Fringe Wrap: Thu Mar 4

The Fringe is drawing to a close, but there's plenty coming up and there's still time to check out some busking burlesque hip-hop or pubic pantomime puppetry. Find out what's hot and what's not with our latest reviews.

The Tokyo Shock Boys: 20th Anniversary Show
Thebarton Theatre, Fri Feb 26

The Boys’ latest show featured longtime-fave stunts - and, forgivably, technical issues. Gyuzo, Danna, Sangojugo and Nambu (the most assaulted) took to the stage in the stiflingly hot Thebby and set about their nicely ramshackle, sometimes deliciously amusing and frequently eye-watering business: Danna breaks cacti between his buttcheeks; darts-in-the-bum and stapling currency to Nambu’s head are surefire showstoppers; the set-piece where Gyuzo applies superglue to his hands and (almost) lifts a steel barrel is exceptionally painful-looking; and the famous highlight where a rope’s attached to Nambu’s scrotum and then pulled by Gyuzo on a motorbike provoked shrieks of horror. However, while some new additions failed to quite click, as when Gyuzo, as Michael Jackson, emerged strapped to two dummy Michaels and needed to be assisted when the discomfort became unendurable, the Boys needn’t have been as disappointed as they apparently were at the end, because the audience had a, um, ball.
Final Word: Ouch!
Mad Dog Bradley

Going Ape At The Zoo, Fri Feb 26
Adelaide Zoo

Going Ape presents an awesome opportunity to witness over two hours of comedy for a reasonable price, as well as being permitted access to the zoo and check out the animals. Plus, part proceeds of every ticket go towards the Great Ape Survival Project, which is comforting given you may leave feeling a bit ripped off. Tonight’s talent was very ordinary. Local Mad Dog Malcolm was receiving boos from the start of his second song and the normally funny Mike Klimczak would have struggled for a laugh from the nearby kookaburras. He, along with the only slightly more tolerable headliners, seemed to resort to their laziest and most unintelligent jokes, and seemed more interested in flirting with anyone in the front row who was near the age of consent. Perhaps the big crowd motivated the use of only the ‘safe’ material, but this show didn’t do the beautifully lit zoo garden justice.
Final Word: Letdown.
Brad McNaughton

Three Men Six Arms
Cushdy, Fri Feb 26

I was well and truly in my element when I witnessed the percussive spectacle that is Three Men Six Arms. Literally, the three men in the (local) percussion troupe had a massive array of percussive instruments, including djembes, darabukkas, congas, bongos and cajons, plus myriad other African and eastern instruments, as well as a drum kit too! The music that they produced was pretty amazing, usually starting with a single theme on a couple of drums, and slowly building and layering multiple sounds together to produce something pretty damn impressive. While the lack of melody may seem unusual to unsuspecting listeners, the complex rhythms drive things along beautifully, and you soon find yourself tapping away involuntarily. With a couple of guest performers to boot, an awesome lounge-room-like venue, and brilliant rhythms, I definitely rate this one highly!
Final word: Percussitastic!
Luke Balzan

Three Men Six Arms continues at various locations until Sat Mar 13

Ekatã: Music Voice Dance
Nexus Cabaret, Thu Feb 25

Shanti Shanti…a hybrid of flamenco, belly dancing and Indian sacred dance, Ekata is a hypnotic journey of song and dance and you can’t help but feel a strong sense of sisterhood even if you are a bloke! Ekata features a strong band of multi-instrumentalists ranging from double bass, oboe, Middle Eastern flute, guitar and octave mandolin to lots of percussion and outstanding vocal technique in various guises. The Tibetan singing bowl was our favourite and set the perfect ambience. The synthesis of dance styles celebrates femininity in all its forms, the costumes outstanding, unique and various according to the style of dance. It’s local but it’s celebrating a world of culture, belly buttons, hand cymbals, white sage, candles, and mysticism! Om…
Final Word: Hypnotising.
Clayton Werner & Sandy Klose

La Petite Mort – The Orgasm
The Promethean, Thu Feb 25

A one-woman cabaret show with piano accompaniment, this is both a collection of great songs and an edifying and amusing lesson in how the female orgasm has been misunderstood over the years. In the name of research Isabel Hertaeg has delved back into the history of all things sexual, and turned her findings into an entertaining romp. Raunchy but never sleazy. Songs range from Tom Waits to classical to country and western and a few other styles thrown in for good measure. Some puzzling stagecraft; I was never quite sure that pianist Geoff Urqhart’s discomfort was an act - and a somewhat limp ending stops this from being a totally satisfying experience – but you will want to join Isabel’s salute to all who have come before.
Final Word: Stimulating.
Adrian Miller

La Petite Mort – The Orgasm continues at The Promethean until Fri Mar 12.

