Fringe Wrap: Wed Mar 10

Last week saw the "inimitable" Amanda Palmer return to the Adelaide Fringe after what you could say has been a fairly decent decade for her. Suffice to say, she's got a few more fans than the last time she performed here in 2000. See how the part-time Dresden Doll, part-time burlesque stage actor, part-time comedian fared in her Fringe return, and check out all the other reviews we have on offer.

Amanda Palmer
The Spiegeltent, Thu Mar 4

Neatly taking her career full circle, Amanda Palmer returned to the Garden Of Unearthly Delights a decade after making her debut. While her 2000 Fringe appearance was as a mute living statue, this time around there’s no shutting up the wickedly magnetic singer. Looking relaxed and fulfilled after time spent recording in Adelaide’s Mixmasters Studio, the former Dresden Dolls frontwoman opens the show with Radiohead’s Fake Plastic Trees, calls The Jane Austen Argument to the stage for Regina Spektor’s The Flowers and climaxes with Nick Cave’s The Ship Song: three stellar covers delivered with signature skewed beauty. Palmer’s own songs move from the poignant Dear Old House to the hilarious I Fucking Hate Vegemite, which proves her comic timing is impeccable. Returning for a four-month honeymoon with Neil Gaiman next year, it’s obvious from her romantic escapism song Australia this country holds a special place in Palmer’s heart. For her doting audience, Amanda ‘Fucking’ Palmer holds a similar spot in theirs.
Final Word: Inimitable.
Scott McLennan

Jamie Kilstein
Nova East End, Thu Mar 4

It’s impossible to write this review without mentioning Bill Hicks, even though comparing Kilstein’s stage presence and delivery to Hicks’ is like saying Steven Wright and Robin Williams are comedy brothers. The reason Hicks is mentioned is because no comedian has attacked targets such as religion, right-wingers and American foreign policy with such fury and passion since Hicks died in ‘94. This is not to say Kilstein is a Hicks rip-off act - he’s not. The New York leftie delivers his rants in rapid-fire five-minute bursts like a hip hop MC raised on Noam Chomsky and George Carlin instead of Wu-Tang Clan. Though the crowd were unsure how to take him, Kilstein’s passionate and hilarious stance on gay rights, women’s rights and basic common sense due to a religious haze is a must-see antidote to our Christian-right world.
Final Word: Revelation.
David Knight

Jamie Kilstein performs Revenge Of The Serfs at Nova East End until Sat Mar 13.

Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus
Bakehouse Theatre (Studio), Tue Mar 2

Renegade Productions’ occasionally overly earnest shot at Mary Shelley’s legendary novel features moderately compelling departures from the traditional text (including a seriously low-key Monster) but doesn’t quite come to life. Beginning with Victor Frankenstein (Paul Grabovac) being saved from icy wastes, we proceed to the now-clichéd flashback story of the scientist who played God and regretted it, as the remaining three players (Alexa Taylor as the Captain, Elizabeth and others; Mikala Westall as ‘Chorus’ and so on; and Lily Newbury-Freeman as mostly just The Monster) switch characters, shift partitions, offer references to the Greek Mythology figure of Prometheus (typically dropped from most treatments) and, in Newbury-Freeman’s case, portray an ‘unholy creature’ clad in leotard and shawl and almost completely free of make-up (a daringly stripped-back idea that would have made Boris Karloff groan). Script adaptor/director/designer/et cetera Joe Lui’s ambition shines through - but it’s a bit too stiff.
Final Word: Flawed.
Mad Dog Bradley

Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus continues at the Bakehouse Theatre (Studio) until Sat Mar 13.

