2011 Adelaide Fringe - Previews, Reviews etc

[Pseudo]

The Very Circusy Caterpillar - @ the Bally theatre, Gluttony

Just got back from today's 12:15 show (followed by lunch on Rudle St) with Mrs. Pseudo and the Pseudomites. 10 bucks a ticket for all ages. A circus-gymnastical interpretation of Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".

The theatre itself is a small geodesic dome setup within the "gluttony" area on the east end of Grenfell St. Very warm inside. So warm in fact that they were handing out little folding fans at the entrance of the tent. The three-year-old Master Pseudomite was highly impressed with this, and spent most of the show completely absorbed in his fan: opening it, closing it, opening it, closing it, opening it, closing it.

Took seats around the side of the arena. In the middle of the floor, very conspicuous, was a human body wrapped in a white silk sheet. This of course was a "small white egg". Ten minutes later the show began, and the human body emerged from the egg, dressed head-to-toe in a psychedelic green caterpillar costume. She writhed on the floor until the voiceover announced that she was very hungry, and on the first day she ate one pineapple. Hand-fans were waved in anticipation.

The pineapple turned out to be a picture stretched in the middle of a hula-hoop. The picture was removed ("eaten") and the caterpillar began a little hula-hoop routine set to music. Some clapped. Others waved their fans in unison.

On Tuesday the caterpillar ate two plums: small purple circlets, through which the caterpillar began to contort her body. Not sure that she was entirely successful, since she spent part of this act shuffling up and down the arena with her leg stuck fairly obviously to her tits. Fans were waved.

On Wednesday the caterpillar ate three peas. Three small green juggling balls. The accompanying routine was set to Trio's "Da Da Da" - in the original German tongue, no less. At this point Mistress Pseudomite started gathering all the abandoned fans in our immediate vicinity.

Thursday and Friday were multiple hoop routines, for all I remember. By this point I was starting to vague out. Was beginning to entertain fantasies of writhing in a cocoon with the performer, still clad in her caterpillar outfit, while observers fanned us.

Saturday was impressive: The caterpillar ate her way through a mountain of foodstuffs, each represented by a hula-hoop. Had something like two dozen hoops being twirled around her torso at once. Which by my reckoning was about half the number of fans being waved in the audience.

At this point the caterpillar had a tummy ache - which was remedied by the consumption of an apple on Sunday. The apple was a humungous body-sized thing, stretched over a great big circular frame, which the caterpillar climbed into and began rolling up and down the arena with great skill, avoiding outstretched arms waving fans as she went.

Now she wasn't a little caterpillar anymore. Nor was she a big, fat caterpillar: the PC police had rendered her as a "just the right size" caterpillar. She climbed into a cocoon (large white bag) and went to sleep. She must've been a somnambulist, 'coz while she was sleeping she did somersaults up and down the arena and attempted to rest her "sleeping" head in the lap of any nearby kid. Most of them recoiled in shock, dragging their fans with them.

Ultimately she emerged from the cocoon as a beautiful butterfly, whereupon she flew up and down the aisle a number of times and then out the front door, whereupon the lights came on, we were ushered out of the door, and had our fans confiscated for the next show - much to Master Pseudomite's distress. The caterpillar waited out the front and posed for photos with any kids whose parents desired it.

In sum, it was a nice enough way of holding the kids' attention for 30 minutes. When it didn't command their attention, they could always distract themselves with their fans. At ten bucks a ticket you can't go wrong.

[fish]

The theatre itself is a small geodesic dome setup within the "gluttony" area on the east end of Grenfell St. Very warm inside. So warm in fact that they were handing out little folding fans at the entrance of the tent. The three-year-old Master Pseudomite was highly impressed with this, and spent most of the show completely absorbed in his fan: opening it, closing it, opening it, closing it, opening it, closing it.

Fantastic review Pseudo. Having littl'ns myself I can totally relate to their obsession with anything but the show that you've just forked out cash for!

[fish]

Was beginning to entertain fantasies of writhing in a cocoon with the performer, still clad in her caterpillar outfit, while observers fanned us.

[CK]

Hannah Gadsby last night. Started out very slowly and not as "immediate" as she normally is, and seemed to be finding her feet in the opening ten minutes or so. Once settled, she really picked up speed and was her usual very funny, dry self. Can be a shade confronting, if you haven't seen her before, but excellent stuff

If you go, get there early, to grab one of the couches at the back or on the side of the Rhino Room - otherwise be prepared for a cramped night in the normal seating.

[Pag]

Hannah Gadsby last night. Started out very slowly and not as "immediate" as she normally is, and seemed to be finding her feet in the opening ten minutes or so. Once settled, she really picked up speed and was her usual very funny, dry self. Can be a shade confronting, if you haven't seen her before, but excellent stuff

If you go, get there early, to grab one of the couches at the back or on the side of the Rhino Room - otherwise be prepared for a cramped night in the normal seating.

I sat on the side when I saw Tom Gleeson and on the seats to see Dave Callan and thought the seats were a lot more comfortable? The couches at the back did look the go though.