Grumpy Old Comedian
The Maid, Thu Feb 25

Mick Meredith wisely threw away the script tonight and performed a great set for a shamefully small audience. Genial more than grumpy is the adjective for this skilful musical comedy and easy unforced audience banter. His joyously rude songs (start with pubes, move up) are well constructed, original and accompanied with properly fluent guitar work. He’s not some lazy comedian trying to cram too many syllables into a rhyme scheme and his musical parodies - stay with me - are true, affectionate and funny, The Kinks’ Lola gets a piquant reworking, and he covers 40 years of rock music. He’s got a rich voice for both singing and speaking, is genuinely warm and at ease with an audience and crucially doesn’t make the interaction feel awkward. It’s untaxing, enjoyable fun. Catch him when you can.
Final Word: Joyful.
Julia Chamberlain

Cath Styles In Love And Marriage
The Maid, Thu Feb 25

How much more original material could you possibly find to say about love and marriage? Apparently absolutely none. Cath Styles has a hypnotic, rhetorical delivery and an inclusive manner, so many of her sentences seek to gain your assent, ending in “Right?” or “Don’t you?” that it feels like a positive thinking seminar. The audience, tonight 90 percent female with a couple of other halves in tow, giggled away enthusiastically at the start. It’s a very personal show, short on quotable funny lines, but with just enough amusing, self-deprecating content to tickle you along. No advocate for marriage, she insists she married accidentally. There are exaggerated examples of sluttish and slummy-mummy behaviour, but she’s a nice girl really ending with sentimental exhortation to work on our relationships and value our partners which pings you straight back to the self help event.
Final Word: Dull.
Julia Chamberlain

Late Night Improv at Sugar
Sugar, Thu Feb 25

Late Night Improv; it can’t get any clearer than that really, eight comics play a variety of improvisational games guided by suggestions from the audience. Some games include a Perfect Match type scenario where three comics act out a character and the other guesses who they are, while other games involve simply just picking up a prop off the stage and, using their comic wit, provide the audience with some hilarious moments. However the final game was probably the highlight, involving a very messy cooking scenario, food flying everywhere and custard being licked off some poor man’s head. While it was a bit hit and miss throughout the night, for the most part the comics delivered.
Final Word: Messy.
Sarah Mena

Late Night Improv At Sugar continues at Sugar until Thu Mar 11.

Three Birds – Featuring Liz Stringer, Jess McAvoy & Leah Flanagan
Wheatsheaf Hotel, Thu Feb 25

These enormously talented three women between them have decades of experience as performers and songwriters. Structuring the performance into two sets, a mellow and introspective first half and a more lively second half, they exchange ukulele, banjo, bass, percussion and various guitars throughout, and delight the senses with beautifully blended harmonies. Given that all have distinctly different personalities and perspectives this is one of the pleasures of a combined performance of these gifted ‘Three Birds’. Liz Stringer oozes down to earth passion with her blues and bluegrass tinged tunes. Leah Flanagan incorporates indigenous island roots with a huge vocal range that soars from sweet to gutsy and Jess McAvoy offers her emotionally driven songs with a funky and syncopated edge. The fitting finale is a collaboration song, co-written by all three.
Final Word: Sublime.
Jenna Bonavita

Vigilantelope Presents Tale Of The Golden Lease
The Pod, Thu Feb 25

Everyone from God, Shiva, The Rainbow Serpent and Satan want the lease to Earth, so four men in black T-shirts and shorts change hats and characters to depict the quest. Joel Tito, Vachel Spirason, Pat Miller, Tim McDonald travel through space, explore the Anus of Time and see some serious shit! Absolutely hilarious aerobic style dancing, singing, puns galore and references to characters you will know and love or hate, it is a must-see romp through Heaven and Hell!
Final Word: Heavenly.
Karen Bailey

Vigilantelope Presents Tale Of The Golden Lease continues at The Pod until Sun Mar 14.

Brian and Krysstal: Whinging Puns
Ambassadors Hotel, Fri Feb 26

Puns – word plays based on deliberate misunderstanding of words, Poms – lily-white people allergic to the sun who delight in puns. Brian and Krysstal have well honed comedy skills, good comic timing and plenty of experience playing to an audience. Krysstal may act otherwise, but she provides a good foil for Brian’s antics and proves her worth and talents in the finale, playing many instruments in a manner that only a true comic could properly exploit. Krysstal’s battery operated tuning fork exciter is entertaining. The BBC4 take-off was the highlight of the show for me; good fodder with some wonderful mirth. Solid comedy in a self-deprecating British flavour – well worth a look.
Final Word: Disambiguation.
Clayton Werner

Brian and Krysstal: Whinging Puns continues at Ambassadors Hotel until Sun Mar 14.

Josh Earl Vs The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book
Cinema Nova, Fri Feb 26

Josh Earl is fabulous! While doing a show two years ago, Josh mentioned The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book and got such a reaction that he created a show dedicated to that book. Here it is. According to Josh, the cake you’re mother baked for your birthday was a measure of her love... I was an unloved child and hadn’t even seen the book! To find a comedian that has you laughing the entire way through a show is hard. To find one that you could happily sit through another hour of is almost impossible, but he managed to do just that. Take your mum - or your teenager!
Final Word: Delightful.
Bridie Toomer

Man Walks Into A Bar
Adelaide Comedy Cellar, Fri Feb 26

Hosted by a very funny Anthony Lammond, Man Walks Into A Bar is a showcase of fine local talents such as Mike Klimzac who delivered the opening fun with his nappy jokes and tales of ‘daylight saving sex’. Local ‘newbies’ Amy Manuel and Leila Henderson were both well received by the primed and supportive crowd. A beautifully rustic Rod Gregory had to be the shining light of the evening, his hilarious tales of geriatric sex delighting both young and old in the audience. Dave Flanagan’s rants on ‘technology gone mad’ and all things Adelaide were pure gold as was Mickey D’s observations on Queenslanders and Power supporters. A great night out in an enjoyable, iconic Adelaide venue.
Final Word: Side-splitting.
Rosie van Heerde

Man Walks Into A Bar continues at Adelaide Comedy Cellar until Sat Mar 13.

