Simply Fancy - *GO AND SEE IT* - Review.

Hi,

I went to see simply fancy last night. Wow. Such a good show, I'm a real fan of this trio.

They are three arty kids from sydney who do the funniest things.

Well first I must say there were robots as part of the theme. But there were also woodland creatures. So far 4 out of the 5 shows I've seen this year have referenced robots in their shows.

There are silly songs, old ladies, young men, old men, young ladies, and all sorts of characters acted by only three people - including a manta ray! I really also enjoyed the lighting - am I weird for enjoying lighting? Well they used lighting quite well. I think the manta ray was my favourite animal acted out in the show.

I can't believe there were only about 20 people watching this show... everyone who has seen it has been blown away by it. I think the audience laughed like there were 37 people there, not 20. I've had maybe five different people recommend the show to me so far. However I already had tickets, since I saw their show last year and was blown away. Ok, you may think that I know these people or something... or that I'm getting paid by them. They are just really good. So there.

The song on the Ukulele was done quite well, so was the piece done with a recorder. I also appreciated what looked like home made capes! So many interesting things in this show, I won't mention them all.

Some people have compared Simply Fancy to the Mighty Boosh - in that they go on adventures with surreal things happening all around them. Except the Mighty Boosh is on teevee, and this is real, in front of you - weirder and cooler. Simply Fancy are cooler comedians than the Mighty Boosh.

Anyway. Got to go now. Simply Fancy were pretty sweet dancers too - definitely recommended. See you on Saturday for a drink? Oh, they have ginger beer at trades hall where the show is. Nice. Gingery.


cu,
Rene.

Greg Fleet – Secret American. Review.

Greg Fleet – Secret American

Venue: the swiss club

The empty seat next to me was the only empty seat in the entire room, which is pretty good for a Tuesday night! I was unable to convince anyone at all to come with me, not anyone. I am such a loser and I have a constant struggle with these kinds of feelings. The only thing that helps sometimes is if I make little cuts on my arms late at night. So I sat, self consciously, next to the empty seat, willing the little rodent at the helm to dim the lights.

Greg Fleet is a funny guy. Would have been terribly awkward if he wasn't. I’m sure the audience would have gotten used to it eventually but I can only assume that most people had come to listen to some stand-up comedy so its possible that the audience members may have ‘gotten the ‘ump’ if Fleety pounced onto the stage and started reciting the blood types of medieval princesses alphabetically.

As far as stand-ups go this guy is great! While the theme of the show, ‘Secret American’ is only loosely covered, it does serve as a structure binding together Fleet’s many stories. The show is essentially Fleet recounting stories from his life and as he is a great story teller and snappy dresser it makes for a thoroughly entertaining night.

I wouldn't hesitate in recommending that you hold onto the pre-show chardonnay that will no doubt by this time be throbbing in your bladder and perhaps even dribbling a little into your underwear and stay for the pun-ridden character based finale as it is a definite highlight. Australian stand-up at its best.

Review by george.

Frank Woodley – Possessed. Review.

Frank Woodley – Possessed.

I have been a fan of Frank Woodley’s Comedy for many years. The kind of fan who spends long hours nestled in the branches of the eucalypt across the road from his apartment with nothing but a 210mm zoom lens and digital SLR camera for company hoping to catch just one glimpse of the comedian as he leaves his morning shower. However, the lack of nudity in Woodley’s comedy festival show did not detract at all from what I can only call a mesmerising performance.

A great mix of theatre and comedy, and with one of the most intricately detailed sets this reviewer has seen since the crew of Captain James Cook’s Endeavour performed their well received rock opera, “Possessed” is visually stunning. The soundtrack to the show, composed by Paul Mac, is also outstanding and contributes buckets of atmosphere.

Unlike many comedy festival acts, the show has a very strong narrative in which a young model ship builder who is too afraid to even venture outside the front door of his home, becomes possessed by an Irish women who drowned in a shipwreck many years earlier. Amazingly, Woodley manages to carry off these two distinctly different characters and develop a strong relationship between the two. Of course, Frank Woodley being Frank Woodley, the show contains some truly hilarious and somewhat dangerous looking stunts as the performer launches himself from railings and down staircases in pursuit of laughs. And laughs he receives! Yet, the show is not only a cack-fest. I was moved. There can only be a handful of people alive today who could successfully pull off such a warped, funny and sad show such as this and, while I don't know who any of them could be, one of them might well be Frank Woodley. Courageous stuff.

Review by george