Fringe Wrap: Fri Mar 12

Just three more days of Fringe action! Quick, don't waste anymore time! Find out the best shows that are still on here and go and see them before it's too late!!!

David O’Doherty
Arts Theatre, Tue Mar 9

With hair like a dead badger and a face like a shaved one, Irish comic David O’Doherty ambles onstage with his regular bleary nonchalance reinforced by jetlag delirium. Apart for The Usual Suspects’ Keyser Soze, never has someone’s rambling, disconnected 80-minute tale proved to be such a work of unlikely genius. O’Doherty’s haphazard monologues dotted between his simpleton keyboard comedy tunes take his opening night crowd from tales of mystical Ireland and catching on fire in a pub through to the morbid Communist design of the Arts Theatre. It’s his daft songs that take him to a heightened comedic plane, with O’Doherty’s incongruous lighting directions to his off-stage tech (“Go Jean Michel Jarre on our arses,” O’Doherty suggests) adding deliciously piss-weak visual enhancements to songs such as Me And Tiger and My Beefs 2010. Throw in some panda stupidity and you’ve got the funniest shambles of the Fringe.
Final Word: 58008.
Scott McLennan

The BFG
Star Theatres – Theatre One, Tue Mar 9

Roald Dahl’s snozzcumber-gobbling Big Friendly Giant, The BFG, is in a catasterous disastrophe, having kidsnatched young Sophie away from the orphanage and off to his cave. But for the chidlers in the audience it’s a jumbly good time as the Children’s Performing Company Of Australia bring the much-loved children’s story to life through an enchanting combination of puppetry and live performance. The cast, barely more than chidlers themselves, are excellent, as their performance spills off the stage and out into the crowd to blur the line between spectator and participant. While the chidlers were obviously having a gloriumptious time, there were plenty of older Dahl fans out there enjoying the journey back to a chidlerhood favourite too. Of course, everybody loves a whizzpopping joke, and this production takes the frobscottle and makes the most of theirs.
Final word: Whizzpopping!
Troy Foster

The BFG concludes at Star Theatres on Sat Mar 13.

Adam Page Solo
The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Tue Mar 9

Who needs a band? Definitely not bearded multi-instrumentalist Adam Page, whose cracking solo performance continues to be one of the must-see shows of the Fringe. This year’s show raises the standard again, with instruments ranging from the obvious saxophone and bass guitar to the less conventional toothbrush, mixing bowl and egg-beater. Sampling and looping musical fragments, Page quickly produces enough samples to pull off such feats as a captivating and highly entertaining rendition of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Dropping many of the gimmicks of the past, Page’s frenetic live improvisation is interspersed with engaging and highly amusing banter as he showcases an incredible and precocious talent. The show’s a lot of fun and the range of styles and instrumentation is breathtaking, leaping effortlessly from pumping and phat to elegant and beautiful and back again. A show that gets better every year; once again not to be missed.
Final word: Phat.
Troy Foster

Adam Page Solo continues at The Wheatsheaf Hotel until Sat Mar 13.

Josh Bennett
Church Of The Trinity, Tue Mar 9

This was the perfect spot to listen to some enthralling music as local Josh Bennett performed songs from his eclectic new CD Echoes Of You. Josh started on solo acoustic guitar before building the sound up with a loop pedal, then introduced other musicians on keyboards, bass, drums and saxophone to cover a wide range of musical styles. The second more experimental half began solo again, with some tasteful looping allowing Josh to introduce the dhiribal. The band returned without drummer but with Jay Dabgar on tabla. This set featured two longer pieces, For Mataji, with sitar, saxophone and keyboards, and the frenetic title track, before finishing on solo acoustic to bring the audience back down to a quieter place. A well thought-out showcase for a considerable talent.
Final Word: Masterful.
Adrian Miller

Josh Bennett appears at various venues until Fri Mar 12.