Frock Rock And Radical Cheek: The Women Who Triple J Forgot
Church Of The Trinity, Fri Feb 26

The gorgeous acoustics of the Church Of The Trinity created a great ambience for this sold out performance. Emily Davis and Clementine Ford lead this powerful all-woman band, with special guests Emma Dean and Jodi Anderson. Soaring five-part harmonies and solo a cappellas highlight their amazing vocal ability. A great concept and adaptation of powerful women performers of the past and present. Frock Rock is a political stance against cock rock and the women that Triple J forgot, showcasing songs from Ani Di Franco, Billie Holiday, Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin to name a few. Finishing the evening with a rendition of Chrissy Amphlett’s I Touch Myself, a climax indeed! Witty, cheeky and sensual, my granny would turn in her grave to hear the word ‘fuck’ in church.
Final Word: Breathtaking.
Kathryn Barclay & Edel Perth

Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Nite Nite
Theater Bosco, Fri Feb 26

What a wonderful, weird and wacky combination! McGregor is a superb performer and my only criticism is that there wasn’t enough of her! She dazzled the audience with her vocal ability, provocative flirting and slightly scary stalker talk! McGregor introduced some up-and-coming talent as well as (to my delight) a bald and bearded Peter Berner from The Einstein Factor, whose foul language and opinions had me gobsmacked and in stiches! McGregor’s hilarious butler Saxon was entertaining to say the least. The ‘Fuxedo’ will be laughed about in my household for months! A new breed of comedy/rock was also introduced to the audience in the form of Dead Cat Bounce, who you’ll see more of at the Nova Eastend Cinema.
Final Word: Captivating.
Bridie Toomer

Yuri Wells
The Container, Fri Feb 26

This magical piece of theatre, written and performed by a superb Benedict Hardie, is at once enticing and disturbing. Co-written and directed by Ann-Louise Sarks, and beautifully established with the musical presence of Stuart Bowden, Yuri Wells strips away (literally) all theatrical necessities, laying bare both stage and character. Hardie eliminates a number of props at the start of his monologue – a syringe, rolled up carpet and, finally, a large chest big enough to hold all manner of ‘sins’. What has been removed from view becomes all the more powerful in the audience’s imagination as the increasingly disconcerting monologue continues. The Container is a wonderfully intimate performance space and perfectly suited to this story of an aged care nurse harbouring secrets, essentially trapped, or ‘boxed’ within his own fantasies and loneliness.
Final Word: Mesmerising.
Rosie van Heerde

Yuri Wells continues at The Container until Sat Mar 13.

Titters! A Showcase Of Award Winning Funny Women
Ambassadors Hotel, Fri Feb 26

Host Sheridan Stewart is immensely welcoming and generously introduces each performer, all world-class and true professionals in their field. Commencing the evening’s feast of comedy is the affable ‘Queen Of Country Corn’ Ms Patsy DeCline, whose tales of cowboys and heartache will have spurs rattling with toe-tappin’ mirth. All comedians were brilliant and unique but standout performances on this night include the side-splitting Urzila Carlson, the manic Justine Smith and UK’s extraordinarily engaging Francesca Martinez. The delightful thing about Titters! is each night’s line-up varies, so one could easily attend several times and be surprised every time… hint, hint! Ambassadors’ balcony restaurant setting has table service so sit back, be fed, hydrated and laugh out loud!
Final Word: Value!
Jenna Bonavita

Titters! continues at Ambassadors Hotel until Sun Mar 14.

Nick Parnell – Bach To Brazil
The Promethean, Fri Feb 26

On a hot steamy night when the wind was breathless, the stage stars shone brightly upon a percussionist’s dream. With quick hands Nick Parnell played djembe and repinique drums, vibraphone, a rainmaker and more. Wine glasses sang and whistles distorted from afar, as the rhythm moved from Bach to Brazil, Debussy to Gershwin. From slow melodies to up-tempo Brazilian beats, he occasionally lost us in his artistic interpretation. It was at times a pleasure to watch. Like a soundtrack from a by-gone era, we were taken to a place of romance and bubbly things.
Final Word: Artistic.
Terry Izatt & Karen Bailey

Best Of The Fest Late Show
The Gov, Fri Feb 26

There was a misogynistic theme running through this show. Peter Berner rose above it. Daniel Townes told how he’d been accused of it. Carey Marx tried to obscure it with a sort of clever defence of using offensive language that was still in the end just offensive. Lindsay Webb’s opening line was “I can see your vagina” to a woman seated at the front - though he is skilled at building a funny set around audience interaction. It was the late show and much of the crowd were boozed, so any reference to sex or vaginas brought guaranteed laughs. There were funny moments, but Berner aside, this show would be a huge hit at local footy clubs - a sad indictment. Still, the crowd laughed uproariously all the way through.
Final Word: Sexist.
Michael Coghlan

Best Of The Fest Late Show continues at The Gov until Sat Mar 13.

