Kryztoff RAW» Comedy

Mike Wilmot-Hunting Lodge-4k

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:13:29 +0000

Thursday night at 7.30 is probably not the most sought-after spot amongst stand-up comedians in the Garden however Mike Wilmot turned this potential handicap to his advantage last night. Despite the crowd’s seeming unwillingness to have any fun whatsoever the Canadian Comedy Legend teased out more than a handful of big laughs with his middle-aged misanthropic shtick.

Wilmot decided against providing a title for his Fringe show, a choice which seems to have paid dividends as it gives the Canadian the freedom to delve into his wealth of stories, characters and theories he has collected over the years. It was obvious from the start that the audience were in the hands of an old hand and master of the craft as the reticence of many to join in any joviality was met by the stalwart with care-free defiance as he continued to deliver witty observations and off-the-cuff banter.

Wilmot may have trudged the depths of base humour with tales of incontinence, celebrations of the ‘c’ word and the hilarity of mammary glands but the material was delivered in such a masterful way, as the audience warmed up and the sky grew darker not many people cared about the crudity. The story of being stuck in a log cabin with only Canadian radio for company was a highlight as were his spot on observations of Adelaide being a city of insecurity bordering on self-loathing (“yeah, it’s fine during the fringe but beyond March…”).

For stand-up comedy done professionally without gimmicks and a bar open throughout I would recommend the Hunting Lodge at 7.30.

FRINGE: Akmal – Royalty Theatre – 5K

admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:36:57 +0000

Comedians are like wine, some never become enjoyable, no matter how long they have been aged, some have a very clear use by date after which they go down the drain and then there are those which age so well, better and better year by year. One of these well aging comedians is Akmal, even though he probably has quite some years to go until he is, as Akmal himself puts it “that age where pants are optional”.

It is so refreshing and entertaining to be present when an amazingly gifted comedian is on stage, such as the very talented Akmal, who rather than having to rely on jokes with timed pauses so the audience knows when to applaud, is able to deliver a conversational story while throughout interacting with audience members and weaving them into the story, but with such wit and jest as Akmal does, to have the audience in constant fits of laughter.

Very, very entertaining. Surely the audience is glad that Akmal didn’t follow into medicine with the rest of his family but applied his gift to the amusement of 1000′s, who must be a lot healthier after so much laughter.

Akmal delivers a show you just don’t want to end.

Kryztoff Rating 5K

FRINGE – Tom Binns as Ian D. Montfort – The Garden – 4K

Ernest — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:48:57 +0000

Tom Binns as Ian D. Montfort – Garden of Unearthly Delights

Tom Binns show Ian D. Montfort Spirit Comedium has received many soaring reviews and awards internationally and brings it back to the Adelaide Fringe again this year for us to enjoy until 17th March, nightly at 8:15pm.

Tom describes his show of a hybrid between Derren Brown and Tommy Cooper, he says “I wanted to do a cross between Derren Brown and Tommy Cooper and make the kind of magic that Derren Brown does funny. Derren’s very funny as well, but you know what I mean – proper Tommy Cooper-style funny.”

Tom sure had the audience in stitches with his very unusual spirit messages. Some might think it’s real metaphysical magic others my think the audience participant played along well. Yet all were truly entertained and then amazed by Tom’s picture reading ability. Did some misfire? Well the finale sure showed those who didn’t seem to play along with it.

Very clever and entertaining, highly recommended, no matter if you are a believer or cynic.

Kryztoff Rating 4K

FRINGE – Tommy Little – A Fistful of Apologies – The Garden – Spare Room – 3K

Peter — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:38:34 +0000

If all the Fringe means to you is comedy shows at the Garden, then you could do a lot worse that Tommy Little. The instantly likeable and engaging 26 year old Little takes you on a tour of his world, from the gym to Facebook via lessons on life like the realities of everything we do (the search for ‘showing bits’) and have always done and the dawning on us of the foibles of our parents.

He wants to be rich and famous and otherwise the extent of the subject matter is pretty much as you would expect from a white, middle class, middle twenties, single guy – no great advances on the world around us there, though the social comment around Penny Wong and gay marriage all got a little confused and bit out of place.

But heck, he’s good looking, happy, confident and he makes you laugh. Have a few drinks before the show and you would leave a very happy vegemite (but not in the Kevin Rudd style.)

Kryztoff Rating 3K

FRINGE – Heath Franklin v Chopper – The Garden – Umbrella – 2K

Peter — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:49:26 +0000

By Fiona Gardner

Here it is again 2012 fringe time already, welcome to the Umbrella tent located on the south side over the Garden bridge. Now for those who haven’t been here late in the evening! Be prepared; dress warmly just in case a global warming kick’s in with a bit of a chill as you could be worse for wear. That is if you want to actually see Heath Franklin vs Chopper.

As Heath explains, his toughest audience to please was at Melbourne’s fringe last year, this self introduced one man show, with interaction of live video and with the audience members acquires a certain taste.

One thing is you should be prepared, if you’re not into watching a sexually frustrated man talk about his crutch for an hour, making guns and fowl language, this show isn’t for you. His goat impersonation of Mrs. Gillard is quiet amusing. The second act of master chef was started with a high and ended with a low. If it’s up your alley to score a free beer (?), make sure you participate in the wildlife outing!

Overall I laughed, thankfully as it is a Comedy show, although I’m not in to toilet humor, or FUCK being every second word. Don’t tell my dad I said that.

