All posts by Kerrie Pacholli

News and Events

Wicked the Musical

Leave a comment

The town’s people arrived at Melbourne’s majestic Regent Theatre dressed to the nines and the mood and atmosphere on opening night of WICKED reflected the magical story that was to come…

Now I know why WICKED the Musical has had such acclaimed success in its travels since 2003. Every detail of this production from it’s musical arrangement performed live by a full orchestra perfectly enhancing the timbre in the artists voices, down to the last shadow artistically cast by the lighting technicians has been impeccably synchronised. 

The age old storyline of who is considered the ‘good witch’ and who is the ‘evil witch’ ignited my five year old within taking me on quite an emotional roller coaster ride and I do believe I wasn’t the only stalwart adult transformed for the better that night.

This is the first time that I have seen WiICKED the Musical and indeed I knew little of the shows past performances; but I have to say that Maggie Fitzpatrick (former star of Prisoner) as Madam Morrible projected penetrating megalomania in all its glory and Reg Livermore as The Wizard pulled off the mindless monarch perfectly. I absolutely loved the messages projected by Glen Hogstrom as Dr Dillamond the Goat who is the last remaining animal teacher in Oz whose voice was taken away from him; and of course the striking Jenna Rix as the “evil green witch”, the magical Elphaba who is a champion animal liberationist vehement in her quest. Very refreshing.

In truth I would never go out and buy the musical score however I would be keen to go and see this very entertaining production multiple times because of it’s palpably uplifting effect.  _MG_2918 copy1

News and Events

An Audience with Billy Holiday

Leave a comment

The sizzling sensuality of Billy Holliday is brought to life by the incredibly talented Mama Alto accompanied by multi-award winning musical director Warren Wills in An Audience with Billy Holiday currently playing at Chapel off Chapel.

Opening night saw a full house where the mood and magic of a by gone era manifested, holding us spell bound. 

Mama Alto’s beautiful and haunting voice in story and song conjures images and feelings for an artist whose struggles in life and god given talent produced an unprecedented rich and vast reverberating legacy. 

A grand piano, a stool. a mic stand, great sound, outstanding lighting effects, an illuminating script and enormous talent from the artists have synchronised to produced a show that is unique, transcendent and most definitely not to be missed by lovers of music.

Musical director Warren Wills with Mama Alto channelling the music of Billy Holiday
Musical director Warren Wills with Mama Alto channelling the music of Billy Holiday.

 

Producer: Helen O’Malley

Playwright: Neil Cole

Director: Warren Wills

Stage Manager: Hayley Fox

Lighing Design: Rob Sowinski

BUY TICKETS

8 – 25 May
Preview 7 May
Times: Tuesday – Sunday 8pm
Tickets: $38 (+Transaction Fee)
Seating: General Admission. Please make sure you arrive a minimum of 15 minutes prior to the performance start time. Latecomers will not be permitted.
Please Note: If you require wheelchair access please call our Box Office on 03 8290 7000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News and Events

Colin Hay at Playhouse Theatre

Leave a comment

The stage is carefully set  with four guitars in stands facing the audience, a wooden coat rake and wooden stool with three bottles of water to quench Colin’s cultivated thirst during his performance.

Regarding Colin Hay performing in the Playhouse Theatre at the Melbourne Art Centre as part of The Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2014.  ‘It doesn’t get better than this’ quotes Pixie Michael, Melbourne based sound and lighting maestro who did his part in creating acoustic magic that night.

The best way to describe the effect that Colin’s incredible vocal and acoustic guitar performance had on me is to say that it felt like I had arrived  home.  To my senses Colin is centred, living in a magical place where his music and songs have lives and personalities of their own. Stories in song conjuring images that transport one to far off destinations and tapping into memories and awarenesses through time and space. It felt as if the entire audience were inclusively flying through space simultaneously having the same emotional experiences.

All the usual greats were given the stage including Who Can it be now, Down by the Sea and Land Down Under.

Between songs Colin shared witty stories of his life on the road throughout his robust 40 year career and delightful and poignant memories of his loving family; keeping it real and compelling with his adorable Scottish accent and crystal clear delivery.

Colin Hay is a much loved Aussie icon. Not bad for a Scotsman who lives in LA.

Colin Hay part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2014
Colin Hay part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2014

 

News and Events

Funny man Stephen K Amos

Leave a comment
Sammizphotos
Stephen K Amos performing at Athenaeum Theatre as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2014.