Daniel Townes - So Far, So What
Crown & Anchor, Fri Feb 26

This is Daniel Townes’ sixth Adelaide Fringe and he’s brought his best show yet. A stand-up’s stand-up, he eschews contrived themes and narrative for an hour dense with jokes, searing observation and the odd deliberate groaner. His rapid-fire delivery means you probably get more gags per minute than from any other comic at the Fringe. His style is friendly, inclusive and passionate without fake outrage. The show took off with a blend of autobiographical anecdotes, involving Mom and Pop, England, embarrassing awkward sex, dope and video games. What lifted the show far above just ordinary fun was his willingness to challenge aspects of Australian culture, self-perception and burgeoning racism with incisive and illuminating humour. However this is not a message show, it’s a bubbling hour of great stories covering a huge amount of ground with exactly the right mix of silliness and smart, funny ideas.
Final Word: Storming.
Julia Chamberlain

Daniel Townes continues at Crown & Anchor until Sat Mar 13.

Lou Sanz in Please Don't Use My Flannel For That
Ambassadors Hotel, Fri Feb 26

The format of this show was Lou was reading, and sometimes explaining, from a chapter of her personal memoir. 1998 was selected for Friday’s gig, beginning with a trip to LA as she’d sold a play to a movie house and it was a good excuse to leave home. As for what she was leaving – well I thought I had ‘Mother trouble’! That she eventually arrived back in Australia to face the police and the full body and cavity search and this was mild in comparison to the rest of the trip – well it gives you an idea of the kind of disaster story Lou will tell.
Final Word: Digitising.
Clayton & Lauren Werner

European Man 1
Metropolitan Hotel, Fri Feb 26

Expect the unexpected! With topics ranging from cats to organic beef it’s hard to keep track of where the night is going, but European Man tells us tales of his life back home in Europe, why he left and moved to Melbourne and his much loved cat James Peterson. He also explores parts of our Australian culture through song, managing to muster up a few chords to sing a song about kangaroos and cats. While he does deliver some great one-liners, they are few and far between and make for some awkward silences.
Final word: Ummmmmm?
Sarah Mena

Francesca Martinez
Tuxedo Cat, Fri Feb 26

A sign of good comedy is if you find yourself still thinking about some of the jokes hours or even days afterwards; Francesca Martinez is a comedian who will definitely make a lasting impression. Francesca has cerebral palsy, or CP as she calls it, but any initial discomfort at seeing her being helped to the stage quickly disappears as she reassures the audience that she is sober, and launches into a routine which shows that a lifetime of living with the condition has given her a unique and edgy comic view of the world. Whether it be to witness a triumph of the human spirit, or just because she is so bloody funny, this is one comedy routine you must see. You will be poorer than the price of a ticket if you miss it.
Final Word: Brilliant!
Adrian Miller

Francesca Martinez continues at Tuxedo Cat until Sun Mar 7.

A Smoke, A Pill And The Six O’Clock Swill
Wheatsheaf Hotel, Fri Feb 26

Listed as Cabaret in the Guide, it would be more accurate to describe this show as a band with a setlist of songs which reference drugs or alcohol. Not a bad idea in itself, as there is a wealth of good songs to choose from. There was some spoken word to explain some of the history of various drugs, but the setlist seemed random and lacked cohesive direction needed for a cabaret show. The Angry Penguins are at their best in upbeat songs extolling the pleasures of various vices, but singer Virginia Slim’s jaunty style didn’t deliver the pathos of a Mary Gauthier or Marianne Faithfull song. Enjoyable but not fully satisfying.
Final Word: Underdone.
Adrian Miller

A Smoke, A Pill And The Six O’Clock Swill continues at various venues until 13 Mar.

Kaos Kabaret
Irish Club, Sat Feb 27

A wonderful frolic through a variety of songs from the past, from swing to disco and back again. The lively cast were a joy to watch as they sang, danced and joked their way through songs that included It Don’t Mean A Thing, Leader Of The Pack and Shake A Tail Feather. Audience participation was a given as the (mostly) older crowd rocked along with the action onstage. Songs were interspersed with a collection of corny jokes and skits that ranged from good to very bad, yet always managed to raise a laugh. A fun night out for the more mature Fringe-goer.
Final Word: Kool.
Rosie van Heerde

Foxing Round A Story
Bakehouse Theatre (Studio), Sat Feb 27

In this developing work, Jessie McKinlay explores the juxtaposition between the social rituals of the aristocracy and the savagery of fox hunting. We begin with children at play, a picture of innocence, untouched by cruelty. Images of polite society, quaint garden settings, cups of tea and cucumber sandwiches are interrupted by the raw brutality of a fox devouring a chicken. The fox hunt ensues, as much a social ritual as any other, the death throes of the fox politely ignored by the child now bloodied. An irony, given what followed, is that it was Hermann Göring of Nazi Germany who was the first to ban fox hunting in 1934. A thoughtful work ably performed by Jessie McKinlay and collaborator Jay Mullan.
Final Word: Intelligent.
Carl Cranstone

Requiem - For The Peace Of Mind And The Comfort Of The Heart
Garage International, Sat Feb 27

This would have to be one of the more esoteric events on the Fringe calendar. Garage International have held some intriguing events, but I don’t know if we need to have a Japanese artist at the Fringe singing Italian arias. This would have been better as part of another larger event just featuring Japanese or other ethnic music. Satoko it would seem had a need to sing this collection of traditional Japanese songs plus some Handel and Coccini as part of a requiem tribute. It was pleasant enough, but there were plenty of off-key moments, and times when Satoko’s breathing affected her delivery. Not hers or the Fringe’s finest moment.
Final Word: Esoteric.
Michael Coghlan

