Posts tagged Adelaide Fringe
RAW: Axis of Awesome- Infinity Rock Explosion
Mar 5th
So the lead singer of Axis of Awesome looks like Jack Black. You know it and he knows it. Yeah, it’s funny but it’s not the only funny thing the band has to offer. These guys are witty and talented to boot! The keyboard player, who looks like Chicken Little, has a music degree under his belt.
Covering the Kings of Leon’s Sex on Fire but changing the lyrics to form a ‘surprise’ song was a highlight as was a song about a superhero titled ‘Skeleton Man’. Not ones to shy away from a shameless plug, the guys promoted and preformed songs from their fictional CDs.
Upon entry to the venue you will be given 3D glasses. To ensure you don’t look like a dork, hold off on wearing the glasses until you are prompted and you will see an exclusive song in 3D. It’s just like Avatar! However, the real climax of the show came towards the end when the band performed their wonderful ‘Four Chords’ song. These guys are very funny. Jack Black, eat your heart out.
Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
Raw – True West – Adelaide Centre For The Arts
Mar 4th
Flying Penguin’s True West is high calibre theatre superbly acted and produced by this emerging Adelaide theatre company. Sam Shepard’s play is about two brothers, two very different brothers, confronting each other’s strengths and weaknesses and exposing their sibling rivalries and jealousies. Other than for a few interventions, it is just two characters battling it out on stage to prove themselves to each other and themselves. Renato Musolino as Austin and Nick Garsden as Lee command the set as much as they attempt to do the other. Garsden in particular pulls off a very difficult character brilliantly belying a significant period away from the stage before this part.
Of particular interest were the trashing of the stage and props (some poor body’s lot to restore each night) and the way the scene changes allowed the audience to almost participate in the shifts easing us all into the next part without having to unpack so many clues. That effectively just 2 actors could make nearly two hours so gripping is testament to both story and cast.
Theatre worthy of the Festival. Go see.
Kryztoff Rating: 4.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
Click Tease – An Intimate Experience in the Digital Age
Mar 4th
For anyone contemplating a “pimp my profile” service, Click Tease – Log On, Get Off could be the Fringe show for you.
Following insomniac Abbie (played wholeheartedly by Nikki Britton), who after an attack of cyber-insecurity brought on by spotting a former foe’s wedding photos posted online (girls – you know you have been there!) creates an alter ego ‘Debbie89’ (brought to life with verve by Kate Skinner) and lets her loose online.
Making the most of an intimate space upstairs at the Electric Light Hotel (around 20 seats), Abbie’s nervous exchanges with the audience during her quest to find her new ‘voice’ endear her to us. You can’t help rooting for her as she makes her way through the internet dating scene.
While the topic of the social impact on the online revolution sounds like something balding professors would be arguing about at some national convention somewhere, by dramatising it with such entertaining portrayals from the young cast, former Adelaidian Rebeeca Meston has made this discussion accessible to the ‘instant gratification’ generation.
Running from the 3rd to the 13th of March, Click Tease is highly recommended for those wanting to dip their toe into some discussion of the ramifications of the digital age without sacrificing the chance for a giggle and a good night out. Go on – try something other than a comedian for the Fringe!!!
RAW: Kelly Gertig’s Pop Art Exhibition
Mar 1st
Kelly Gertig’s artworks literally pop out of the bland walls at The Caledonian in North Adelaide.
Sure the style is simple, but Kelly has created great examples of Pop Art. Using bold and bright colours as well as the the recurring motifs of her character ‘Redhead’ and nude silhouettes, this exhibition is where pop art meets art deco.
When talking about the ‘Redhead’, Kelly explains (at her opening) that she was inspired by images of women in the 1950s.
“I love all things vintage. I really wanted to portray that 1950s look with the ‘Redhead’.”
Scattered about the renovated Caledonian Hotel, it’s definitely worth seeing over a bevvy or two.
Kryztoff Rating: 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: The Servant of Two Masters
Feb 27th
The Servant of Two Masters presented by the Adelaide University Fringe Club is a slightly confusing but nevertheless entertaining story. Showing at the Armoury Lawns behind the Adelaide Museum, the talented cast rely on voice projection to enable the audience to hear. It was at times difficult to hear what each character was saying, therefore, making it a little hard to follow what was happening in the plot. With entertaining pauses, audience acknowledgments and a great enthusiastic cast, the play had the audience laughing the majority of the way through. Shown in a beautiful location, the cast made use of the Museum’s stairs and balcony to add an element of surprise. Although a little long, the soap opera come comedy had me laughing and smiling.
Kryztoff Rating: 2.5K
>> Check out moe interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Sam Simmons- Fail
Feb 27th
Sam Simmons is an oddball.
Original, nostalgic and random are words that describe his fringe show Fail. The show jumps around with Sam dancing one minute and reading a story from a Heinmann Atlas the next.
The show is slightly autobiographical and fans of Simmons will be able to recognise his ‘where did that come from?!’ humour. However, those not familiar with Sam’s work on Triple J and ABC may become a little confused.
The show features one very attractive cabbage, vintage slides and lists of things Sam has failed at. Audiences are even able to leave the show with ideas on how to cure boredom, such as inner mind quiz shows and one very special game titled ‘carpet or floor.’ If you find Sam Simmons’ other work hilarious, then you’ll love this hour long show.
Kryztoff Rating: 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: I Need Your Love
Feb 27th
Contemporary dancers from The Melbourne Dance Theatre performed a lovely piece at the hot Fringe venue Arcade Lane. The dancers conveyed all things associated with love: loneliness, sadness, vulnerability, beauty, abuse, violence and passion.
The versatility and flexibility of the troupe of 9 ensures that these messages are resoundingly clear, even to the uninitiated. Also expect beautiful balance poses and some spectacular dives to some world music – not a single English word.
Lighting cues were occasionally slightly amiss. The audio was sometimes mingled with sounds from outside the Theatre and occasionally distorted. However, the dancers drew the focus away from these shortcomings rather successfully.
Only on until Sunday 28th February, the troupe from the Melbourne Dance Theatre are well worth checking out.
Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Mark Trenwith – ‘Fun’
Feb 27th
At the opening, Adelaide native Mark Trenwith made his show’s ethos clear – laughter enjoyed for it’s own sake.
Shortly afterwards, this ethos materialised as chuckling front row audience members came to terms with the reality that they had been left alone to wash dishes and dust the stage.
Offering unusaul impersonations, prop-based jokes, footage of his bold public antics, and a collection of stories based on his attempts to create more fun out there in the world – Mark’s enthusiasm for taking the piss sparkled with national potential.
Now that Rove is gone, who knows?
Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe