Showing posts with label Patrick Collins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patrick Collins. Show all posts

21 April 2021

Review: I'm Not a Mime

Melbourne International Comedy Festival
I'm Not a Mime
Patrick Collins

12 April 2021
The Butterfly Club
to 18 April 
www.comedyfestival.com.au

Patrick Collins

My review is in Time Out.

12 March 2020

MICF: Alice Tovey, Doggo

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

EMAIL with ALICE TOVEY COMPETITION in the subject
Closes on 27 March 2020

07 March 2020

MICF: Jude Perl, Puffy Jacket

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.

What three shows are you not going miss this comedy festival?
Kirsty Webeck Gosh
David Quirk Astonishing Obscurity
Patrick Collins Mime Sherriff

What else could MICF stand for?
Multiple Irrational Cluster Fun

GIVEAWAY COMPETITION

one double pass to

Jude Perl: Puffy Jacket
29 March
6.15
Melbourne Town Hall, Portico Room

EMAIL with JUDE PERL COMPETITION in the subject
Closes on 25 March 2020

23 December 2019

What I Loved in 2019: The best of Melbourne theatre. And thank you

This year I saw a lot of new work and emerging artists, which is how I started writing about theatre. Many of those artists and companies from the early days are now on our main stages, where indie criticism isn't as welcome and masthead criticsm is reduced to an adjective. I do both.

Seeing new work and watching companies and artists develop is one of the most satisfying parts of being a theatre writer. When you see something remarkable in a tiny room, you come back and see them again and again. Watching other people discover that same remarkable is amazing.

If you have to choose between seeing one big show or 20 small ones, see the small ones. You'll feel better.

There's such a demand for indie critics and writers because, no matter how tough it gets, our indie performers, companies and venues keep making work.

Independent and emerging performers, if you want people to see your work and write about it, find the voices or publications that you like and read or listen to or follow. There will be someone who totally gets your work and will be the voice that describes your art in ways that makes other people want to see you.

If you don't know who those reviewers they are yet, read, listen to and follow indie voices!

If you want to write about or talk about theatre, just start doing it. Don't rely on it being a paid job and don't despair if you're not read by thousands. Keep going; it'll happen. Keep seeing work. And when you find those shows and artists that you totally understand, your work becomes part of the community.

(And, keep an eye out because I will be running more writing workshops and publicity workshops next year.)

If you're on those big stages and see work on those stages and wonder why all you ever see is star ratings, ask why and speak up.


Sometimes Melbourne celebrates nearly 14 years of writing about theatre in Melbourne.

I don't know what's going to happen next year, but it's time for Sometimes Melbourne to have a break. It's a difficult decision but I don't have the resources or support to keep it going. I'll still write for other publications, teach and see as many shows as possible.

Thank you to every artists and show I've seen. You're all amazing. Thank you for the messages and conversations. Thank you for your work. You make a difference.


And here are my favourite shows and artists of 2019. I'd see every one of them again.

Outstanding artists 2019


WRITING

Zoey Dawson for Australian Realness at Malthouse

Emily Goddard, Chanella Marci. "Australian Realness" Photo by Pia Johnson

Bridget Mackey for Love/Chamberlain at Theatre Works

Rebekah Hill, Dana Miltins. "Love Chamberlain"

Special mention

Wil Greenway for Either Side of Everything at MICF

Will Greenway
DESIGN

Costume 
Gabriela Tylesova for Muriel's Wedding: The Musical, Global Creatures in association with Sydney Theatre Company

"Muriel's Wedding"

Set/lighting
Kate Davies/Emma Valente for Unwoman, The Rabble at The Substation

"Unwoman" by The Rabble. Photo by Pier Carthew

Lighting
Clare Springett for Oil at Red Stitch.

"Oil". Photo by John Lloyd Fillingham

PERFORMANCE

The cast of Anthem, Arts Centre Melbourne at MIAF

Maude Davey, Reef Ireland, Ruci Kaisila, Thuso Lekwape, Amanda Ma, Maria Mercedes, Tony Nikolakopoulos, Eryn Jean Norvill, Sahil Saluja, Osamah Sami, Eva Seymour, Carly Sheppard,  Jenny M Thomas, Dan Witton 

"Anthem" Photo by Pia Johnson

The cast of Unwoman, The Rabble at The Substation
Part I: Annalise Matthews, Toni Main, Robyn McMicking, Anna Nottle and Mattie Young
Part II: Dana Miltins and Mary Helen Sassman
Part II: Yumi Umiumare
Testimonials ead by Mila Jennings


Special mentions

Helena Dix as Norma in Norma, Melbourne Opera

Nick Simpson-Deeks as George in Sunday in the Park with George, Watch This

Christie Whelan Brown as Tania in Muriel's Wedding: The Musical, Global Creatures in association with Sydney Theatre Company

Helena Dix. "Norma"



Nick Simspson-Deeks, Vidya Makan. "Sunday in the Park with George"

Keep an eye on

Luisa Scrofani in My Brilliant Career, the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, the Centre for Theatre and Performance and Monash Academy of Performing Arts in association with the Jeanne Pratt Musical Theatre Artists in Residence Program.