Kryztoff Rating 2K

FRINGE: Beer And Loathing – Rhino Room (Beer Garden) – 4.5K

Peter — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 01:18:50 +0000

By Rupert Hogan Turner

With so much of the pro comedy circuit wedded to safe material about relationships gone wrong and bozo flat mates et al, local boy Jon Brooks breaks the mould at the Rhino Room with a full on assault on our political world.

From our quaint politicians and their ethical dilemmas to a general sh*t on the liver session about most things happening in this country, Brooks is the funny guy in the bar that draws a crowd that just wants to hang there hoping that his fun never finishes.

One of the highlights of the Rhino Fringe season.

Kryztoff Rating 4.5K

FRINGE: Dead Cat Bounce – Excess at Gluttony – 4K

Peter — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 11:59:30 +0000

Irish group, Dead Cat Bounce brought their own style of concept comedy rock to Excess at Gluttony in two shows. The one playing most nights and their more successful was entitled Caged Heat where band members Jim, Dave, Shane and Mick played their own songs on a range of topics from Ronald Reagan to the similarities between pigeons and pirates (if you can believe that.)

The other, Bootlegs, was late on Mondays where the boys played (effectively) two verse covers that seemed to know no end and rollicked long to the delight of a young crowd that filed in, many of which were Fringe workers of some form or another looking for a bit of release away from their duties.

Rock comedy like this is not easy for you need some good material that the audience can actually hear. Lead singer Jim, looking every bit Jim Morrison reincarnated, provided a somewhat disarming (but effective) figure as the classic rock band lead singer but with somewhat coy and goofy antics. The rest assumed the usual range of personalities and great merriment was had.

Elsewhere this fringe, in a similar style, we had Tim McMillan and the Axis of Awesome. Dead Cat Bounce sit somewhere in between them, being without the trickery of McMillan but brave enough to go with their own material where the Axis crew relied more heavily on parody.

Their Caged Heat shows were terrific while their Bootlegs seemed just an excuse to jam, where little of their band’s personalities got a run.

Very much hope they return next year.

Kryztoff Rating 4K

RAW: Fear of a Brown Planet Attacks Again – Garden – 4K

Peter — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 11:30:48 +0000

By Zoe Mitchell

Aamer Rahman and Nazeem Hussain deliver comedy with a consience through Fear of a Brown Planet Attacks Again. These two use their lived experience to challenge the views of modern Australian society, to question this nations ability to end racism, and to give insight into what it is like to be a minority, and a muslim, in this country. Humour is a great tool to get people to listen without getting defensive. Rahman and Hussain both use their comedic skills wisely to speak in an ‘other’ language and discuss opposing views on cultural realities, both their own, and that of the wider community.

Both comedians were finalists in the 2007 Victorian Triple J Raw Comedy, Rahman winning the event, and both have written and performed for Australian television. This show gave the opportunity to relax a little on race related topics such as the Hajib. We were allowed to laugh at our own ability to be so opinionated, and could reflect on things that the average Australian doesn’t really have the understanding to comment on.

Kryztoff Rating 4K

FRINGE: Jason Byrne – Garden – 4K

Peter — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 02:49:11 +0000

By Kosta Jaric

Jason Byrne finally decided to bring himself down to Adelaide after numerous visits to the country, and it’s fair to say – judging from audience and artist – he will be back sooner rather than later.

Byrne’s comedy is Irish with panache. His show continues at a great level of energy throughout, thriving off of the audience. Rarely does it look like he’s following a script of any kind, freestyling greatly off of objects thrown at him onstage, or people he singles out in the crowd.

His subject matter varies greatly, but he took a lot of pride and time in making sure the people and city of Adelaide featured heavily, and even when hitting the usual suspects – the churches – he did so with great originality and self-deprecation. His opening routine involving pulling audience members up onstage to skip rope with was defining of the pure randomness and set up the feel perfectly.

Comparisons to Ross Noble are probably not unfair, with his energy, quickfire remarks and ability to make his show visually as funny as it sounds all big pluses. He loves to swear, but in that charming Irish accent you can’t help but laugh even harder. Byrne will definitely be hitting a bigger venue on his next visit through, and you would dare say he’s effortlessly hit that magical upper-echelon of Fringe comedians already.

Kryztoff Rating 4K

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To see reviews of shows not covered by Kryztoff go to BankSA Talkfringe at www.talkfringe.com.au.

FRINGE – Comedy – Sexytime – Adelaide Town Hall – 3K

MiriamK — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 01:31:31 +0000

It’s safe to assume that a physical theatre comedy show named ‘Sexytime’ – a name which just demands to be said in a silly voice – is going to be an interesting experience, and probably anything but sexy.

This show starts at the beginning, the day that man and woman met, and explores the idea of how that first encounter might have taken place. The audience is then taken on a journey through several different scenes relating to sex and how we go about engaging in it. This show is heavily dance based but this is entirely tongue in cheek and works well to accentuate the tone. A particular highlight is the abstract exploration of the sexual revolution.

In addition to filling the part of “woman”, Tessa Waters is the sultry, heavily accented MC of the evening, talking the audience through the experience and creating a neurotic yet calculating minx. Meanwhile, Kai Smythe is the caveman: continuously in pursuit of sex, and thus under the control of the woman. Essentially devoid of speech, this role relies heavily on Smythe’s ability to express himself physically and the combination of his facial expressions and disgustingly sleazy characterisation accomplish this.

This is not high-brow humour – the tone is somewhat close to that of a Will Ferrell movie – though that’s not to say that some aspects of the show aren’t clever. It’s certainly an original idea and is carried off well by the performers.

Kryztoff Rating: 3K

To see reviews of shows not covered by Kryztoff go to BankSA Talkfringe at www.talkfringe.com.au.