Ross Noble – Things
Thebarton Theatre, Wed Mar 10

Rule 1: Unless extroverted, never be late. Rule 2: Never return late from the half-time break when you’re sitting second row centre beside two nice older ladies (84 and 85) who are happy to dob you in as a reviewer! Noble, sporting a broken hand, grabbed my notepad and wrote his own review: “Greatest live show ever! Super sexy. Best hair in showbiz – nay, the world!” much to the audience’s delight. Ross Noble is the king of adlib, lord of lost tangents, joker in the court! Things is about nothing and everything; wherever ‘there’ is is where he takes us. The four-headed, angel-winged, turtle-bodied, lobster-clawed, Godzilla-footed, octopus testicled – I mean tentacled – monster behind Noble was an hilarious sight, but is was his impromptu rantings had the packed Thebby in painful hysterics!
Final Word: Brilliant!
Catherine Blanch

Ross Noble - Things continues at Thebarton Theatre until Sun Mar 14.

Ghana In Groove
Nexus Cabaret, Wed Mar 10

Professor Dada Nii, his Ghanaian sister and the assembled group of players of varying musical backgrounds launch into traditional Ghanaian grooves, the steel beams and rafters in the refitted factory that is Nexus resonating with the power of the human body beating drums, blowing horns and fingering basslines. Illuminating the songs with stories of culture and philosophy, Dada Nii leads nine musicians into grooves that evolve from the opening beat into polyrhythmic journeys through varying time signatures, increasing intensity and melodic virtuosity to harmonic bliss, the audience drawn to the urge to move, dance and celebrate this powerful, uplifting music. Time didn’t stand still, it flew with the wind, powered by the physical nature of the soulful, joyful music of Ghana.
Final Word: Irresistible.
Ian Newton & Kate Battersby

Fear Of A Brown Planet Returns
The Tuxedo Cat, Wed Mar 10

Winners of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Aamer and Nazeem, have bought a version of race-based comedy to Adelaide. With an insightful and comic AV intro, featuring Orwellian doublespeak, Captain James Kirk and Obama, irony dripping, these two young brown comedians took to the stage, one after the other. It would have been interesting to see them bounce at least some of the set off each other. With some good lines and gags, this audience about half white and half brown, confront the reality of racism through laughter and comedy. The conclusion can only be that laughter is harmonious and is a good means of breaking down the barriers. Take the challenge of living in a brown planet.
Final Word: Beige?
Clayton Werner & Fiona Hewett-Rose

Fear Of A Brown Planet Returns continues at the Tuxedo Cat until Sun Mar 14.

George Kapiniarias' Greatest Hits
The Cavern Club, Wed Mar 10

As expected, ethnic comedy abounds in this upbeat, frank and cheeky show. George is immediately engaging, with his cute, twinkling, ‘nearly-innocent’ look that we recognise from the RAA adverts. There is almost no need for Nish, the Sri-Lankan warm-up comedian (though very funny), nor the video screened before George appears on stage (I’d rather see him in person, and the punch line…? Hmm, still scratching my head!). Plenty of energy, smut humour, clever songs and an insight into his recently acquired status of Dad. Easily relatable for the ethnic audience, and plenty of Adelaide references, he successfully gets across the inclusive message of “When you are here – you are an Aussie”.
Final Word: Entertaining
Karen Bailey

George Kapiniaris’ Greatest Hits continues at Cavern Club until Sun Mar 14.

The Removalists
Holden Street Theatres – The Arch, Wed Mar 10

David Williamson’s landmark 1971 play is presented by new theatre company applekam and the young group wrestles with this significant work. The cast do their best to inject passion and power into the performance, and strive to capture the ‘Australian-ness’ of both the original play and the times in which it is set. All play their parts effectively. More often than not it appears that the principle performances are being played a little too much for laughs, thereby diminishing the other disturbing elements of the play. The audience seemed to think it was all a bit of a giggle. This is a fair effort at an important and substantial work but ultimately the performance bore all the hallmarks of a school play.
Final Word: Sophomoric.
David Robinson

The Removalists continues at Holden Street Theatres until Sun Mar 14.

Nunga Funny
Tandanya Theatre, Wed Mar 10

Imagine emus with turrets and hairy Barbie dolls! With charm and laughs Warren Milera compered a night of highly original funny stuff which tapped into universal human themes; going to the toilet, lost kids, feminism, parenting and jokes about that classic mattress in the living room. This was a night of blackfellas and whitefellas coming together for belly laughs; energetic Aaron Nester beat-boxing his way to the principal’s office. Deadly Funny winners Natasha Walsh and Phil Saunders rocked. Islander Eddie Peters taught us about Torres Strait takeaway KFT: Kentucky Fried Turtle! Aunty Elsie’s got a run-around man. Aunty Betsy tries to heal Elsie’s broken heart singing Get Rid Of Your Man! With piss and poo, it all goes down the loo. Whatever you do, don’t be ashamed. A night to run amok!
Final Word: Earthy.
Angie Starr & Kimberley Mann

Kate Ceberano
The Spiegeltent, Wed Mar 10

An evening with Kate Ceberano is nothing short of a joyful experience, such is her passion, energy and down to earth appeal. One of Australia’s leading artists, Ceberano’s voice is a remarkable instrument, her vocal mastery easily capable of transporting the audience to a range of happy places. Her easy rapport and tongue in cheek humour were a delight to the clearly doting crowd as she interspersed jokes and stories amongst hits including Brave, Pash and a particularly emotional and very touching Every Time I See Your Face. As a twist to the night, audience members got to pick songs out of a hat, leading to awesome renditions of Heart Of Glass and Boys In Town among others. A consummate performer, one hour was never going to be enough time to spend with Kate Ceberano.
Final Word: Passionate.
Rosie van Heerde

Freefall
Ring Box, Wed Mar 10

Combining circus skills, acrobatics, physical theatre, music and voiceovers, Freefall is a wonderfully entertaining piece of circus theatre. At times sound levels competing with nearby traffic made it difficult to follow the spoken word, but the sheer energy and physicality of this talented group more than made up for any problems of this nature. In a piece designed to explore the nature of our fears and phobias, newly formed company Gravity & Other Myths have created an artistic work that is clever in concept and inspiring in its execution. Like any new work there are areas in need of a tweak or two but overall it was terrific experience.
Final Word: Rapt.
Rosie van Heerde

Freefall continues at Ring Box until Sat Mar 13.

Tripod Versus The Dragon
Royalty Theatre, Thu Mar 4

Unlike their normal onstage musical silliness that we are so used to from Scod, Yon and Gatesy, Tripod have put much effort and excellence into creating an orchestral rock opera – without the orchestra! In the true tradition of Dungeons And Dragons, Tripod live through all the action of the journey, the conquest and the slaying of the Dragon – played by temporary fourth ‘pod’ Elana Stone, who is also the Dungeon Master. Like all ‘operas’, there is drama, surprise, tears, lots of laughs and moments of beauty all wrapped in a love story, but with the added enjoyment of entertainingly clever shadow puppetry and monster killing. The songs were clever as always, musicianship fabulous and the four-part harmonies exquisite; Elana’s voice is absolutely stunning. What a talented bunch are ‘Quadpod’!
Final Word: Ingenious.
Catherine Blanch

Tripod Versus The Dragon continues at Royalty Theatre until Sun Mar 14.