Luisa Scrofany. "My Brilliant Career"

DIRECTION

Declan Green for Wake in Fright, Malthouse

"Wake in Fright". Photo by Pia Johnson

Everything they do rocks 2019

Everyone at The Butterfly Club for supporting, promoting and presenting independent cabaret, comedy, music and theatre more than anyone else in town.

Everyone includes:
All staff who program, promote and organise.
All the front of house.
All the bar staff.
Anyone I missed.
And everyone involved with Enter Closer, Crowded and the other managed venues during festivals.

The Butterfly Club. Photo by Stano Murin

The Butterfly Club celebrated its 20th birthday this year. After moving from South Melbourne, it's now tucked away in a three-level wonderland in Carson Place in the middle of the city (boxed by Swanston, Elizabeth, Collins and Bourke streets).

Every night there are between two and eight different shows that include regular nights, independent shows and venue-produced shows. They support indie artists from the application process to front of house staff and help with promotion and media.

Artists who perform there talk about being welcomed into a family.

Audiences love the place. From the changing menu of cocktails to hanging around and analysing at the minimalist decor*, it's a joy to be there.

(And one day, there will be some funding to deal with the access issues of a very old building with lots of stairs.)

*not minimalist. My favourites are the art deco cat lamp, the Ginger and Fred series of photos, and the framed and stuffed kitten tea towel.


and


Lessons with Luis

Lessons With Luis

I genuinely don't understand how Luis and his family aren't international superstars.

When I see a Lessons with Luis show, I forget about being a reviewer because I am so happy to be there. The work is so complete that the line between character and performer doesn't exist and they tell a truth about families and grief that is so real that I don't want to be confronted with the idea that it's a performance.

And Luis likes cats. 

This year I saw Stickin' Together at MICF and went to Yadna's 47th Birthday.

Outstanding productions 2019

MUSICAL

Come From Away, multiple producers


"Come From Away". Photo by Jeff Busby

Special mention

Polygamy, Polygayou, produced by Clare Rankine at Melbourne Fringe

"Polygamy, Polygayou". Photo by Ling Duong

COMMERCIAL

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, parts one and two, multiple producers


COMEDY

Cassie Workman, Giantess at MICF

Cassie Workma
Special mentions
Patrick Collins Mime Consultant at MICF

Joshua Ladgrove pumps your bilge at MICF and Melbourne Fringe

Completely Improvised Potter, Soothplayers at MICF and Melbourne Fringe

Frobert and Ladgrove

"Patrick Collins Mime Consultant"












"Completely Improvised Potter". Photo by Mark Gambi


CABARET

BOOBS by Selina Jenkins at Melbourne Fringe

Special mention

Garbage Monster by Alice Tovey, Hot Mess Productions and The Butterfly Club at MICF


Selina Jenkins

 
Alice Tovey














DANCE

Collossus, Stephanie Lake Company, Arts Centre Melbourne at MIAF

"Collossus"
OPERA

Norma, Melbourne Opera

Best of the best 2019

The Butch Monologues, Theatre Works and Stage Mom at Midsumma


cast of "The Butch Monologues"
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, parts one and two, multiple producers

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"

Keep, Daniel Kitson at MICF

Daniel Kitson

Barbara and the Camp Dogs, Malthouse presents a Belvoir production


Elaine Crombie, Ursula Yovich. "Barbara and the Camp Dogs". Photo by Pia Johnson

Waterloo by Bron Batten at Melbourne Fringe

Bron Batten. "Waterloo". Photo by Theresa Harrison


My favourite show of 2019

The Living Room by Amrita Dhaliwal and Gemma Soldati at Melbourne Fringe

Amrita Dhalial and Gemma Soldati. "The Living Room"
 Which is coming back for comedy festival!

Past favourites.
2018


20 April 2019

MICF: Patrick Collins Mime Consultant

MICF
Patrick Collins Mime Consultant
Enter Closer and Crowded
19 April 2019
Tasma Terrace
to 21 April
comedyfestival.com.au

Patrick Collins

When I hear the word "mime", I smile politely and try to scrub out the memory of Marcel Marceau's Bip trapped in an invisible box that you can't put a blanket over to calm him down.

I don't know why I do this because mime is the best. Mime shows are ones where I have been blown away by the original approach to old ways of telling stories and laughed so much that I'm genuinely embarrassed (Trygve Wakenshaw). And at the blurry end of the comedy festival, Patrick Collins did the same.

Patrick wears a shirt and tie because he's off to the office where he's a mime consultant. He knows mime IS important and that there are mime emergencies and run-of-the-mill questions that need answering every day. And, of course, mime artists can talk and interact and get out of their invisible boxes.

Sitting on his office chair leaves the audience grateful for the-most-uncomfortable-chairs-in-any-festival-venue but what takes his mix of stand-up and sketch it to a Golden-Gibbo-award-nomination level is story and character. Fortnite dancing is so much better with a story about teenage boys and the best belly flop ever would just be "do-that-again!" if it didn't happen on a cruise.

Throw in magic, erotica and some things that really happened to Patrick and this mime consultation lets us see the invisible from a new perspective.