KATE MCLENNAN – THE DEBUTANTE DIARIES
The Garden Shed, Wed Mar 21
What a surprise package the dynamic Kate McLennan proves to be. An emotional chameleon and impressive actress rather than an acerbic stand-up comic, McLennan’s one-woman show is a polished and snappy production that takes us into the lives of numerous small town characters as the local debutante ball nears. Sweet but socially dejected teen Sophie McAlllister, perky and popular Libra Hills High prefect Chrystel Jones, her sardonic and bitchy friend Stacey, paedophilic South African PE instructor Guy Geraghty and jaundiced fellow teacher Carla Kennedy, a chain-smoking Judith Lucy-type, all suffer personal pitfalls as the event approaches. Referencing Delta Goodrem, Pixie Photo and Mel & Kochy, McLennan’s mannerisms and ability to swiftly immerse herself in each character’s emotions is unnervingly skilled. Like a We Could Be Heroes with additional sentiment, Debutante Diaries also earns bonus points for using The Go! Team and Joanna Newsom as link music.
Mikey Walsh
The Debutante Diaries continues at The Garden Shed until Sat Mar 31.

MARMALADE CIRCUS: LIVE AND STICKY 3
Queens Arms Hotel, Wed Mar 20
Despite giving their four-night residency at the Queens Arms a title and going out of the way to stress their silliness, almost to the point where you expect cabaret rather than music, Marmalade Circus are nothing more than a jazz band. But what a band… and what a gig! The 10-strong Marmalade crew turned in a superlative performance, spicing their music with African, Latin and Middle Eastern influences. So many excellent musicians are on display that it seems wrong to single anyone out, but the horn section, overall, is sublime. Bandleader Mark Ferguson is a genial host and nearly lives up to those proclamations of silliness during the relatively weak middle section of the show. The first and last thirds are genuinely exciting, however. Ferguson’s best compositions are of as high a standard as you could hope for, the arrangements are tight and sharply focused, and there’s plenty of room for individual expression. Dodgy marketing, fantastic band.
Gary Cockburn
Marmalade Circus continues at Queens Arms Hotel until Sat Mar 24.

DAVE BLOUSTIEN: BEASTLY
Jah’z Lounge, Tue Mar 21
This show is a safari through the minefield that is African politics and aid organisations, with the obligatory lion, monkey and an elephant or two thrown in. Using some great photos as a starting point, Bloustien’s clever if cynical banter hits its mark over and over again. Smart, friendly, socially aware and not afraid to have a dig at the misguided few, Bloustien is a ‘thinking person’s comedian’ who, via the hilarity of his many dry observations, makes some really interesting points. The addition of a xylophone to help the audience separate fact from fiction was a fun touch and used to great effect throughout the show. In short, a great hour of intelligent comedy from a hugely talented writer/performer.
Rosie Toomer
Beastly continues at Jah’z Lounge until Sat Mar 31.

WORD
Fringe Factory Theatre, Wed Mar 21
Word is a mini Adelaide Writer’s Festival (except it’s not free). PEN, an organisation that reminds us that writers can suffer detention or death for voicing their views, presented the authors Nicolas Jose, Eva Sallis and Yahia al-Samawy. They read poetry and stories about threats to life and liberty. The latter, from Iraq, orated his poetry in Arabic and was then translated by Eva. His expressiveness and heartfelt words were like music. Jose presented poetry from Shu, gaoled in China for 10 years over an email about the 15th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square. Sean Williams, in the next session, talked abut the problems of marketing your work if you write in different genres, because it’s easier to sell lots of books if you’re known as a crime or science fiction writer. Between authors, chill out at the bar on comfy bamboo chairs amongst the greenery.
Kathy Gibbings
Word continues at Fringe Factory Theatre until Fri Mar 23.

THE UMBILICAL BROTHERS - THE REHEARSAL
Royalty Theatre, Wed Mar 21
Fringe stalwarts The Umbilical Brothers have bought their return season of The Rehearsal back to Adelaide for their first time at The Royalty Theatre. Similar but different to their previous season, the guys are still working on perfection, one day hoping that this will become a real show and not just a rehearsal. Always in sync, David and Shane use physical comedy and oral sound effects to illustrate their intentions, while the audience plant adds yet another dimension - or is that distraction? Some very clever camera-play which is projected onto a huge screen made for some mind-boggling illusions, and the attack by a nine-foot-high hand puppet had my nine-year-old niece in stitches. The Umbies are funny, inventive, down-to-earth, original and clever – as always! Great laughs for the whole family.
Catherine Blanch
The Rehearsal continues at Royalty Theatre until Sun Mar 25.