Die Roten Punkte – Rock!
Le Cascadeur Tent, Tue Mar 2

As no strangers to Le Cascadeur, veteran Fringe performers Die Roten Punkte bring their latest installment to the Garden – Die Roten Punkte: Rock!. Taking to the stage as a White Stripes pastiche, with sister Astrid manning a tiny drum kit armed with quick-quipped sarcasm and brother Otto star kicking in the air on guitar (after he’s eaten his banana, of course), it’s one of the latest gigs on in the Garden but certainly worth the wait. As DRP put it themselves: “All you need to make a great rock song is three notes and a cowbell!” Inciting anthem handclaps from the audience and sleazy in-house jokes, Die Roten Punkte were hilarious in their smeared burlesque make-up and below the belt crowd taunting. Their set came across as arrogant at times, giving little room for spontaneous crowd participation, but perhaps this is the mark of a well-oiled Garden Of Unearthly Delights unit. You’ll walk out of their show with a new appreciation for lions and exclaiming “Danke!”
Final Word: Explosive.
Miranda Freeman

Adelaide Comedy Debate – Is It A Long Way To The Top?
Arkaba Hotel, Mon Mar 1

In celebration of veteran rockers AC/DC arriving on our shores, the annual Adelaide Comedy Debate posed the question, “Is it a long way to the top?” Arguing for the affirmative was team captain Jason Chong, along with Steve Hughes, Rob Hunter and Tom Gleeson. Leading the rebuttal team was Justin Hamilton with his right-hand men; Dave Callan, John Brooks and Greg Fleet. Under the careful eye of moderator Jason Pestell, both groups put forth passionate, if sometimes completely off-track, arguments ranging from the rise and rise of Susan Boyle to teen pregnancy in Port Pirie. But at the end of a long and raucous night, Hamilton and his crew were deemed the winners and were living proof that getting to the top requires minimal effort.
Final Word: Thunderstruck.
Lauren Pitman

The Time Machine
Higher Ground – Shimmering West, Sun Feb 28

This bold and romantic musical adaptation of HG Wells’ exploration of the anxieties and tensions inherent within a technological capitalist society is presented through the prism of a minimalist, stripped-back plot. The characters move through amazement, concern, enquiry and the unknown beyond the door, to love. The band - an integral part of the production, itself a character - transports us from the late 19th to the 20th to the 800,000th century through swirling insistent violin, driving bass, great guitar, keyboard, drums and percussion. With more than a hint of steam-punk, this fast moving sci-fi will entertain even if you don’t know the original story (stirring interest, nonetheless). Great outdoor venue, but bring a coat.
Final Word: Perplexing.
Ian Newton & Kate Battersby

Joe Camilleri
The Spiegeltent, Mon Mar 1

Joe Camilleri and long-time collaborator Jeff Burstin provided an hour of music for a full Spiegeltent audience. In good humour and fine voice, Camilleri presented a showcase that included hits by Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows, some newer material, and a few covers. The set featured a little bit of reggae, a sliver of jazz, some blues and a touch of soul. Always casual but constantly assured, Camilleri and Burstin were ideally suited to the intimate nature of the venue. The banter with the crowd was perfect – it felt like we were all old mates. Twelve songs were performed; highlights included Harley And Rose, What A Difference A Day Makes, Shape I’m In and the encore performance of Hold On To Me.
Final Word: Enjoyable.
David Robinson

Tommy Little’s Brainthoughts
Tuxedo Cat, Mon Mar 1

Tommy Little is a star in the making. He’s engaging, charming, self-deprecating and amusing. He makes reference to his own arrogance, but only as a preface to bursting his own balloon in this stream of anecdotes. You couldn’t say it’s stand-up, but these stories paint their own vivid pictures as he tells them, to the extent I was already visualising a sitcom; he and his brother really are Joey and Chandler from Friends. He’s fluent, involves the whole audience, doesn’t fall into the trap of talking about Adelaidean clichés and was royally entertaining for a small but diverse audience. He gets beyond the purely personal to discuss media bias and discrimination, and is never less than excellent company.
Final Word: Exuberant.
Julia Chamberlain

Tommy Little’s Brainthoughts continues at Tuxedo Cat until Sun Mar 14.