A Billie Holiday Tribute - What A Little Moonlight Can Do
Rob Roy Hotel, Sat Feb 27

Held in the dining room of the Rob Roy Hotel, this was a wonderful performance of the music of one of jazz, blues and pop’s seminal vocal influences. Young Melbourne musicians deliver great renditions of Billie Holiday’s work. The vocals were shared by three fine female vocalists, who in turn presented smoky, moody and uplifting versions of the jazz/blues numbers that showcased Lady Day’s strength and fragility. Drums, double bass and some fantastic jazz guitar completed the musical line-up. Maybe book for dinner if you want good seats – the place was packed.
Final Word: Excellent.
Michael Coghlan

Ted Egan
Arts Theatre, Sat Feb 27

Acknowledged master of that intricate percussion instrument, the empty beer carton, Ted Egan presented an hour of stories, songs and poems accompanied only by said instrument. His material was drawn from a lifetime of meeting all kinds of characters during his extensive travels around the bush. He engaged the audience immediately by getting us to sing along to the chorus in the very first song, and kept us involved throughout. His yarns made compelling listening; some funny, some very moving. His obvious songwriting gift, love of life and generosity of spirit towards all people was keenly on display. The audience was very generously sprinkled with senior citizens who looked as if they wanted more. But I have never been to a show with so many mobile phones going off during the performance - the rudeness of the older generation these days is really becoming quite disturbing.
Final Word: Iconic.
Adrian Miller

Black Ruby
The Jade Monkey, Sat Feb 27

The rhythmic sound of this five-piece band sent us to the Caribbean and back. Reminiscent of The Bangles and Vika & Linda Bull, mixed with a smidgen of reggae and almost ska-like sounds. The three sassy, sexy, sultry women up front and two guys blasting away in the back are very talented, with a flavoursome mix of instruments and percussion; a cool, languid saxophone, a great drum solo, and audience on back-up percussion (courtesy of the home-made shakers thrown into the crowd). The fresh and happy band enjoyed every moment of their performance. A pleasure to indulge the senses. This enticing, sexy band hit all the right marks – lively, great energy and a polished outfit.
Final Word: Refreshing.
Terry Izatt & Karen Bailey

Intervention
Tandanya Theatre, Sat Feb 27

Intervention gives the audience a snap shot of how the Northern Territory Intervention, that was implemented through the Howard government, has affected many members of the Aboriginal community’s lives and their way of living. This young cast, including five young children and the writers and directors of the show, have succeeded in communicating one of many affected family’s stories and have brought a real life and honesty to their performances. While the production is a ‘work in progress’ it has enormous potential to become something that will make people really sit down and think about the way the Aboriginal community is treated and how there needs to be an intervention for the Northern Territory Intervention.
Final Word: Honest.
Sarah Mena

Intervention continues at Tandanya Theatre until Fri Mar 5.

Medigood
Star Theatre, Sat Feb 27

This show was a bit of a mixed bag, probably only entertaining if you knew someone on stage. In fact the audience did seem to be made up of many rellies and friends. The story of a young man – and a ninja princess - on a quest in search of their purpose in life, Medigood’s themes are interesting but scripting and stage work was too rough to generate any real connection with the actors or indeed the entire show. The mostly young cast were clearly enjoying themselves, with friends and families obviously enjoying their performances, warts ‘n’ all.
Final Word: Mediocre.
Rosie van Heerde

My Sweet Specter
Star Theatres, Sat Feb 27

1920 prohibition Chicago, and the Dazzle Club is pumping to the sounds of Goldfrapp, Gotan Project and err… Britney Spears! Suspend disbelief for a moment and this all actually works. Al Capone would have loved Money (That’s What I Want). A troupe of 13 dancers presented some gorgeous dance routines that were sumptuous and well-executed. The vibrant costumes meant that this production was certainly a pleasure to watch. A plot line that was comic book thin, in keeping with the film noir genre, but not without a few intriguing twists. The six actors were all good, particularly Shaez Mortimer as Miss Scarlet Rivers, who owned the stage whenever she was on it. Her final number, All That Jazz, was sensational! Was it deep and meaningful? Certainly not. Was it entertaining? Hell yes!
Final Word: Sassy.
Adrian Miller

The Huw Joseph Experience
Jade Monkey, Sat Feb 27

“A fantastic blend of stand-up comedy and pure ‘pop rock’ talent” said the blurb. This stretches the truth beyond breaking point. Talent was abundant in the guitar playing, but Huw Joseph’s 11 songs should never have passed the bedroom door and that they are available on CD with the full five-piece band treatment makes it apparent that nobody has ever told him straight. Joseph seems a lovely bloke, eager to woo Adelaide by praising the city, but this infantile bilge lacked wit or smart ideas; there’s nothing beyond drinking, spewing, poo, getting a root or drugs. Lyrically each song was too repetitive, musically they were too much alike. If it was meant to be comedy there should have been more sophistication. Only the penultimate song Man’s Man had a scintilla of empathy for its ‘rough and dumb’ protagonist and contained the germ of an idea.
Final Word: Grim.
Julia Chamberlain

Sticks Stones Broken Bones
Le Cascadeur, Sat Feb 27

Shadow puppetry from a vivid imagination. A myriad of unusual looking props arranged across the performance space that one by one become cast members. Watch how the various objects come to life, enjoy the puppeteer at work – he’s not hiding behind anything and he’s using fingers, hands, legs, toes, everything to engage the audience. Wonder at the illusion as the puppets become shadows on the screen and you sit like you are at an enthralling tennis match, watching both ends at the same time, the shadow screen and the shadow creator. With a minimum of words the show transports everyone through various skits, between dark and simply delightful stories, the audience - from two to 82 - are simply drawn irresistibly along.
Final Word: Playful.
Clayton Werner

Sticks Stones Broken Bones continues at Le Cascadeur until Sat Mar 13.