NIDA: Sex Wars
The Bakehouse Theatre, Thu Mar 4

Three plays cleverly constructed, amazingly designed and performed from the heart take us on three very different journeys but with one common thread; the desire to be loved by another creature. Medea Material conveys the story of a women’s love for her children’s father and the revenge she plots for his ‘whore’. Motel delivers a powerful story that ties together a child found under a house, her protection officer, a policeman, his pregnant wife and a ghost. Through The Leaves tells of a female butcher, her ‘friend-with-benefits’ and her dog that ends in a bloody mess. The performances, sets, costumes, music and technical work from all three shows were outstanding. If this ensemble is what the future of the performing arts is going to look like in a few years, then it is very exciting!
Final word: Amazing!
Sarah Mena

Asher Treleaven, Open Door
The Hive, Thu Mar 4

Asher Treleaven seems to be the brother from another planet, with hyper-extensive mobile limbs, an unusually slow blink rate and the radiant tranquillity of a cult leader. At first his wriggling dance, too wide smile and arch delivery were just plain mystifying, bordering on unnerving. Accept the show is being driven by a genuine gentle oddball, touchingly concerned about his audience comfort, and it’s a delight to surrender to his blend of physical comedy and straightforward storytelling. He punctuates the flow with little ad breaks for his sponsor, contractually obliged to drink four bottles of alcopop in the hour; it’s a hilarious piece of reverse psychology which ensures nobody will touch this chemical muck. Endearingly silly, underpinned with excellent stories and a compelling performance.
Final Word: Relaxing.
Julia Chamberlain

Open Door continues at The Hive until Sat Mar 13.

‘Brainstorm’ Vocal Workshop
St Peter’s Cathedral, Thu Mar 4

Achieving a mighty dynamic sound, The Idea Of North is an inspirational four-part harmonious a cappella vocal group worth seeing! Naomi Crellin (alto), Nick Begbie (tenor), Andrew Piper (bass) and Sally Cameron (soprano) entertained the audience with their unique powerhouse of stylistic re-arrangements; blues, jazz and modern tunes. Their clever bag of tricks included groovy original interpretations by Sting, Gershwin and even the Star Wars theme! With harmonic grace, they shared tips, effective devices and tools designed to promote creativity in arrangements, techniques such as beat-boxing, changing voicing, layering, dynamics and phrasings, including inserting a solo. The workshop was pitched towards a musically-versed SATB audience consisting of choirs and aspiring singers who, at the end, presented their own versions of skills acquired with a mini concert of Lean On Me.
Final Word: Creative.
Angie Starr

The Bastard Children – Choose Your Own Misadventure
The Spiegeltent, Thu Mar 4

Bring on a talented seven-piece band, tending toward upbeat folk styles and a whole batch of songs written around a story. Then at critical points in the story, poll the audience for which way the plot turns. It’s going to be a different set each night, the band are on their toes and at the audience’s whim. It’s a whole pile of fun with some of the audience members wanting to go one way, others another. I would have liked to have seen some of the key elements of the story woven into Adelaide, rather than set in Melbourne, but other than that – great fun and an engaging twist on presenting a set.
Final Word: Adventurous.
Clayton Werner & Sandy Klose

Hannah Gadsby - The Cliff Young Shuffle
Rhino Room – Upstairs, Fri Mar 5

Far and away the most accomplished show I’ve seen this Fringe, this was a gem. Gadsby’s quiet, restrained delivery contrasts with the audience experience of intense hilarity. Who would have thought that a story rich in depression, anxiety, breakdown and pointless exercise could be so funny? Taking on the role of underdog in her own life and bullied by a mocking inner voice, this is Gadsby’s tale of an epic traipse across England. Don’t worry if you’re not into England or personal journeys, this show is vivid with characters, slightly unpleasant points of discovery and stunningly economical humour. It’s the skill and intricacy of Gadsby’s writing that pushes her show to the top of its class. A compelling performer with a keen eye for the eccentric, she makes everyone else look like they’re overacting.
Final Word: Brilliant!
Julia Chamberlain

Hannah Gadsby continues at Rhino Room until Sat Mar 13.