Around The World On 80 Quid
The Stables, Mon Mar 1

Irish Aindiras tells the tale of how he exploits his swarthy complexion to travel the world from Ireland to Italy to cruise ship to Romania to Bangkok, imbibing vast quantities of alcohol and drugs as he goes. This frequently lands him in strife, and while his fiddle does sometimes get him out of trouble it’s amusing to hear how being pigeon-holed as an Irish fiddle player continually lands him in Irish pubs. His stories are neatly linked by music from the places he’s visited, and despite the fast paced delivery he has time to involve his audience in his adventures. Arriving in Australia finally affords him the opportunity of detoxing, so we all leave with the politically correct message!
Final Word: Entertaining.
Michael Coghlan

Hell West And Crooked
Austral Hotel – The Bunka, Tue Mar 2

Straight off the bat, let it be said that Amelia Jane Hunter is a stunning performer with presence and panache. Her intense style, where almost every word has a supporting gesture, is compelling but eventually tiring. This is serious comedy, in the old sense that it’s drama where nobody dies. However, you’re increasingly aware of the fragility of life. It’s not giving away too much to say this follows AJH’s path to recovery after participating in a brutally awful Kiwi reality TV program, the event seems to have precipitated a personal crisis, bearing in mind that she was  the winner and maybe this show is the final hurdle in putting the experience to bed. With clips from Island Wars and some tantalising inside stories, this is a strange piece with a vulnerable, revelatory performance at its centre.
Final Word: Intriguing.
Julia Chamberlain

Hell West And Crooked continues at Austral Hotel until Sun Mar 14.

Gordon Southern: Borders
Rhino Room, Tue Mar 2

First ever night of a new show and the excitement and nerves were on display. Gordon actually kept a running tally of how jokes were going, and not all will make it to the next performance. He was better when leaving the script, which he did often. For a scripted show there was a strong sense he was making it up as he went along. Very familiar with Adelaide, having married someone from here, he related well with the audience. The difficulties caused dating someone from another country were the funniest parts of the Borders routine. Not everything worked on the first night - sound grabs intended to be funny became annoying - but Gordon has promised it will be better when you go see it.
Final Word: Decent.
Adrian Miller

Borders continues at Rhino Room until Sat Mar 13.

Australian Speed Body Painting Competition & Show
Shotz, Tue Mar 2

Now for something completely different! Launched by world champion Tim Gratton, this is a first ever worldwide challenge to finish a body in just two hours. Wander around and watch inspiring artists with rainbow palettes set up on pool tables in their quest to cover 22 square feet of human canvas. Human Nature was the theme and responses ranged from Eve with her snake to the seven deadly sins by heat winner Wendy Fantasia. There were butterflies and tigers, death metal and angels. Fluorescent painted dancers from Avant performed while excitement mounted. What a buzz to see world-class artists while the clock ticks.
Final Word: Skintillating!
Angie Starr & Kimberley Mann

The Unbearable Whiteness of Being
Electric Light Hotel, Tue Mar 1

The Valium Housewives offered a cooking based comedy - a green cover-up of yellowcake. Then some deep reflection presented through songs and cliché; some strong political and personal messages, through political incorrectness. It is confronting, addresses some aspects of history and current white policy through the eyes of the cast, who are playing caricatures of themselves, idealists working their way through a murky world. Talented multi-instrumentalists, each of them, except for an audio guy who, caught between playing his part and running the desk, sometimes allowed things to get out of hand. All is not so well in ‘paradise’, but never mind, there is ‘fresh meat’ on the way.
Final Word: Magpie.
Clayton Werner & Claire Gurry

The Embryos
Mask Entertainment - Level 3, Tue Mar 2

Duende is a new Adelaide-based company and this intense play is a solid start. The spectre of Fyodor Dostoevsky looms large in Krystal Brock’s capable directorial debut. The actors are convincing in their roles and the developing relationships are absorbing. Russell Hutchinson provides occasional relief from the heaviness as Harstus, and Nic English, Dee Easton and Ruth Fallon build the drama with skill. Alan Grace’s play suffers slightly by striving a little too hard for depth and consequence but is still a well-executed effort. The clever set design makes the most of the small area, creating a sense of intimacy between the audience and the players. The advertised 80-minute show ran for 105 minutes on this night. Be prepared.
Final Word: Weighty.
David Robinson

The Embryos continues at Mask Entertainment until Sat Mar 13.