Stephen K Amos has huge funny bone action going on. From the start he had Thursday nights full house at Melbourne’s Anthenaeum Theatre in his pocket and he played with us like the seasoned international comedic professional he is.

Evenly paced, engaging, his timing didn’t miss a beat. He easily merged impromptu and very funny dialogue with people in the first couple of rows and hecklers in the stalls weaving their responses into his written script, breezing through the show like the comedic maestro he is with resounding  laughter and applauses with every punchline.

Actor and storyteller, the very cultured Stephen K took us on a hilarious, psychedelic ride from puberty and beyond. There is little better than great comedy.

 

sammizphotos
Stephen K Amos performing at Athenaeum Theatre as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2014.
Sammizphoto.com
images by Sam Tabone from Sammizphoto.com

 

 

News and Events

‘Hello there, we’ve been waiting for you’

Leave a comment

Created by Samara Hersch and Louris van de Geer

Theatre production satirises US TV game shows in ACMI film studio

Inspired by a real-life town in New Mexcio, USA, that changed its name to that of a television game show called Truth or Consequences in the 1950’s, Hello there, we’re been waiting for you is a theatre production that investigates the politics of identity, history and happiness.

Presented at ACMI from Wednesday 30 April – Sunday 11 May, 2014, and utilising the centre’s camera technologies to create a game show feel, Hello There We’ve Been Waiting For You is written by Louris van de Geer and directed by Samara Hersch.

Set within the elusive confines of a television studio in the lead up to the town’s annual May Fiesta, Hello There examines one’s quest to stand out in the world. Through the use of a live video feed and television tricks, this work deconstructs the art of construction and asks how we universally seek to be significant and examines the ways in which we re-invent stories, play with truth and find happiness.

In May 2013, Louris van de Geer visited the town Truth or Consequences and participated in the May Fiesta. She has built strong connections with the community and believes passionately in sharing the intriguing and complex stories that have kept this town on the map.

“I was hooked on this project from the moment Louris casually described a remarkable and obscure town in New Mexico who have been caught in a pre-reality TV obsession for over half a century,” said Emily Sexton, Next Wave Artistic Director. “In Louris and Samara’s capable hands we’ve fallen in love with these townsfolk who have willingly chosen fantasy over the more mundane American reality. Sitting in the live studio audience at ACMI, the full colour vision of this super talented female duo comes to life through a terrific ensemble – including the totally hilarious Genevieve Giuffre.”

Collaborating artists include: Louris van de Geer, Samara Hersch, Aaron Orzech, Genevieve Giuffre, Susie Dee, Don Bridges, Lucy Thornett, Eugyeene Teh, James Paul and Amelia Lever-Davidson.

News and Events

Comedy for Kids @ The Speigeltent

Leave a comment

So this is the Spiegeltent’s day job, being mobbed with hundreds of kids for the April break school holidays.

The house is full and our M.C.s for the afternoon are the Wizard Sandwiches, who clown and warm the gathered mob of children and adults alike. The great thing is that you don’t have to over think kids comedy. The joy is in the joy of the wee ones.

First up is Jason Chong who delights us with  songs of slobbery labradors and Optimus Prime the overlord of the good guys  from Transformers if you didn’t already know), as well as a slew of stuff pinned both for smallies and biggies.

Mr Snot Bottom rails in second to the delight of all with rafts of fart and poop jokes.

Grandma takes it up the rear with her  pulling folks out of the audience to help her and forever getting everything a little wrong as she can’t quite hear.

Kids comedy? All ages comedy more like. Just joyful! “Get your farty pants along!” was my five year old son’s recommendation.

review byConor O’Neill

Ticketmaster 1300 660 013 or at the door

DATES & TIMES: 14 Shows 05 Apr – 20 Apr

VENUE: The Famous   at Federation Square

PRICES: $15

 

News and Events

David Quirk “ Career, Suicide”

Leave a comment

David Quirk’s show  ‘Career, Suicide’ should be noted, in the first instance, for the comma that separates the two words therein. It eluded everyone and is the hinge point of a dual themed show. David recounts his time at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and there is the unsaid that it nearly killed him financially. It was noted in the English newspaper The Guardian that the average comedian loses $14,000 by putting a show up at the Valhalla of comedy.

