MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Maddie Parker and Jen Mackie Live. Laugh. Love.
6–19 April
Tasma Terrace comedyfestival.com.au
Maddie Parker, Jen Mackie (or visa versa) Photo by Jimmy Woodriff
More MICFs I haven't seen yet. But Nikki Britton thinks they are ok and that's a pretty good recommendation. If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph on a night out. (Cliche? Yes. Do we care? No.)
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
We're yet to do a comedy festival together yet! But in this show, we have a dance number at the end, and halfway through the dance we turn to face each other as we do starj umps, and every time we get to that bit, we always have the biggest, silliest beaming grins on our faces when we look at each other. It's a combination of relief that we've got through the whole show again, joy because the show is so much fun to do, and love, both for what we do and each other. So that's a nice memory we get to relive again and again every night.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
The incredible Nikki Britton. She's such an amazing performer, and such a warm, kind, uplifting person. She's been extremely generous in helping us with this show, and we can't thank her enough.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Lily Fish Jofus and the Plank
13–19 April
The Butterfly Club comedyfestival.com.au
Lily Fish
I still work in theatre because I was taken to theatre when I was a child. There are some amazing shows just for children in this festival. This show is at The Butterfly Club; thinking that there will be. child who's first experience of a theatre is The Butterfly Club is too perfect. If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Her Royal Highness Magda Szubanski. I would literally stop the show to squeal with delight.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
My dad taking me to see The Four Noels as a child. It completely blew my mind that you could be so so seriously silly.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
Kimberley Twiner. She's an absolute powerhouse! She's Artistic Director of PO PO MO CO and The Melbourne Physical Theatre School, and she's directed a bunch of award winning all femme clown shows including The Travelling Sisters, Maggot and Jofus and the Plank. And she's a damn funny performer in her own right.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Maeve Marsden Fat Musicals: A Body of Work
26 March–5 April
Malthouse Theatre comedyfestival.com.au
Maeve Marsden, Libby Wood
If there were ever a show written for me, this is it. And I don't need to convince anyone who has seen Maeve and Libby perform that they need to go. If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Lizzo.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
My favourite moments at the comedy festival are always backstage. I love the energy of performers gathered about a mirror, warming up, chattering, all that nervous energy. Performing cabaret in a group means there's this real collegiate atmosphere. I've always had a sort of romantic feeling about dressing rooms.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
Ali McGregor. She's a fierce and talented performer, she always works to support emerging or early career artists - especially women – and she's always eager learn more, politically and creatively.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Alice Tovey Doggo
2–19 April
The Butterfly Club comedyfestival.com.au
Alice Tovey. Photo by Theresa Harrison
Alice's Garbage Monster was one of my favourite cabaret shows of last year. It ensured that I will never wear a too-tight shame bra again. This show might be about dogs! Everyone assumes that I'm a cat person (cos cats), but I'm really bipetal: I love dogs and cats. Or maybe panpetal ...
To get to know some of the people Alice talks about here, listen to Dump Him: The Game Show podcast. (Oh, the things I no know about them.) AND, it has live shows every Friday during the festival. I don't know if I can stay up until 11.30 to be at them, but I'll try.
And there's the return season of Polygamy, Polygayu: A New Musical. Another show I loved a lot last year. If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Brendan Fraser in the 1997 movie version of George of the Jungle. No further questions.
SM:As a journalist, I have never understood an answer quite as much as this one.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
The first festival show performed in was an hour long musical parody of Les Miserables. I had to sing a long about oral sex to the tune of "On My Own", which, needless to say, bought the house down every night.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
I adore the vivacious, ferocious Anna Piper Scott. She may be the queen of snark, but the love that Anna has shown women in comedy is truly inspiring. Every day I am more in awe of her and her never ending cabinet of awards. Her show is what I want all of my comedy to be: raw, beautiful, evocative story telling by a shit hot lady.
What three shows are you not going miss this comedy festival? Scout Boxall Good Egg (It broke my brain and changed my life. Scout hurls themselves off the precipice of excellence into a never ending gorge of silly every day and I am here for it.) Charity Werk Drama Queen (There is nothing that Charity can't do. She's one of the hardest working comedians in the country and the show she has created is pure gold. If you like glitter and anecdotes about the oppressive catholic school system, see Ms Werk.) Patrick Collins Mime Sherrif (Talented bastard. He's good at everything and he's hot, it's disgusting. If it wasn't for the fact that Patrick is the only other bisexual in comedy besides yours truly, I would despise that mime.)