Tripping Switches
Metropolitan Hotel, Tue Mar 2

A series of briefly profiled characters are superbly played by an outstanding cast. A surprise - and very appropriate - beginning for a play about privacy in public spaces finds us on a train. A chance encounter of commuters establishes a narrative that is interrupted by digs at authority and interviews with the police under the intrusive light of mobile phones - symbolic of a world where we are all at once so connected and so distant from each other. When do you say hello to strangers? When do you give your name? Ask someone’s name? Should one give money to beggars? Bystanders drawn into the offbeat behaviour of strangers reveal frailties lurking just beneath the veneer of their public personas. Poignant. Entertaining. Amusing. Wonderful theatre.
Final Word: Outstanding.
Michael Coghlan

Boy Girl Wall
The Spare Room, Tue Mar 2

If you want to make us happy, tell us a story, and if it’s a story about love, so much the warmer and fuzzier! Lucas Stibbard’s brilliant acting skills brought to life numerous characters that interacted with each other believably (not bad for a one-man show). His use of very spare effects, sound, a xylophone accompaniment, lighting, a blackboard or two and an old-school overhead projector were enough to trigger our imagination. We may have started with science, but there was plenty of drama and wordplay and some fun comedy as Lucas connected with his audience and took us all on a fun journey. My personal Fringe favourite so far!
Final Word: Magpie.
Clayton Werner & Sandy Klose

Boy Girl Wall continues at The Spare Room until Sat Mar 13.

A Captive Audience
The Tuxedo Cat, Tue Mar 2

A solo performance of five short comedic monologues written by DeAnne Smith and performed by Sarah Quinn. Five different characters, a frustrated wife, a graduating student, a serial helpline caller, a lonely man and, errr, God (as a woman) all come to life as Quinn gives an inspired set of performances. The writing is smart and funny, though wry rather than knockabout. The characters are well developed, with the exception of the final piece, where a mute Quinn holds up a series of witty flash cards, but doesn’t quite have the facial expressions to carry it off. An enjoyable show, the tiny venue a little stifling, but the intimacy of the room does help you appreciate the performance.
Final Word: Captivating.
Adrian Miller

A Captive Audience continues at The Tuxedo Cat until Sun Mar 14.

When The Sex Is Gone
The Spare Room, Tue Mar 2

Charlie Martini and Alastair Estaire are collectively a heartbroken hermaphrodite whose quest for love is a stream of never-ending failures. With Boris (Jacqueline Morten) on piano, Charlie – drunk and looking fabulous – shares tragic anecdotes of her youth in inebriated ramblings that range from calm to psychotic, but always entertaining. Clever, too, are her songs I Cant Fuck Myself So Don’t Tell Me To and What Is It You Can’t Face?. The transition from Charlie to Alastair is gradual as the vicious-tongued boxer comes forth. A fast-talker like his ‘other half’, Alastair shares anecdotes of his life and rantings of disastrous shags. Tommy Bradson is not only a fabulously talented and believable comedic actor, but also a gifted singer songwriter and clever wordsmith, evoking some of the most bizarre visuals in one’s brain. You must experience this for yourself!
Final Word: Outstanding!
Catherine Blanch

When The Sex Is Gone continues at The Spare Room until Sat Mar 13.

Antigone
The Bakehouse Theatre, Tue Mar 2

Warning! This is not Antigone. It is a psychotic, ’70s-style tub-thumping diatribe against cock as king and folly of theatre audiences. Greek tragic form provides springboard and template, while the real Antigone is reduced to the spot between her legs, a mere nexus for gender analysis through the ages. Sex toys loom large and, despite attempts to engage with larger issues of social myopia and averted gaze from contemporary evils, the message is scattered too cleverly by saturation in ‘squabbles over penis’ (female body parts, anyone?). There were touching moments and we couldn’t fault the exhortation to leave and spread happiness. Instructed not to ‘insultingly’ applaud, we hope the young performers didn’t feel deprived without the response they had worked so hard to earn.
Final word: Patronising.
Kate Battersby & Ian Newton

Antigone continues at Bakehouse Theatre until Sat Mar 13.

The Axis Of Awesome: Infinity Rock Explosion
The Hive, Tue Mar 2

You couldn’t hand-pick a better comedy trio - they tick the boxes so well for comedy archetypes (the nerdy, over-precise one; the lanky, vacant one; and the would-be alpha male) that they are musically gifted makes them unassailable in the musical comedy stakes. This is ensemble work where the group dynamic was so comfortable that it set the audience at ease. The audience was taken from the pomp rock voice-over at the start, from the Sing-Along Incomprehensible Lyrics (not just me then) to the Four Chord Song Medley and a fantastic Spanish encore. There was something for everyone; Jordan’s belting rock voice, Benny’s keyboard playing and extraordinary falsetto work and Lee in a cow suit, a great guitarist clown. You would have to be dead not to enjoy this.
Final Word: Exhilarating.
Julia Chamberlain

The Axis Of Awesome continues at The Hive until Sat Mar 13.