Smart Casual - Same Mother, Different Fathers
The Pod, Fri Mar 5

Possibly the next big thing in musical comedy, Smart Casual succeeded making gloomy intensity, sibling rivalry and songs about embarrassment and psychological disorder a late night hit. Beardy Fletcher and sunglasses wearing Roger sing and play together, but that’s where the only harmony is found. There’s a very convincing prickliness to their stage relationship and Roger’s spareness with words lends every utterance a sinister weight. Punctuated by a letters from a slutty absent mother, revealing everything they thought about their personal history is fabrication, their songs and interaction are measured, controlled and there’s comedy in the repressive silence between them as well as the terse exchanges. I fear I’m not doing justice to their carefully crafted humour, which draws you into their world as a witness to family hostilities, sharpened with an occasional alarming excursion into surreal cheeriness.
Final Word: Idiosyncratic.
Julia Chamberlain

Smart Casual continues at The Pod until Sat Mar 13.

Bygone Error And Friends
SA Folk Centre, Fri Mar 5

“It gives me great pleasure, as the mistress said to the bishop”; with his megaphone and chronic alliteration Lord Spruiker opened this variety show to a ‘quaint quorum of quintessential quality’. Bygone Error, Michael McGregor, The Fishbowl Boys and Nellie Pope strutted in satirical splendour singing Can’t Get Away To Marry You Today. My Wife Won’t Let Me. Attended by baby-boomer immigrants, the show featured songs like Wee Deoch And Doris, I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside, complete with rhyming slang. Clever, comical renditions sung to a raucous audience of eccentric Scots and cockney hecklers who yelled Cor Blimey! and sang along with the choruses. A tribute to legendary old-time music-hall heroes (1830-1900s) like Harry Champion, Florrie Ford and Vesta Victoria, exuberant, energetic performers kept the spirit alive.
Final Word: Kooky.
Angie Starr & Kimberley Mann

Helga Handfull – Live Aus Berlin
Cushdy (Red Room), Fri Mar 5

If Catherine Zeta-Jones, Marlene Dietrich and Hitler were tri-cloned, the result would be…. Helga Handful! Born in Wank, Southern Germany, Helga sings her journey through sexuality, poverty, migration and reminisces about contracting various STDs. Helga struts and commands “There are no exceptions to the rule. Helga is irresistible…” “Whatever Helga wants…” The audience is teased and titillated. Helga gyrates her hips, licks her whip and bats long lashes. With an itch in her pudenda, in stockings, garters and knee-high black Hitler boots Helga delivers her story in Germanic syllables. This is a one-man, cross-dressing cabaret show accompanied by piano; Berlin Cabaret, quirky and glam. She sings The Masochism Tango and the hilarious herpes song. It Doesn’t Matter If You Sing Out Of Tune So Long As You’re German…
Final Word: Camp.
Angie Starr & Kimberley Mann

Helga Handfull continues at Cushdy until Fri Mar 12.

Carole King & James Taylor - A Tribute
Star Theatres – Theatre One, Fri Mar 5

Luke Thompson and Amity Dry have combined their Taylor Made and Tapestry shows to present this natural coupling. The evening kicks off with the James Taylor retrospective. I believed I could be listening to Taylor himself. The accomplished seven-piece band expertly covered 10 songs in the 45-minute set before the audience was treated to an interval of the same duration. The Tapestry show features songs from that famous album as well as a collection of other classics. Dry does a great job shedding light on King’s career, she sings well and the new band line up was every bit as proficient as the original ensemble. The joint encore performance was a nice touch.
Final Word: Polished.
David Robinson

Carole King & James Taylor - A Tribute continues at Star Theatres until Fri Mar 12.