AT: It's impossible to chose only three.
SM: It is bloody hard, isn't it.
AT: While I'm here, shout out to the incredible Lauren Edwards, Jude Perl, Mormon Girl, Big Big Big, Woah! Alyssa, Bella Green, Breast of the Fest, Stuart Daulman, We Are Nemesis and Dazza & Keif. What else could MICF stand for?
Moo I Cow Friend.
Milk Isn't Cancelled Francine!
Most Iguanas Can't Fart (might be a fact).
GIVEAWAY COMPETITION
2 double passes to
Alice Tovey, Doggo 2 April 7.00pm The Butterfly Club EMAILwith ALICE TOVEY COMPETITION in the subject
Closes on 27 March 2020
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Cherie Smith Comedy Women's Association presents Absolutely Cooked
10–11 April
Campari House comedyfestival.com.au
Line up shows like this can be like a CWA cake stall with samples: you can taste the best and choose your favourite. Or at least have an extra serve of scones with jam and cream. If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Julia Gillard.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
Lip Sync Battles. Either Granny Bingo Downtown or Zoe Coombes Marr giving birth to Demi Lardner while singing "What's Up".
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
Just one?! Lauren Bok, Annie Louey Zoe Coombes Marr, Urzila Carlson,
Luisa Omielan, Aurelia St Clair, Anna Piper Scott, Steph Tisdell... the
list goes on.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Alanta Colley On the Origin of Faeces
24 March–4 April
TBC comedyfestival.com.au
Alanta Colley. Photo by Sarah Walker
I know so much about bees because of Alanta, and one of my favourite MICF stories her chasing bees around Northcote. I can promise that you'll come out of her show smarter than when you went in, which doesn't compare to the utter delight of hearing her stories that combine the scientific and the personal. And this show is about poo. I can't wait.
If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Phoebe Waller Bridge. Everything she creates is magic.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
In my early days, when I'd squeeze in 4–5 shows a day, I came out of a show late and a little delirious and couldn't remember where I had left my bike. I bumped into Alisdair Tremblay Birchall, who was carrying a bag of carrots. He offered me one and helped me find my bike. He is a man of infinite generosity and, what most people don't know about him, is that he always has at least one kind of vegetable on his person.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
I'll go international with Josie Long. I always think about her show title Romance and Adventure because I think it sums up her positive, cheeky, delightful storytelling shows which always enthral audiences.
What three shows are you not going miss this comedy festival? Ange Lavoipierre Zealot (An exploration of God, which I am so thoroughly here for.) Alisdair Tremblay-Birchall & Andy Matthews Teleport. (It's an engineering show and they're both a bloody delight.) Martin Dunlop The Last Ghost is You (Explores all the tropes of the world of ghost stories and asks, what it really means to be haunted.) What else could MICF stand for?
Many Indiscriminately Coloured Ferrets.
GIVEAWAY COMPETITION
1 double pass to
Alanta Colley On the Origin of Faeces 3 April 7.15pm TBC EMAILwith ALANTA COLLEY COMPETITION in the subject
Closes on 29 March 2020
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Louise Cox Soothplayers Improvised Jane Austen
25-29 March
Campari House comedyfestival.com.au
Louise Cox
Given how much I adore the Soothplayers Completely Improvised Potter and Completely Improvised Shakespeare, I'm already thinking about the title I want to suggest for the Austen version. If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
The ghost of Jane Austen.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
My comedy festival memories all blur into one impression of laughing, spending time with friends, eating late and getting no sleep.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
Bella Green.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Lou Wall Lousical the Musical
26 March–5 April
Malthouse Theatre, Shell Room comedyfestival.com.au
Lou Wall. Photo by Emma Holland
If you've seen Lou Wall, you know you have to see her again. If you haven't seen her, get in while you can. I'm trying to write something that doesn't make me sound like a fan girl, but I am. If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Probs Lizzo. I'd be like wtf are you doing here Lizzo!?!? We'd laugh and then I'd finish my set while she accompanied me on flute.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
A couple of years ago I did my first comedy fest and my show closed on my 21st birthday. We were drinking from 11am in the morning and after I finished my show I decided to swim in the NGV fountain. It was pretty refreshing tbh.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
I adore Jordan Barr. Dark, deeply satirical, filthy material that makes me cackle.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Jacci Pillar Tardy: Ready and Disabled
26–29 March
Laneway Learning comedyfestival.com.au
Jacci Pillar. Photo by Raphael Kaleb
Jacci is another artists who I haven't seen ... yet. She also has a very short season at the beginning of the festival. Her show is described as "a look at identity politics (as a queer, autistic, veteran) through the lens of someone who never got it, didn’t get it and just felt like they would do their own thing regardless." See diverse voices. Listen to diverse stories. See new voices and remember that new doesn't have to mean young. If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Hannah Gadsby.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
Getting to be a part of a Mad Pride line up with Felicity Ward as the headliner in 2019 when she sang "Bohemian Rhapsody" entirely in chicken clucks.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
Lucy Best.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Sharnema Nougar from Two Little Dickheads Two Little Dickheads: KAPOW!
