This prior knowledge didn’t ruin my experience of the show, but rather enhanced it, so I’ve decided to share this with you: bring a random item to the show. I brought a Sammy Davis Jnr. cassette tape I found whilst rummaging around my car floor. Take anything that might prove to be lyrically inspirational *wink, wink*.

So don’t be shy, prepare to share and get along to this show!

Abandoman is playing at The Campanile in the Garden Of Unearthly Delights until Sunday 4 March. Book your tickets here.

Sammy J & Randy in the The Inheritance.

Posted on by adelaideartbeat
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Warming up slowly with an introduction as Randy the portrait painter and Sammy J the model (& where I realise this isn’t a show that includes a man with his arm up a puppet…but 2 people!), it’s the next scene that reveals why this pair are absolute comedy winners.

As they lay bare their unachieved goals and aspirations in life though the census form, with a quick witted musical number thrown in to boot, we’re about to start on an glorious adventure into an Inheritance claim in England.   From the joys of a sub woofer to the inheritance song, the pair show us their skills as both musicians and comedians, and the combination absolutely works.

The many scene changes, introduction of new characters, intriguing shadow puppet play and the ability to cope (and weave into the show) outside Garden of Unearthly Delight disturbances,  shows us their ability to cope with an improv opportunity.

This is a very funny and clever show – made all the more personal with the odd awkward costume change or prop fail which they cover with comedic ease.

It’s original and unique…& well worth a ticket, espeically if you don’t expect a man and a puppet to be funny!

The Garden of Unearthly Delights – Umbrella Revolution until the 18 March.

Where Did It All Go Right?

Posted on by RubinaInRadelaide
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WARNING: This show contains partial nudity, strobe lighting and… pop music!

Meet the Irish dancing troupe, Ponydance! They’re not at all like the Michael Flatley kind: they’re cheeky, energetic and incredibly flexible.

Paula O’Reilly calls the shots (well at least her character does): she welcomes you as you enter, dictates rules for audience and performer alike and interrupts as she sees fit. Duane Watters, is the quiet, unassuming DJ. Oona Doherty (also dubbed “Double O Heaven”) is gracefully sexy, and often partners with the “Boi”, Lorcan O’Neill, to perform some sensual sequences.

The essence of their show, Where Did It All Go Right?, explores the situations and characters that young people come across when out for a night on the town today. Seems things aren’t so different over there in Belfast… There’s still that girl who bounds clumsily about the dancefloor, that couple who may as well be having upright intercourse and that “maniac”!

I admit that I have difficulty appreciating the technical form or interpreting the meanings of modern dance, but here, the meanings could not be clearer. The Ponydance crew combine their talents as dancers with a sprinkling of comedy, a touch of audience participation and their passion for their artform. The result: a fun engaging 35 minute show, that is over all too quickly. Truly, Where Did It All Go Right? is a comedic dancing delight.

Ponydance are performing at the Stag Hotel (how apt!) and King’s Hotel until Thursday 8 March 2012 as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Tickets available here.