Bubblewrap And Boxes
Theater Bosco, Sat Mar 6

Energetic, well-performed and unexpectedly intelligent, this is a wonderful show for children and parents alike. The acrobatic duo spends their time running and jumping, and tripping and falling in and out of a castle of boxes. Their playful antics reveal some hidden treasures which send their imaginations running wild. The audience gets transported all over the place, from sightseeing in Paris to swimming underwater with fish (depicted beautifully). It’s a lovely look at how children must see the big bad world and how some need a little help overcoming their fears. The performers barely speak through the entire show, instead using their facial expressions and body movements to tell the story for them, which works amazingly well.
Final Word: Lively.
Bridie Toomer

Bubblewrap And Boxes continues at the Theater Bosco until Sat Mar 13.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
The Space Between, Sat Mar 6

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is definitely a show for the girls, although the few men in the audience certainly found something to chuckle about, especially when UK comedian Diane Spencer came out to do her stuff. Fast and furious with the stories and jokes, Spencer delivered a killer set that had the room in stitches. Penny Ashton proved herself to be in fine poetic form, her ‘Rohypnol Chick’ routine worth a giggle, as was her Austen Tayshus–style poem in search of a man. Geraldine Hickey was another standout – her humour is dry and witty, beautifully understated in its delivery while managing to hit the right mark with a charmed audience. An entertaining night, although the venue itself was less than inspiring.
Final Word: Girly.
Rosie van Heerde

Too Far Again, Not Far Enough...
Gravity Studios, Sat Mar 6

An overwhelming and thought-provoking performance about how the individual sees themself and others see the individual. This enthralling original work by Daniel Jaber, one of Adelaide’s leading ballet dancers, is as intellectually stimulating as it is energetically and beautifully performed. Well and truly a sadomasochistic work of art, this is not a performance for the faint-hearted or traditionalist. Disturbing at times, Jaber is nothing short of mesmerising as he shows us not to judge a book by its cover and, finally, the importance of our personal stories and to witness those of others. Self-inflicted mutilation, sexual energy and full nudity go hand in hand with energy, precision and focus throughout the piece. Almost sold out, get in now!
Final Word: Overwhelming.
Bridie Toomer

Too Far Again, Not Far Enough... continues at Gravity Studios until Sun Mar 14.

Jay Hoad Band
Café Komodo, Sat Mar 6

Talented South Australian musicians kicked on through an eclectic evening of original global grooves. Backing up singer songwriter Jay Hoad on didge, guitar and double upright electric bass etc were Tim Bos (sax), Matt Long (guitar), Miles Sly (percussion) and Henry Moncrieff (drums). Their chilled-out tunes evoked the vibe of a tropical island, a Rastafarian paradise. This reggae funk with politically conscious lyrical content stirred the soul. Each musician broke into impressive solos as the evening cruised on. The highlight of the night was the title song from Jay’s current album Warmth In The White and to its ambient Middle Eastern tones danced a sword-balancing belly-dancer. The retro venue was fitting except we were left wanting a dancefloor to groove the night away. Jay’s new CD Windy Creek will be released in September.
Final Word: Chillaxed.
Angie Starr & Kimberley Mann

True West
AC Arts (TAFE SA) – Main Theatre, Sat Mar 6

Director David Mealor combines aspects of good storytelling, interesting design and strong performance to deliver a first-class show. Initially, Nick Garsden is genuinely menacing as Lee while Renato Musolino is equally convincing as his meek younger brother, Austin. Geoff Revell (Saul) and Chrissie Page (Mom) are also effective in supporting roles. It is the combustible relationship between the two siblings, and the psychological make-up of the two as individuals, that the audience is invited to explore in this 110-minute black comedy-thriller. The music is perfectly suited to the other elements of the atmospheric setting. I was never quite sure in which era the play was set, but it didn’t matter. A really enjoyable afternoon.
Final Word: Bold.
David Robinson

True West continues at AC Arts until Sun Mar 14.

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Memoirs Of A Human Cannonball
Le Cascadeur, Sat Mar 6

If you like your comedy with a sweetly comic undertone, this is the show for you. The extravagantly bouffanted P-Kay and the Singing Stuntman create the story, using songs and stunning backdrops before your very eyes, They are both proper troupers, they can sing, play guitar, hoof a bit and draw you into the tale of the kid who joined the circus. This really is the guy who was shot from a cannon, and it is the truth that makes it compelling. Informative, entertaining and highly personal, this could have been presented as ‘an audience with...’ but it’s that beautiful mini musical that makes the show stay with you long after you’ve left the tent.
Final Word: Touching.
Julie Chamberlain

Memoirs Of A Human Cannonball continues at Le Cascadeur until Sat Mar 13.