Frank Woodley - Bewilderbeest
The Spiegeltent, Wed Mar 3

For only his third ever performance of this show, Frank Woodley seemed right at home in the jam-packed Spiegeltent. Bewilderbeest is a culmination of Woodley’s scattered thoughts from whether birds have penises to what sound a kangaroo makes. His brain works without sensor, which is all the better. His sight gags and guitar songs are as funny as always, and show that he can be just as entertaining as one person as he was when part of a duo. His comedic acting skills don’t go to waste either, with a fabulous impersonation (with a hint of Dean Martin) of a drunken uncle playing golf. Woodley has a knack of twisting the mundane into the hilarious, especially those jokes that you knew you should have kept to yourself; but like Woodley, once committed, there’s no turning back!
Final Word: Jocularious!
Catherine Blanch

Sammy J &  Randy: Ricketts Lane
Umbrella Revolution, Wed Mar 3

Sammy J and Randy have left the Forest Of Dreams and moved into Ricketts Lane. Sammy J is a tax lawyer for the ATO on the hunt for a $3.7 million tax evader, while Randy (the purple puppet) stays at home naively putting dodgy businesses in his name and cooking for his housemate from the Baraak Obama Audio Cook Book. ‘Just friends’, they sing us through parts of the plot with anything from cheesy cabaret, gangsta raps and a lovely croon by the piano. The angry insult-flinging duet is hilarious; filled with wit and sarcasm. If Sammy J prosecutes Randy, how will that affect their friendship? Is breastfeeding your housemate wrong? This show is silly – and I like silly! Sammy J and puppeteer Heath McIvor make a cracker of an entertainment team.
Final Word: Silly!
Catherine Blanch

Sammy J & Randy continue at Umbrella Revolution until Sat Mar 13.

...But Mama, Do You Love Me?
The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Wed Mar 3

The Wheaty is a great venue for more than just music. This is Rita Papillo’s first play and she is directing as well. The supports do OK, but only get the chance to do just that as this is almost a one-woman play. The ‘star’ is convincingly played by Aelwen Cunningham, a solo parent approaching middle age and struggling with her relationship with her mother - and everyone else. My daughter, Lauren, struggled to relate to her, but I certainly could – perhaps it’s an age thing? Sound and lighting effects were spot on, set and costume were simple but entirely effective. It’s already sold out. So, unless you've got a ticket – you won’t be seeing it this Fringe.
Final Word: Please?
Clayton & Lauren Werner

Click Tease: Log On, Get Off
Electric Light Hotel - Bartini, Wed Mar 3

This had to come – theatre that explores the boundaries between the online and offline self. The audience looks in voyeuristically, as if from the other side of a webcam, on the bedroom of Abbie, a cautious Gen Y woman (played by Nikki Britton). Abbie creates Debbie89, her more vivacious online identity/avatar (played by Kate Skinner), to mediate racy interactions on Facebook et al. Amusing and beautifully crafted dialogues between her online and offline selves ultimately lead Abbie to an awkward face-to-face meeting with SlutboyJimmy (Ray Chong Nee) and the discovery that her real self is actually doing OK. Shut down the laptop, turn off your phone and go and enjoy this entertaining and important new play.
Final Word: Important.
Michael Coghlan

Click Tease continues at Electric Light Hotel until Sat Mar 13.

Inanimate Eats Rage
The Tuxedo Cat - Studio, Wed Mar 3

Luddites rejoice for there is a Fringe show made especially for you! Can’t program your VCR? Don’t know how to turn off your mobile? (Yes you, the person two seats across from me at the Odeon last week). Do you loathe technology? Pop along, see this show and witness old technology get smashed to bits with orgiastic fervour in this short and sharp comedy about an anger management class. It had its moments but the laughs didn’t come frequently enough for me once the initial smashing had begun, but Kate Englefield finished the work stronger with a Honey Bunny-esque (Pulp Fiction-styled) finale. Any hippies planning to attend would be ill advised to sit in the front row.
Final Word: Aaaargh!
Carl Cranstone

Inanimate Eats Rage continues at Tuxedo Cat until Wed Mar 10.