I Need Your Love
Arcade Lane (Regent One), Sat Feb 27

I Need Your Love highlights the passionate nature of intimacy and love in the 21st century through dance. Just like all relationships it was frenetic at times, syncopated at others and offbeat in between. This exciting production is a fusion of industrial ballet, performance theatre, aerial partnering and contemporary dance, sectioned into nine individual pieces. Nothing Is Certain But Death And Taxes was a beautiful duet with Martin Sierra and Stacy Knight, this was the pinnacle of the show with passion, energy and elegance, a sheer delight! Melbourne Dance Theatre has based this production on the influences of German expressionist dance Ausdrucktanz. I Need Your Love was well crafted and beautifully choreographed by Martin and Michelle Sierra, they captured the essence of love through expressionist dance.
Final Word: Passionate.
Kathryn Barclay & Edel Perth

Eric’s Tales Of The Sea: A Submariner’s Yarn
Ambassadors Hotel, Sat Feb 27

A deeply engaging story of friendship, pints, donkey taxis, near misses and of course submarines. Ex-submariner, Eric, re-tells tales of the navy you may not have heard. The intimate setting of the Ambar Lounge is transformed into the inside of seaworthy war craft complete with the traditional underwater darkness and the sound of water dripping onto a metal roof. Not only that but you walk away from the show knowing more about submarines than, well, probably a submariner! A fascinating mixture of stand-up comedy and a lesson in engineering deep sea ships, this show is not to be missed.
Final Word: Nautical.

Eric’s Tales Of The Sea continues at Ambassadors Hotel until Sun Mar 14.

Words They Make With Their Mouths
Iris Cinema, Sat Feb 27

Sixteen characters and one man to perform them all sounds damn impressive if you can pull it off - and impressive it was. A group of people leave a pub and walk down a street and their stories that unfold are sometimes sad, sometimes funny but always honest. This piece of theatre is thoughtfully constructed in a way that will have you riding every emotional wave. Spencer, writer and performer, is a remarkable storyteller, as he chops and changes between characters and narrates the intertwined love and life stories of each of his energetic individual characters, he delivers a piece of theatre that should not be missed. If you don’t see anything else at this year’s Fringe, see this!
Final Word: Outstanding!
Sarah Mena

Words They Make With Their Mouths continues at Iris Cinema until Sun Mar 13.

Vari-A-Tease
Holden Street Theatres, Sat Feb 27

Vari-A-Tease presents brilliant vaudeville/burlesque with cleverly choreographed mime and dance. Mr Gorsky, caught in a storm, is a disgruntled, hat-twiddling Marcel Marceau; exceptionally executed. Singing elegantly, Kitty Van-Horne plays a school teacher who moonlights as Tamara Queen Of The Night. Acrobatic Missy does impressive, upside-down stunts. Poppy-T is a charismatic beauty. Danica Lee’s purple, feathered fans reveal sequined nipples. Miss Zahra Stardust, naughty housewife, makes a mess with her cake mix and finds new uses for the wooden spoon. An alluring, progressive striptease by women with packages, loincloths, tattoos and glittering lips, this is a late night romp into idiomatic worlds of seduction, each act a tasty morsel. These talented performers play hard. Sexy and funny, this is art… and sport. It’ll make you gasp.
Final Word: Excellent!
Kimberley Mann

Sickle Of Life
The Promethean, Sun Feb 28

From the heart of her bottom, here is Sveta’s personal journey from her home village Ztribchevsk, Ukraine and her 100 dairy cows, to Adelaide. Presented, directed, written et cetera by Lana Jankowiak and her cousins, and including a strong KGB presence, this is a cabaret of storytelling, with some big pop hits being tvisted along the way. A favourite was Leader Of The Pack being turned into the very Australian Barry With A Crack. Costumes were lavish in deep reds and black from the ‘60s and Sveta’s hair was also fittingly tall, resembling Marge from The Simpsons. The sell-out audience were kept entertained throughout in true Promethean ‘lounge’ comfort including an opening shot of vodka. Here’s something special for Russian aficionados.
Final Word: Nuz-du-rov-yee-ya!
Clayton Werner & Sandy Klose

Sickle Of Life continues at the Promethean until Sat Mar 13.