JUSTIN HAMILTON
Rhino Room, Wed Mar 21
Justin Hamilton hits top form with his latest show at this year’s Fringe. Hamilton has an eye for detail, with an excellent use of local references of schooling years and the influences on his life. Having a crush on a teacher, fear of the cane and discussion with a school counsellor were all highlights. He has the ability to weave stories about people and their personalities into general themes, like doing a gig at a bikey fortress where the previous acting involving two women was described as a "pretzel devouring itself". His ability to belittle himself over his lack of success with women demonstrated a humility many in the audience could empathise with. The crowd were engaged throughout and Justin's ability to evolve a story on the vibe from the audience made the show a very enjoyable hour.
Rob Lyon
Justin Hamilton performs at Rhino Room until Sat Mar 31.

MILTON! LET THY SONG SOAR! BOOKS 1 AND 2
The Old Adelaide Inn, Sat Mar 17 and Tue Mar 19
Sometimes, you know you’ve seen something special even when you’ve properly understood just a tiny fraction of it. These are two such productions. David Guthrie Burns has adapted the first two books of John Milton’s famous 1667 poem, Paradise Lost, for the stage, but without changing a single word of the original text. His claim – made convincingly in a short introduction on Saturday night – is that Milton always intended Paradise Lost as drama rather than poetry. To that end Burns has memorised the first four of its 12 books, and is performing one and two during this year’s Fringe. Burns presents himself as Milton, and creates all of the other characters (as many as eight in book two) while he recites the poem.
You’re only likely to follow the narrative in any depth if you’ve previously studied Milton’s great work, and even then a knowledge of theology and the classics wouldn’t go amiss. But that’s not to say you won’t be affected by it, regardless of your level of understanding. Difficult though Paradise Lost may be, it’s packed with beautiful language and important ideas. Burns’ performance of it is genuinely worthwhile, both in its existence and its execution, and his feat of memory is astonishing.
Gary Cockburn

TROUBLE IN MIND
Holden St Theatre (The Arch), Tue Mar 20
Written and directed by George Franklin, this Melbourne-based group aims to portray a combined interpretation of a psychiatric hospital, as based on George’s experiences as a student nurse of the ‘80s.The play manages to dissect the operation of the ward into the separate worlds that are lived within the institution. Doctors try to consult their patients while they struggle to tackle their own work-related issues and personal relationships. In the end it seems as though these psychiatric sessions are used by these doctors as a form of their own therapy. It’s an institute where those treating need to be treated! A place where there’s an enormous lack of professionalism and communication between doctors, non-existent work ethics, patients who seem more sane than their psychiatrists, and a student nurse who can’t bare to be a part of it any longer. This dramatic comedy is quirky and humorous at the best of times.
Gloria Albanese

HOW TO BE A CLOUD AND OTHER LIFE LESSONS
Fad Gallery
Amidst an initial storm of question marks, the winds of confusion eventually subside as it becomes clear that this aberrant feast of quirky characters isn't meant to make much sense after all. Playing out like a sort of epileptic telethon, the two performers effortlessly transform into a hilarious array of characters one after another with their ability to provoke laughter almost matched by their outstanding vocal talent. It somehow feels as if the remote control has gone haywire and the ensuing channel-surf blitz leaves no stone unturned. Fox News, speed-dating and American red-necks infatuated by jerky are some of the highlights, as is the stand-off between "the softest elbow skin” and "the most petite earlobes" ever. Be wooed by new-age gurus Forest-Tree-Leaf-Bean and Tofu-Love, horrified by the minutiae of socialites Janice and Janelle's lives and empathise with two sock puppet performers on the verge of a career break-up. Funny, sad, smart and silly, this comedy offering's barometer is almost as kooky as the girls themselves. As a wise sock-puppet performer once said: "It's a good routine - have faith in the routine!".
Liam Aldous