Songs In The Sea, Major?
The Pod, Wed Mar 3

Musical comedy trio turned duo the Polar Bearings (Margaret Paul & Stuart Bowden) present a show about wanting to sail around the world (on crutches!). Some difficulty with this show is working out the intended audience. Despite having some sophisticated leanings the flimsy plot and clownish antics gave it the feel of a kid’s show. There were young children in the audience who enjoyed the antics, but jokes about Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue would have gone straight over their heads. Some jokes appeared to be toned down because there were children present. A young teenager in the front row enjoyed it very much.
Final Word: Seaworthy!
Adrian Miller

Songs In The Sea, Major? continues at The Pod until Sat Mar 13.

Austen Found – The Undiscovered Musicals Of Jane Austen
Higher Ground - Studio, Wed Mar 3

Mistresses of improvisation, four talented women romp through Wrath And Recklessness. Each night presents a new musical with characters created by the audience. Bright, chaste, educated girls with impeccable manners play period comedy, pianoforte for mama and swan around the gardens twirling their parasols. Meet reckless Jemma who neglects her cross-stitch and dips her ankles in the lake, shy Sarah and pernicious vixen Elenore Sleepy-Bottom. Voice like a trilling canary, she rejects the advances of Pastor Walnut to chase after Captain Flannigan. Male characters are played brilliantly by the female cast to jaunty piano. A marvellous time is had by all. Jane Austen would turn in her grave with delight! Maids and rapscallions, gallantry and prudence. Rollicking good fun!
Final Word: Hilarious!
Angie Starr & Kimberley Mann

Austen Found continues at Higher Ground until Sun Mar 14.

Greg Fleet - Adelaide: A Love Story
Rhino Room – Downstairs, Wed Mar 3

On his 21st Adelaide Fringe visit, the Festival seems to have taken ‘Fleety’ unawares, as this show is a work in progress, the equivalent of a clean sheet in the typewriter and Chapter One across the top. He’s a great raconteur and the audience were delighted to hear a succession of anecdotes that would have been perfectly at home on Parkinson, interspersed with more spontaneous creativity. This audience were pleased to collaborate in the construction of a couple of acrostic poems. Furthermore, when you have his experience and popularity you can persuade another comic to jump up and chip in his own Greg Fleet stories, there will be a different guest each night, which is another five minutes he doesn’t have to write himself! This was a disarming and bloody funny first draft of a show.
Final Word: Evolving.
Julia Chamberlain

Greg Fleet continues at Rhino Room until Sat Mar 13.

Introducing David Smiedt
Ambassadors Hotel - Ambar Lounge, Wed Mar 3

Smiedt looks every inch the professional; corporate comic, smart, groomed, good suit. He has a rich voice and a friendly, authoritative manner, exuding polished charm. He makes a great MC, managing an exchange with every member of the capacity audience in this snug room. And here’s the ‘but’ – he really needs some better gags, commensurate with his ability to deliver them. Chatting to the audience and mixing it with gentle ribbing or flattery is something for a host to do at the start of a long night, not the meat and potatoes of a festival show. There is personal stuff, a great opening gambit on being South African, being Jewish, divorced, nerdy and hopeless around women, but the actual jokey jokes are a somewhat generic. He’s not a natural, funny bones comedian but he’s a worker and could become much better.
Final Word: Potential.
Julia Chamberlian

Introducing David Smiedt continues at Ambassadors Hotel until Sat Mar 13.

Kath On A Hot Tin Roof
Austral Hotel – The Bunka, Wed Mar 3

Sometimes you see an act that has it all: anxiety, cancer, tits, kids and facial hair, whales, cracked nipples, ice cream and bridges; barbies, broken bones, the Labor Party, Cubs and bums. “Impossible!” I hear you say. Hell, no! A life lived with passion and told with love (and a little bit of piss-taking), a constant tickling of the humour bone and a bucket of pathos, this story will lift you up above the fence line. Sassy and fabulous Kathryn-with-a-K takes you on a suburban journey of true life. Don’t take it on trust, see for yourself: truly authentic storytelling that makes reality TV’s ‘journey’ look like a crawl.
Final word: Breakneck.
Ian Newton and Kate Battersby

Kath On A Hot Tin Roof continues at Austral Hotel until Sun Mar 14.