A Jazz Invasion
The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Sun Mar 7

A new breed of Jazz musicians joined in together for an enjoyable afternoon of original toe-tapping pieces. This collective of incredibly talented friends based in Sydney included Max Franklin and Justin Fermino on saxophone, Grant Arthur on trombone, Ben Panucci on guitar, Sam Dobson on bass and Jodie Michael on drums. All worked together so beautifully yet each individual shone in their own right during various solos. Dark and moody, uplifting and energetic, every traditional element of jazz came together in a fresh, young and vibrant performance from six amazing artists. The Wheatsheaf was a good choice of venue for this group as it mimics their laidback, slightly alternative style. Take note of these names, I’ll be looking for them at next year’s Fringe.
Final Word: Intoxicating.
Bridie Toomer

From Chekhov With Love
Nexus Cabaret, Mon Mar 8

Anton Chekhov’s tales of 19th century love and the human condition are brought to life by Adelaide Russian Theatre Company’s From Chekhov With Love, a selection of the celebrated Russian playwright’s most loved comic farces. The Celebration began our evening with Pavel Ananikyan and Dmitrii Lazariuk, sometimes hitting their mark in portraying the silly, pompous bank manager and his snarly old clerk caught up in mayhem of their own making. The Proposal upped the ante a little, with Alexandra Ivanova and Nikolay Zaglyadnov entertaining as the hopeless ‘couple-to-be’, unable to make it through a marriage proposal without arguing. Olzhas Alibekov was very impressive in final piece The Bear, showing a commitment to his character missing from some of the other actors in the show. Simple set design/lighting paid complement to the richly crafted script.
Final Word: Absurd.
Rosie van Heerde

Dave Bloustien’s Complete History of Western Philosophy
Tuxedo Cat, Thu Mar 4

More of a rough outline than a Complete History, Dave Bloustien races through a hilariously idiosyncratic timeline of important philosophical events at a breakneck speed. He blends factual historical oddities like mathematics cults and Pythagoras’ aversion to beans with anecdotes so earnest you’d be forgiven for thinking he and Socrates were bros in an ancient Greek frat house. Much like the thinking men he fills the hour with, Bloustien’s brain may be too powerful for its own good; he spontaneously breaks off into tangents two or three stories deep before forgetting how he arrived there in the first place. Luckily, his enthusiasm and charm make it all seem like part of the ride. And when an audience who were expecting philosophical funnies don’t mind that you regale them with a story about some accidental drug smuggling in Egypt, you know you’re doing something right.
Final Word: Enlightening.
Liam Sharrad

Dave Bloustien’s Complete History of Western Philosophy continues at Tuxedo Cat until Sat Mar 13.

DeAnne Smith: Ballsy
Tuxedo Cat, Thu Mar 4

Armed with a ukulele, a testosterone-fuelled catchphrase and an unusually large set of testicles for a lady, DeAnne Smith proves that not all female comedians need jokes about periods and men. As she paced back and forth on stage like the cute ADHD afflicted kid sister you never knew you wanted, Smith fired off bizarre anecdotes and one-liners with just a hint of one of those charming I-know-I’m-being-funny-right-now-but-I’m-pretending-I-don’t smiles. And whether it was the intimate setting or an easy-going audience, Smith had an effortless back and forth with the crowd, causing some unintentional hilarity when she donated pocket change to a couple of girls from Darwin and declaring me demonspawn when I revealed my aversion to chocolate (which I can totally understand). Ballsy was a ridiculously funny look at life, death, testicles and women dating women.
Final Word: Nuts.
Liam Sharrad

Ballsy continues at Tuxedo Cat until Sun Mar 14.

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