Mark Atkins And The Choir Of Didgeridoos
Westcare Karpandi Arts Centre, Sun Feb 28

This international performer has a fine Australian sound. Listening to a selection of indigenous instruments, we are drawn in by this husky man with wind-filled cheeks and masterful breath control. The Choir Of Didgeridoos are mesmerising in this primal music collaboration. Mark Atkins has taken the didgeridoo out of the context of simply being an Aboriginal instrument and celebrated it with the world.
Final Word: Mesmerising.
Terry Izatt & Karen Bailey

Single Admissions
Holden Street Theatres – The Studio, Sun Feb 28

I well remember the angst of the singles dating scene. Theatre group Lazy, Young & Talented meet it head on. Not that they dwell on the angst. In fact these three young women have a lot of fun with it in a fast-moving dynamic piece of performance art. Playing themselves, mothers, aunties, competitors and casual acquaintances on the ‘slut bus’, they document the struggle of binge drinking, one night stands, looking for meaningful relationships and the Facebook culture of false friends. Wonderful music and dance routines and I liked the clever the use of mobile clothes racks as windows and frames into a perplexing world. I loved the balance between the sad and the funny, the romantic and the raunchy. Great show.
Final Word: Dynamic.
Michael Coghlan

Single Admissions continues at the Holden Street Theatres until Tue Mar 9.

Kate Vigo & The Underground Orchestra
The Spiegeltent, Sun Feb 28

The boys from the Underground Orchestra enter with matching jackets, Kate soon follows in a pretty white dress. The look is a mix of old rock‘n’roll with the new. A tight rhythm section, a tasty guitar through a sophisticated distortion synthesiser with well selected effects and then Kate, who has a gentle presence on the stage and can certainly sing. The set consists of about half covers (including Prince and The Shangri-Las), half originals – some solid pop, mostly love songs artfully arranged. The highlight for me was the stripped down duo, flamenco guitar and voice. I thought it unusual that after this gentle interlude the band didn't bring the set to a raucous ending.
Final Word: Soulful.
Clayton Werner & Sandy Klose

How I Made My Arse Look Smaller Simply By Pulling My Head Out Of It
The Maid, Sun Feb 28

Using mixed-media, this one-woman comedy parodies the limitations of human memory, the aging brain, body image and comfort eating. Childhood dreams of becoming a mermaid or David Bowie crushed, she begins her personal journey. Em O’Loughlin personifies human denial as ‘Captain Oblivious’. She despairs, then accepts; her arse has turned into a beanbag – very comfortable actually! Endearing hyperactive, histrionic renditions of contemporary anxieties and screaming terror of mirrors, whether dressed as a cave-woman making pterodactyl soup or mimicking her Irish grandmother this is punchy rhetoric. Reminiscent of an American self-esteem seminar at times; I’m Okay. You’re Okay! This is an honest and insightful show; energetic, animated and whacky. Go.
Final Word: Brave.
Angie Starr & Kimberley Mann

How I Made My Arse Look Smaller continues at the Maid until Sun Mar 5.

The Louise Blackwell Quartet
Colonel Light Hotel, Sun Feb 28

A warm Sunday afternoon upstairs at the Colonel Light Hotel made a good setting for a capacity crowd to take in two hours of songs from jazz vocalist Louise Blackwell. Backed by a stellar trio (Bruce Hancock on piano, John Aue on bass and Yuri Markov on drums) Louise regaled us with stories from her years in the Paris jazz scene, songs in French, jazz standards (in English) and original songs from her CD Sea Is Turning. The originals sounded something of a departure from her jazz styling, which made for an interesting variety. A song about convicted murderer Ronald Ryan sounded more like a folk song. A Celtic flavour for the lovely Caledonia to end, before returning to the jazz to outro with Sunny Side Of The Street. Whichever turn she took, an appreciative audience went with her.
Final Word: Polished.
Adrian Miller

The Wau Wau Sisters’ Last Supper
Umbrella Revolution, Sun Feb 28

Even before the show had begun, the hilarity had started. Handed sacrament at the door and then ushered to our seats, it’s didn’t take long for the Wau Wau Sisters to get most of their gear off in a dancing acrobatic frenzy, and then after some hilarious crowd-warming banter, get them back on in the same fashion. Being sacrilegious has never been so funny – or so raunchy. These two country and western singers don’t understand the word subtle – their song Jesus Is Cumming is only the tip of the iceberg of their hilarious debauched ways. Their acrobatic skills are dazzling and every ‘apostle’ they collected from the audience was a willing participant. Bread was broke, wine was shared, nudity was common and the capacity crowd loved absolutely every second of these fabulously raunchy women. I bet God wishes she was there!
Final Word: Outrageous!
Catherine Blanch

The Wau Wau Sisters’ Last Supper continues at Umbrella Revolution until Sat Mar 13.

My Name Is Rachel Corrie
AC Arts (TAFE SA) - Stables, Sun Feb 28

Daniel Clarke directs the marvellous Hannah Norris in this superb effort. For 90 minutes the audience shares Corrie’s views and thoughts on a range of topics gleaned from diaries, emails and letters. Norris is convincing in this impressive solo performance. The atmospheric lighting and sound help create Rachel’s world, both at home in the USA and in Palestine. This play serves to remind that, no matter who holds the moral high ground, all who perish in conflict are children, parents, siblings and friends. It also demonstrates what can happen when you grab a tiger by the tail. That Rachel Corrie died in the most awful of circumstances should never be forgotten. This performance will ensure that you won’t.
Final Word: Absorbing.
David Robinson

My Name Is Rachel Corrie continues at AC Arts until Sun Mar 14.