From Melbourne, his day-job is in a skateboard shop across the road from the venue where he plays. This is where his heartbeats: in the theatre cauldron of the drive for laughs and connection. He elevates the absurd beyond cringe to own it in divine camp. He explores his own ethics and his belief in the sanctity of life without ever coming across as sanctimonious. David’s show is a taut honed little beast with razored material which then lets go into looser territory before picking up its heels and dragging itself to an alluded end.

review by Conor O’Neill

Ticketmaster 1300 660 013 or at the door

DATES & TIMES 23 Shows 27 Mar – 20 Apr

VENUE: Melb Town Hall – Cloak Room

Melb Town Hall – Lunch Room

PRICES: $20 – $28.90

 

News and Events

LET’S GET IT ON – The Life & Music of – Marvin Gay

Leave a comment

ON SALE TUESDAY 11 MARCH

‘Let’s Get It On’ opens on 13 May at The Athenaeum Theatre and celebrates the life and music of the multi-talented musician, singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye, whose records sold in the millions and who continues to influence a legion of artists the world over.

 April 1st 2014 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the tragic death of Marvin Gaye and this two-hour narrative concert explores Marvin’s humble beginnings, his troubled relationship with his father, the women in his life, his search for meaning and the music that defined a generation.

Starring Helpmann Award winning actor and singer Bert LaBonte and introducing singer, songwriter, pianist, Jude Perl, Let’s Get It On will be backed by some of Australia’s finest and funkiest musicians and is presented by The Producers of The Man In Black – The Johnny Cash Story and At Last – The Etta James Story.

Let’s Get It On features some of Marvin’s most beloved songs including ‘I Heard It ThroughThe Grapevine’, ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, his stunning spiritual masterwork ‘What’sGoing On’, the Grammy Award winning ‘Sexual Healing’ and many many more of his classic hits.

Marvin Gaye is acknowledged as The Prince of Motown – The Prince of Soul with the magnitude of his influence on R&B and soul music recognized when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

‘Let’s Get It On – The Life & Music of Marvin Gaye’ will have you Dancing In The Street!

Venue:                   The Clocktower, 750 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds

Date                         9 to 11 May

Tickets                    enquiries@clocktowercentre.com.au or 9243 9191

Price                        From $37

Venue:                   The Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne

Date:                       13 to 25 May

Tickets                    www.ticketek.com.au or 13 2849

Price                        From $49

www.letsgetiton.com.au

 

News and Events

HEATH FRANKLIN “MAY I BORROW A CRISIS”.

Leave a comment

Having spent the last nine years playing Chopper in his other stand up comedy show, Heath Franklin breaks free of Chopper and gets to do observational comedy that he otherwise couldn’t use Chopper as a mouth piece for. In fact Heath Franklin’s “Chopper: Big F**Ken Late Show”  is running   at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

Heath arrives on stage with the Chopper Aviator sunglasses, handlebar moustache and texta tattoos and after some initial banter sheds the Chopper character.  Part of the story is Heats relationship to the character of Chopper and one feels that there may be a bit of psychic divorce in the offing.

Heath is a brilliantly together, savvy, energetic comic who has that sublime ear for the audience. He gets to talk about his own relationships, being a Dad, his two boys and life in  multicultural western Sydney

The conceit behind the show comes from his comedian mates who hit crises in their lives and turn that around and use it to make a show. Heath grudgingly admires the turn of shite in life to gold comedy and uses audience experiences to improvise vignettes of comedy out of the tragedy of peoples lives to hilarious effect.

Review by Conor O’Neill

Ticketmaster 1300 660 013. At the door

DATES & TIMES21 Shows 27 Mar – 20 Apr

VENUE: Trades Hall – The Front Room

PRICES: $18 – $27.90

News and Events

JIMMY MCGHIE – “ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE”,

Leave a comment

Jimmy McGhie is a plummy south eastern Englander who rambles through his set on  a highlight Saturday as if it were an two for one Monday, with a hangover as big as Greenland. I felt I needed to be really drunk to enjoy this… possibly in a state near blackout where the world swoons hilariously in front of you before you parma the pavement. There was as much cohesion and energy  to this as a half arsed wet fart. There was absolutely no reason why his show was called Artificial Intelligence. He made illusion that he no real through line in his show. Jimmy whines on about his mid 30s  and the real entertainment of the night is the lady in the audience who is up front honest and hilarious when he engages here about her relationship.The feeling one got is that Jimmy is on holiday in Australia and decided to do a ‘bit’ of comedy. How he blagged into a comedy festival beggars belief and further still one wonders how he got such a good room. Amateur hour in Skegness misses him (not).

review by Conor O’Neill

Ticketmaster 1300 660 013.  At the door

DATES & TIMES: 22 Shows 27 Mar – 20 Apr

VENUE: Melb Town Hall – Council Chambers

PRICES: $22 – $30