25 March–19 April
BOB comedyfestival.com.au
Two Little Dickheads and Haiku the cat. Photo by Nick Doolan.
(Want my attention? Photo of a cat.)
I saw the first Two Little Dickheads show in 2018 because Tessa Waters told me that I should. She was right. It was as ridiculous as it was gorgeous. And what a joy to see people create comedy that is so theirs that there is nothing to compare it to. Make stuff that you love and you will find an audience who love you. (And I have since met Haiku and Bongo the cats.) If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Patti Smith or Ani Difranco. They’re both in the country. SHARE THE SHIT OUT OF THIS ARTICLE SO THEY HEED OUR DiCKHEAD CALL.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
Wearing a dress made completely out of pots and pans! It was magnificent idiot couture. Dave wore a funnel for a minimalistic juxtaposition. It was funny. One night I accidentally knocked his funnel off his willy. My mum was in the audience! And my Grandma. And Mum's best friend. And Grandad. It was VERY funny. To my dismay, we now have a ‘no nude Dave’ Dickhead policy.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
The Travelling Sisters! Do they count as one? It’s impossible to choose between them.
What three shows are you not going miss this comedy festival? Cousin Tara: Wukkas (We smell Gibbo potential.) Big Big Big: Catching Jack (A trio of MICFs that are ripping it up. The future of comedy is now.) Aborigi-LOL: The Return(LOL is an understatement, Dane and Matt are thigh-slappin' snortin' funny.)
What else could MICF stand for?
Menstruation Is Completely Fine
GIVEAWAY COMPETITION
2 double passes to
Two Little Dickheads: KAPOW! 25 March 9.30pm BOB bar EMAILwith DICKHEADS COMPETITION in the subject
Closes on 20 March 2020
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Chi Nguyen LOTUS
26–28 March 2020
SIGNAL comedyfestival.com.au
Chi Nguyen
I haven't seen Chi perform yet, but she talked about making good Vietnamese iced coffee in her media email – and that was enough to get my attention. And young female voices taking over the festival...
If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Ali Wong! 100%
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
Coming to watch Comedy Zone Asia and someone thought I was there to do a set, haha.
Who is one (or three)of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
The comedy queens of my heart are Diana Nguyen, Lou Wall and Margot Tanjutco.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Tara Leigh Dowler Cousin Tara Wukkas
25 March–5 April
The Rattlesnake Saloon comedyfestival.com.au
Tara Leigh Dowler. Photo by Alexis D Lea
Nevertheless, she persisted. I remember Tara inviting me to see Pink Flappy Bits and I didn't see it. There's a point in festival when there just isn't enough time/energy/ability to see another show. Or it's the Survivor finale. If media miss your show, it's their loss – so keep asking. I saw Cousin Tara's Intervention Variety Hour at Melbourne Fringe last year and will now see all of her shows. It's so easy to see trusted names and people you know during MICF, but you know what you're going to see and know most of the jokes. For every trusted show you see, see an emerging voice, especially those MICFs who may challenge your assumptions about soooooo many things.
If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Kate Miller-Heidke (ooooooh or Amanda Palmer).
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
2016, Lou Mapleston and I presented the first Pink Flappy Bits season at The Highlander. Despite being totally unknown, we sold out our first six shows ... then added two more. It seemed we'd tapped into a zeitgeist that really hit the sweet spot for a lot of AFAB, women and queer punters. This was perhaps the most exciting time I've had on stage. Feminist comedy felt like a comfort and a cause that would totally change my life.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
Geraldine Quinn. I look up to her tremendously. She is an exceptionally talented singer performer and songwriter ... not to mention, a total badass.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST
Jude Perl Puffy Jacket
26 March-19 April
Melbourne Town Hall, Portico Room comedyfestival.com.au
Jude Perl
I saw Jude Perl's I Have a Face last year and said, "Her work is personal and vulnerable and questions so many of the ridiculous expectations about femininity and sexuality that face women every day." And now I'm singing "I have a face"; her work sticks. If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Maria Bamford.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
Drinking tea at the Malthouse after my shows.