Often I Find That I Am Naked By Fiona Sprott
Le Cascadeur, Sun Feb 28

All Jezebel wants is to be loved unconditionally and not to feel so isolated, but by when ‘The One’ comes along she doesn’t know what to do or how to react. This well crafted black comedic piece of genius theatre has everything you could think of, from live music to cheesy pick-up lines and a guide to the dos and don’ts of the dating world, it’s one that will have you both in fits of laughter and cringing in horror. The performances by Jo Thomas and Sam Clark are outstanding and bring so much energy to the show as they bounce around the stage. This is a story about alcohol, sex, love, life and loneliness, often in that order, that is captivating and stimulating in more ways than one.
Final word: Intriguing.
Sarah Mena

Robot... Monkey... Robot
Cushdy (Red Room), Sun Feb 28

This show has such a great title! Loves it! Sadly, that’s probably the most unqualified praise I can muster for this dog’s breakfast. Under-rehearsed to the point where I would have sworn it was completely improvised if it weren’t for the fact that the ‘plot’ kept synching up to the pre-prepared multimedia projections, this is a show best fronted up to with low expectations and several drinks under your belt. The script is essentially a three-hander about two 20-something housemates confronted by a time-traveller out for revenge against Miley Cyrus (or something like that), with plenty of pop cultural allusions and non sequiturs. I won’t deny that there were laughs and I was entertained, as was the rest of the audience, but it also felt like the wheels could fall off at any moment.
Final Word: Half-baked.
Owen Heitmann

Robot... Monkey... Robot continues at Cushdy (Red Room) at 7pm until Sat Mar 6.

The Funny Side Of Prestidigitation
Caos Entertainment Complex, Fri Feb 26

Pip Comic Illusionist’s wit is as quick as his sleight of hand in this vastly entertaining show. Card tricks, balloon animals, disappearing (and reappearing) banknotes and other feats of legerdemain amaze and amuse alongside a steady stream of banter and hammed up rivalry between the stage magician and his delectable assistant Miss Olivia. With lots of volunteers from the audience required throughout the show, it’s easy to become part of the performance and get a close up look at how the magic happens (although I think I might have accidentally sabotaged one of his routines while I was on stage, sorry). The ace up Pip’s sleeve might be that distraction and misdirection are so much easier when the audience has tears of laughter running down their face.
Final Word: Bewitching.
Owen Heitmann

The Funny Side Of Prestidigitation continues at Caos Entertainment Complex until Fri Mar 5.

Berlin Cabaret
The Promethean, Sun Feb 28

Life may be a cabaret for some, but that doesn't mean that it's all booze, good times and frilly knickers! Though these themes are all interrogated with great delight at the Berlin Cabaret, the production also leans heavily on the misfortune and strife that afflicts its performers as they struggle on their journey from the gutter to the stars. Drawing on material from the era, the vocal performances are excellent, from the saucy and somewhat sauced Lux to the bumbling and confused Rudy, and the sinister and manipulative Gerhardt. The Berlin Cabaret Micro Orchestra provide enchanting interludes and outstanding musical accompaniments, while the Tin Can Alley duo add an odd cross-cultural ragamuffin feel. Perhaps not as raucous and raunchy as the Kit Kat Klub, it's still a lot of fun and there's even a chance to throw celery at the performers!
Final word: Jazzy.
Troy Foster

Berlin Cabaret continues at the Promethean at 9pm on Sat Mar 6 and Sun Mar 14. 

The Mad Max Remix
The Hive, Mon Mar 1

This is the sort of show you'll probably find yourself telling everyone you know to go and see, even if it's just so that you can laugh about it with them. Even funnier 'ha ha' than the original trilogy was funny 'strange', The Mad Max Remix is a trio of live performers adding voice-overs to a mashed up hour-long version of the three Mad Max films, with a fourth adding live music and sound effects. No cow is sacred as clips from Lethal Weapon, Gallipoli, Tina Turner music videos and a whole bunch more get tossed into the mix. The result is surprisingly coherent, with the crazy narrative only stretching the imagination slightly further than the original story. Some may even find it slightly more plausible. The performances are spot on and it's an absolute cracker of a production. Not to be missed.
Final Word: Hilarious.
Troy Foster

The Mad Max Remix continues at The Hive until Sat Mar 13. 

Geraldine Quinn - Shut Up And Sing
Tuxedo Cat, Tue Mar 2

She’s no longer Fifteen, the biological clock’s going TiK ToK and she’s yet to enjoy The Fame, but Geraldine Quinn’s dissection of modern pop is a Boom Boom Pow success. Brilliantly spoofing Taylor Swift (an Aileen Wuornos-worshipping psycho), Ke$ha (afflicted by both brain damage and STIs) and Shakira (Spanglish non sequiturs = pop success!), Quinn’s rapid musical wit makes it impossible to catch all the hilarity (did she really just sing ‘A meal is better when it’s split’ in her ode to camel toe? Ewww!). Backed by Bowie/Beyonce costuming that bravely flaunts her lovely lady lumps and more euphemisms than a Carry On box set, Quinny has a crack at everyone from ABBA to GaGa. A projection of the fire-crotched singer’s lyrics would enhance the production, but with dance moves including the ‘tomato sauce bottle opened by vagina’, this is a chart-topper.
Final Word: Poptastic!
Scott McLennan

Geraldine Quinn performs at Tuxedo Cat until Sun Mar 14.

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