Fringe Wrap: Mon Feb 22

When you think Fringe, you think comedy. Today's wrap-up is choc-full of comedy, featuring some of the funniest funny men from all around the world.

Rhino Room’s Late Show
Rhino Room, Thu Feb 18

This show has something of a legendary reputation as a great way to see many comedians in a laid-back environment for a budget price. A somewhat rowdy crowd can be guaranteed due to the late start time, giving the comics many chances to show their natural wit. On this occasion Justin Hamilton played host, largely avoiding material from his show in between introducing acts - a pleasant bonus. Jeff Green was a star of the early bracket, tearing down a person with far to much ego in the front row (nobody in Adelaide knows what 101.5 is, so attempting to talk yourself up with it to a comic is foolish). Dave Callan finished the loudmouths off and they were not to be seen again. Mark Trenwith was far better than last year, while the surprise star for mine was Cam Knight, a solo show I will now endeavour to check out. Although it will be a different array of acts each night you will leave satisfied.
Final Word: Orgy.
Shane Scott

Rhino Room’s Late Show continues until Sat Mar 13.

Alexis Dubus: A Surprisingly Tasteful Show About Nudity
Tuxedo Cat, Thu Feb 18

This was not an easy gig for Englishman Alexis Dubus. He knows Adelaide well after his triumphs last year, but had barely stepped off the plane and was jetlagged, hot and sweaty under the lights at the Tuxedo Cat. This was the very first run for his new show, but it’s already pretty smooth. We travel through a social history of nudity and in his own inimitable comic manner, Dubus asks us to examine why nudity appears shameful or embarrassing, and much as he did last year in his social history of swearing, relates anecdotes collected from his travels. Paleolithic engravings showing ancient men in all their erect glory, flashers, streakers, Greek Gods with huge members, nightmares of public nudity and even Dubus’ passion for nude cycling are all given the treatment. Even jetlagged, his style is impeccable.
Final Word: Polished.
Harry Starboard

Alexis Dubus peforms at Tuxedo Cat until Sun Feb 28.

Best Of Adelaide Comedy
Rhino Room, Thu Feb 18

The stand-up never stops at the Rhino Room. It’s midweek, it’s only 6pm and technically the Fringe still hasn’t even started, so the crowd at this point is sparse. Four Adelaide comedians get things going for the night, hosted by the quietly spoken but sharp wit of Angus Hodge, his comedy all the braver for the fact his parents are in the audience. Jason Pestell and Eliza Thomas both suffer from a very unresponsive audience, and seem unsure how to work up a room at this early hour. Hard to blame them for that. Only when the more experienced Phil Cowie and Lehmo (in the guest spot) take the stage do things warm up. The way both engage the audience speaks volumes for their greater experience. It wasn’t always an hour of sparks and belly laughs, but this is exactly the sort of gig that needs your support – young and local – so get along!
Final Word: Warming-up.
Harry Starboard

Best Of Adelaide Comedy continues at Rhino Room until Sat Mar 13.

Sung Like a Horse
The Stables, Fri Feb 19

One of the best things about the Fringe is that you can find some real diamonds in the rough - Sung Like A Horse was one of these shows. When you hear that a show is a combination of banter and comedy songs it sounds like it will just be a Tripod rip-off and something that has been done before. Fortunately this wasn’t the case for Matt and Chris, who have a well scripted show that weaves in and out of banter and music. The songs themselves were a bit on the cheesy side but it was the outrageous sexual nature of the songs and the dancing and grinding of non-guitar playing Matt that was a treat in itself. It all comes to a hilarious crescendo with their song about the titles of cowboy songs. Yee-ha.
Final Word: Raunchy.
Michael Wickham

Sung Like A Horse continues at the Stables until Sun Feb 28.

Dan Willis - Control Alt Delete
The Bull & Bear, Fri Feb 19

It’s a challenge to compile a comedy routine about IT troubles without overlapping with the dozens of computer related Fw: Fw: Fw: Re: LOL, Check this out that clog your inbox each week. Dan Willis - a man who preceded eight years of comedy experience with a decade as a programmer - was the man to get the IT clichés balanced with genuine LOLs just right. The UK comic opened with a truly British apology for the technical difficulties that held up the start – it became evident that this irony was not part of the show – and delivered a routine that was less about computers than it was a geek’s life story. His crowd interaction was something special as a modest collection of spectators were entertained, and while it may have lacked polish it was funny for nerds and jocks alike. It was proper fringe entertainment, like having nerdy English friend for an hour.
Final Word: 00000101.
Brad McNaughton

Control Alt Delete continues at the Bull & Bear until Sat Mar 13.