Emily Smart & The Clever Girls + Ann Vriend
Spiegeltent, Wed Mar 3

Sharing songs from her new album Close Encounters, Ann Vriend was a beautiful start to what turned out to be quite an enchanting show. Vriend is sweet, immensely likeable and almost shy behind the mic – until she begins to sing. Her voice is soulful, inspiring, brave and bluesy. Well known in her native Canada, Vriend is a talented writer and performer that deserves a massive following over here. Emily Smart & The Clever Girls were equally terrific, dishing up a wealth of material, cleverly fusing both melody and ideas for a very appreciative audience. Smart’s voice is pure gold and her new single, You And I is a brilliant piece, so easy to lose yourself within, making it impossible for many to leave without buying the CD!
Final Word: Awesome.
Rosie van Heerde

Lady Carol All Alone - Together
Theater Bosco, Wed Mar 3

Lady Carol began yodelling with her grandfather. This shy, mysterious creature was mortified by her own voice as a teenager. In hooded black and crimson, she could be from a fairytale; a blond red-riding hood or a witch in the woods who might put a spell on you. This ukulele lady croons and wails her vitriolic break-up songs, death and pain close to the surface. The night cracked on with startling originals and covers Running Up That Hill and Wild Is The Wind. Eyes of scorn and woe, ripe with enigmatic intrigue, endearingly Gothic, she croons and wails through the night I Don’t Belong Here... A unique, original voice; sardonic, harsh - in a beautiful sort of way - and mightily strong.
Final Word: Macabre!
Angie Starr & Kimberley Mann

Lady Carol continues until Theater Bosco until Sat Mar 13.

Steve Hughes - Heavy Metal Comedy
Rhino Room – Downstairs, Wed Mar 3.

More laughs than in a week of comedians; Steve Hughes is brilliant with his hilarious corrosive put downs of the third rate, hypocritical and dumb. This audience lapped up his personalised material about not fitting in as a heavy metal loving sport denier, and it is being an outsider that is the stock in trade of a good stand-up, spotting the inconsistencies and incongruities in life. After a decade in Europe, Hughes is well placed to turn his baleful glare on Australian politics and society. He rocked the room with the personal and everyday then turned to his anti-capitalist thread which, I felt, is what he’s passionate about. Ever the professional, he brought the gig home with some huge laughs and a crowd reluctant to let him go.
Final Word: Storming.
Julia Chamberlain

Steve Hughes continues at Rhino Room until Sat Mar 13.

Tom Gleeson – Get It Into Ya!
Rhino Room, Wed Mar 3

I try to maintain an egalitarian attitude towards Fringe comedy, always keen to be impressed by emerging talent or say I saw a newcomer before they were famous. But let’s face it, sometimes people are unknown for a reason. Tom Gleeson was the first familiar name I saw this year, and he delivered more crack-ups in an hour than several other acts I’ve seen combined. Widely known from TV, in this second of a series of sold-out shows he was a comfortable performer whose routines covered his experiences using a sure-fire bargaining technique, his preference for battery hen eggs, the reason Adelaide Airport is unique and why an iPhone is like a penis. He also adeptly departed from his script to work the crowd and milk them for laughs, putting one woman in hysterics simply from his use of the word ‘silhouette’.
Final Word: Gleeful.
Owen Heitmann

Get It Into Ya! continues at Rhino Room at 8.30pm until Sat Mar 13.