[Johno6]

saw arj barker, he was extremely funny as he was last year
and saw chopper, he was gold! effing funny.
his 3 guest were some chick who was terrible.
dave callan who was just as funny as chooper, his beyonce rendition at the end amazing
and axis of awesome were pretty funny to

[Pag]

saw arj barker, he was extremely funny as he was last year
and saw chopper, he was gold! effing funny.
his 3 guest were some chick who was terrible.
dave callan who was just as funny as chooper, his beyonce rendition at the end amazing
and axis of awesome were pretty funny to

What night did you go Johno? Went with a few mates on Friday night and got the same guests, Felicity Ward was the first chick.

Saw Dave Callan on his own as well, he did the dance but only for one chorus and without the back-up dancers, was actually funnier the second time round.

Word for Fringe ornganisers, don't oversell shows in the Garden. Chopper's show in the Umbrella had 50-60 people too many, way too squashed.

[fester69]

The biggest laughs at the fringe (IMHO anyways ) is definitely Barry Morgan's World of Organs. I haven't laughed that loud and long in ages!!! Just something about this show that ticked all the boxes!! Don't miss it!!!

[CK]

Off to Peter Berner tonight. Saw him a couple of years back and he was brilliant - has anyone else seen him this year as yet?

Fortunately, its not at the Rhino Room. Once a Fringe is enough for me there

[CK]

Get along to Peter Berner if you can - a great night of laughs . Dropped the F-bomb a surprising amount of times, but spins a good yarn and kept the audience laughing throughout.

Except a lady at our table, who managed to spend the whole night stony-faced. Mind you, she wasn't exactly welcoming from the first bounce.

[Johno6]

saw arj barker, he was extremely funny as he was last year
and saw chopper, he was gold! effing funny.
his 3 guest were some chick who was terrible.
dave callan who was just as funny as chooper, his beyonce rendition at the end amazing
and axis of awesome were pretty funny to

What night did you go Johno? Went with a few mates on Friday night and got the same guests, Felicity Ward was the first chick.

Saw Dave Callan on his own as well, he did the dance but only for one chorus and without the back-up dancers, was actually funnier the second time round.

Word for Fringe ornganisers, don't oversell shows in the Garden. Chopper's show in the Umbrella had 50-60 people too many, way too squashed.

yeah fri night too mate.
felicity ward was horrible in my opinion.

rest of the show was gold..
it was definately too crowed tho, u virtually had to sit on guys laps.
but was worth it, coz bar FW was a awesome show

[Booney]

A Metallica Tribute - The Black Album
presented by Cam Blokland

'Cam Blokland, the guy who brought you "A Dream Theater Tribute - Metropolis 2010" and "A Joe Satriani Tribute - Surfing with the Alien" presents "A Metallica Tribute - The Black Album". Metallica's masterpiece self titled album will be performed in its entirety.'

This is the 3rd in a string masterpiece album performances. Cam Blokland has a vision to keep bringing high quality hard rock and heavy metal shows to the Adelaide Fringe. Those who witnessed his 2009 (Satriani) and 2010 (Dream Theater) shows will vouche for the impeccable attention to detail and the accuracy with which the albums/bands were depicted. In 2011, Cam returns with a band of young Adelaide heavy metal monsters to perform the highest selling heavy metal album of all time.

The band includes: Phil Bennett - Lead Guitar (Desert Eagle), Jez Martin - Bass (Undermine/Zappa Plays Zappa/Metropolis 2010 - A Dream Theater Tribute... etc.) and Gareth Briggs (Curtain). Cam Blokland will step into the shoes of Metallica's lead singer/guitarist James Hetfield.

http://tix.adelaidefringe.com.au/ticket ... 9404d01882

Will check this out, for sure.

Going to this tomorrow ( Friday ) night. Looking forward to it.

[valleys07]

Heading to Wil Andersons "Man vs Wil" show on sunday night. Loved his "Wilosophy" dvd and looking forward to a good night.

[Booney]

Well, went to the Metallica Tribute show in "Live on Light Square" which, in a previous life may have been Cobbs.

The guys played the Black album start to finish and threw in Master of Puppets and One as an encore.

The show started poorly with the lead singer/rythm guitarist not having any sound out of his instrument so Sandman was one axe down. Sad but True got them back on track.

Good vocals, really good lead guitarist and bass and drums held their own.

For $20 with $5 Vodka's and $6 stubbies it was pretty good value.

Rating 7/10. If you head along tonight you'll enjoy the show.

[CK]

Went to Comedy Court last night at Star Theatres at Hilton with a group of mates.

A couple of things straight up:

- Very cramped venue. The chairs made Jetstar look like Qantas for leg room.

- Quite why a group of eight paid to see a show, and then decided they were far funnier than anything on the stage, and made so much noise throughout that it was hard to hear at times, is beyond me . Despite a number of people asking them to be quiet, the group of 40-45 year olds just, simply, would not shut up at any stage throughout. Note - nothing they said was more amusing than anything that we paid to see, but good to see they were supporting the local alcohol industry at least, and that they mastered the art of the High Five when they delivered an apparent comic zinger.

The show itself is a good idea. Four new comedians compete for a place in the final, for which first prize is a trip to Sydney to perform three shows at a major venue, plus $2000. The final is held tonight at 8pm and judging by the two that went through last night, will be a good show.

Of the two that didn't make it through last night, one was not too bad. The other was beyond bad - shambled out on stage, delivered three jokes, all of which were incredibly bad taste, even for a diverse group, and who showed they didn't like the jokes, at which point he simply walked off.