Oliver Clark – Lady Killer
Tuxedo Cat, Fri Feb 19

There’s nothing like a healthy dose of schmaltz and easy laughs to kick-start your weekend. Oliver Clark delivers the goods in a show packed with hilarious one-liners, songs and lyrics to rival Tom Jones and a healthy dose of pelvic thrusting. If you couldn’t tell from his love of three-piece suits and ability to serenade sandwiches, Clark is a lady killer. Be prepared to dodge suggestive winks and gratuitous CD promotion as he works his way through everything from romancing the ladies (and often the men) to discussing chicken vaginas and contagious yawns. At times you won’t know whether to laugh or cringe but it’s safe to say Oliver Clark will win your heart one way or another.
Final Word: Classy.
Lauren Pitman

Oliver Clark – Lady Killer continues at Tuxedo Cat until Sun Mar 14.

The Chronic Ills Of Robert Zimmerman
The Bakehouse Theatre, Sat Feb 20

The Chronic Ills… is a freewheeling ‘glissendorf’ pastiche of folk history, interview, myth, song fragment, biography and musical interlude that rattles past at breakneck speed like an angel-headed methamphetamine jive-talking ‘60s hipster. Unable to secure rights to Dylan’s catalogue, the production avoids a nostalgic run through the highlights of the canon. Instead, musical interludes are distorted renditions of tunes performed by Dylan; the result almost as contradictory, confusing and irreverent as the man himself.

The cast rise to the challenge of an astounding number of words, characters and identities. Joan Baez is as annoying as she should be, John Lennon is hilarious and Simon Rippingale’s musical accompaniment is outstanding in its subtlety and effectiveness.

Those new to Dylan may get tangled up in blue but for fans of the man, concept or era, don’t think twice, it’s great.
Final Word: Dylanological.
Troy Foster

The Chronic Ills Of Robert Zimmerman continues at The Bakehouse Theatre at 8pm until Sat Feb 27. 

Dr Brown Behaves
Tuxedo Cat, Sat Feb 20

Heard the one about the amazing show that comes each year to the Fringe, an artist no one has heard about before and who proceeds to blow audiences out of the water? This show is it. A largely wordless act of absurdist mime and downright uncomfortable weirdness that may or may not include handcuffs, olives, board games, dancing, sunscreen and a transvestite, this show goes strange places and then turns left and goes even stranger. Criminally, there were only nine people in the audience, but that will have to change. US/UK comic artist Philip Burgers AKA Dr Brown will do odd things to you, make you laugh, squirm and cringe in equal doses, but you won’t come away indifferent. This truly is unlike anything else on offer at the Fringe. Do not, under any circumstances, miss it.
Final Word: Speechless.
Harry Starboard

Dr Brown Behaves continues at Tuxedo Cat until Sun Mar 14.

Marcel Lucont – Encore
Tuxedo Cat, Thu Feb 18

“I am French and I am better than you.” That sentence summarizes what you can expect from this dry-witted romp. Marcel starts strongly, throwing in the now Fringe standard Adelaide references and advising us we are lucky to have him here again. Lucont is at his best when taking the high ground, looking down at all that is around him and all those in the audience not up to his greatness. As he stands barefoot and swilling wine, his delivery and somewhat obnoxious tone repeatedly breaks the room up. Sadly the show wanes in its later parts, the songs seemingly featuring the word cunt purely for shock value and the story from his memoir low points - seemingly unnecessary for a show so strong in other facets
Final Word: Croissant.
Shane Scott

Encore continues at Tuxedo Cat until Sun Mar 14.

Dan Sultan
The Famous Spiegeltent, Sat Feb 20

Call me crazy, but I really do think that Dan Sultan is the modern day (Australian) version of Elvis. He’s got the sex appeal, the hair flick, the pelvis thrust and the talent down pat. On Saturday night when he took to the “small” stage, he captured the attention of everyone in the tent. What surprised me most - other than that it being a sold-out show - was the humble nature Sultan possessed. Fortunately he has not been tainted by ‘fame’ as yet. I for one hope it stays that way, because other than his oozing sex appeal, his humility is a brilliant and highly attractive trait. And the man can sing! He clearly has music running through his veins, in the least clichéd sense; and his abilities as a singer, a songwriter, a guitarist and a dancer do not go unnoticed when one is in his presence.
Final word: Charismatic
Grace Goodfellow

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR E-NEWSLETTER!