The Magic Waterhole
Puppet Palace, Thu May 4

It’s always great to see a bit of Fringe that can be enjoyed by both young and old alike, and even nicer to see some international culture too. The Magic Waterhole managed to satisfy both these criteria, and was a pretty fine show too. The show tells a traditional African children’s fable, set in a village in Sudan. Aided by some very colourful costumed characters, including a camel, croc, dog and a wise fox, as well as humans, the story not only gives audiences an idea about the traditional tales of Africa, but the human element provides some nice insight into Africa too. There was plenty of music and dancing, and lots of good times to be had. The all-migrant cast, including players from east, south and west Africa, were spot on, and the animal characterisations were great too. Definitely a good time to be had by everyone!
Final word: Fable-ulous
Luke Balzan

The Magic Waterhole continues at Puppet Palace until Sat Mar 13.

Let It Be Beatles: From The Cavern To The Rooftop
Queens Arms Hotel, Thu Mar 4

After various delays this one-night-only show’s (mostly) four-man group took to the stage to huge acclaim and began belting out Beatles hits with great vigour and a nice line in banter and jokes that came close to mimicking the world’s most famous broken-up band. And the songs were terrific: the brisk early rockers (Please Please Me, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, She Loves You, Can’t Buy Me Love, A Hard Day’s Night, You Can’t Do That), the mid-period faves (Ticket To Ride, Drive My Car, Nowhere Man, even Run For Your Life), a curler or two (like One After 909, which you’re not going to hear live anywhere else) and some brave stabs at those trickier, later ‘60s, studio-only ditties (including Norwegian Wood, The Ballad Of John And Yoko and a sweet version of Let It Be). Great fun - but what else are the Fabs for?
Final Word: Brillo.
Mad Dog Bradley

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience
Quality Hotel Old Adelaide, Sat Mar 6

The welcome return of this always-popular entertainment (featuring a different cast to the 2008 incarnation) has ‘Basil Faulty’ (a formidable Blair Martin), the nightmarishly-bewigged Sybil (Karen Hamilton) and the ever-harried Manuel (Daley Donnelly) meeting the guests in the bar for an initial interrogation and then engaging in the anticipated scarily-comedic show over a meal, with all your favourite Faulty/Fawlty highlights along the way: Basil scolds and insults one and all (do not try to out-funny him); Sibyl ‘sings’ birthday wishes to a ‘lucky’ few; Manuel breaks plates, croons Viva Espana and is regularly abused; and the horseracing bet and ‘Siberian Hamster’ gags get big laughs. Fine, if often wonderfully cringing, entertainment, and worth every penny (and insult). And don’t mention the war! I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it!
Final Word: Bas-ill!
Mad Dog Bradley

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience continues at the Quality Hotel Old Adelaide, North Adelaide, and the Comfort Inn Haven Marina, Glenelg North, until Sun Mar 21.

Felicity Ward Reads From The Book Of Moron
Le Cascadeur, Sun Mar 7

You can’t spell awkward without ‘Ward’, as Felicity Ward knows only too well. The comic’s clumsy life leaves her with ample material for her self-deprecating shows, which seem warm and familial despite covering cat’s vaginas and sickening farts. Hot and flustered before the show even begins thanks to her abnormal stage entrance, this year’s show is sticky-taped together by half a dozen stories of Ward’s energetically brainless adventures, including performing a bar mitzvah show for her “people” (despite having no Jewish blood whatsoever), dealing with drooling Big Issue vendors and unleashing an explosive shit behind a bus shelter. Dressed in op shop Ralph Lauren, dithering about on her daggy chair and alerting us to her “broomstick with boobs” junkie/bulimic figure, Ward makes up for a lack of LOL moments with her absurdly goofy stage presence. She’s so valiantly upbeat and gregarious that you want to be her friend… in spite of her toxic irritable bowel.

Felicity Ward continues at Le Cascadeur until Sat Mar 13.

Des Bishop
The Arts Theatre, Sun Mar 7

Des Bishop is apparently quite the superstar in Ireland, yet largely unknown in Australia, although admittedly that is changing - the crowd at this performance are about half Irish tourists and ex-pats and half locals. Bishop put on a great performance; he has the brilliant knack of trailing off on a hilarious unscripted tangent, on this occasion aided by the drunkest Irish person in the world located in the front row and copping a hilarious hiding (he was too drunk to notice). As a problem child Bishop left New York aged 14, sent to Ireland to cure his binge drinking, a problem that took several years to rectify. As a comic he is a great storyteller and not many could make repeated incidents of penile droop this funny.
Final Word: STDs.
Shane Scott

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