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
Clara Cupcakes.
MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT CELEBRATORY FEMINIST Annie Louey Annie Louey's Big Break
26 March–19 April
Chinese Museum comedyfestival.com.au
Annie Louey. Photo by Theresa Harrison
I first saw Annie perform about three years ago. I knew then that she was going to be one of those performers who let me have bragging rights of "I saw them when they first started". If you could see anyone (possible or impossible) in your audience, who would it be?
Lucy Liu. Just for the Kill Bill references in this show and my sick martial arts choreography.
What is one of your favourite comedy festival memories?
Chinese folks I've never met coming to my show to support me only because we have the same surname. Honestly if your surname is Louey, just hit me up and I'll comp you in!
Who is one of your favourite Melbourne Indie Celebratory Feminists?
Liz Skitch, my director, because she's fierce and finds time to help other women no matter how busy life gets. I told her I was getting eaten alive by mosquitos while sleeping, so she came over and helped me put a mosquito net the same day – with her kids in tow.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions
1 March 2020
Princess Theatre harrypottertheplay.com/au
Going back to a show that you loved is a little bit scary. What if it's got tired? What if the new cast aren't as lovely? What if your memory of the show was tainted by the enthusiasm of every one else who saw it? What if if just isn't as good?
I was overly excited to see it again and secretly terrified that I'd wish I'd kept the first memory.
Is it still the best?
Yes.
I think I loved it MORE this time.
Critically, there's nothing that hasn't been said. Throw all the stars at it. Any issues with a slightly clunky script and a tendency to sentiment are dismissed by story choices, complex characters and impossible dilemmas that need to play at the extremes of the emotional scale to feel deserved. The sentiment isn't unearned melodrama.
Even though the promise to #KeepTheSecrets has been dropped, the thought of denying anyone the surprises, joy and tears is too unfair. The pay offs are worth it, from geeky quivering to plunging back into the book stories and being with characters that we understand far better than they know themselves because we've known them since they were 11.
Maybe we can start discussing the intricacies of the story next year. (If you don't know if someone has seen it and don't want to ask them outright, ask "Is that a farmers market?".)
Meanwhile, so much of the joy of being there is spending the day with friends and strangers who know this world and want to talk about which house you're in.
Technically what happens on the Cursed Child stage is as close to perfect as staging can be. The tricks are hidden, without ever denying that they are tricks and without ever doubting that they are magic. Without any stage distraction – the magic works every time – the audience are free to be in the world and only have to worry about the story and the characters. Never seeing the outrageous cleverness of the technology is the genius of the technology.
All of which would mean nothing if the cast faltered. If a cape swish were halfhearted, if a stair move were out of sync, if a background glance weren't in the right direction, the magic would be broken. It never is.
This Harry Potter story is a different experience from reading the books, seeing the film (or cosplaying or indulging in fan fiction). This story is driven by the personal rather than the magical. While the films can create house elves and hippogriffs – and imaginations create anything as we read – a stage story is limited to a box. The staging IS remarkable, but it's secondary to the personal experiences of the characters. We don't cry because someone can go back in time, we cry because of why they do it.
The significant new cast members (Nyx Calder as Scorpius Malfoy and Michael Whalley as Ron Weasley, and Gillian Cosgriff moving to Delphi Diggory and Jessica Vickers to Moaning Myrtle) slip in like they've always been there and prove that there's room to bring new insights to the characters; Cosgriff's Delphi is especially exciting and terrifying.
And seeing how the existing cast have developed the characters is another reason why the show isn't going anywhere. Sean Rees-Wemyss (Albus Potter), Gareth Reeves (Harry Potter) and Tom Wren (Draco Malfoy) have each brought a depth of understanding that adds dimensions to a story full of dimensions. And Paula Arundell (Hermione Granger) and Lucy Goleby (Ginny Potter) continue to bring guts and courage to the women who love Harry but know his faults better than anyone. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is still everything fans could dream of and is guaranteed to convince the most skeptical muggle that magic is real.
It's also prohibitively expensive. And, even knowing that this is what it costs to make something this good, that still breaks my heart. I want every one who has loved the books to experience this show.
It's worth saving up for and entering the Friday Forty every week. But I will keep asking that producers and governments and organisations with money consider what they can do to make this an experience that isn't restricted to people who can afford it.
