Tired Cliches
International Brigade (Cosmopolitan Centre)
10:00pm, Mon 28 Feb 2000
Score: 9
Short Review: Cyclic
"Stand-Up meets Storytelling meets Beat Poetry" says the Fringe Guide on this, the second of TJ Dawe's works in this Fringe (the other being the exceptional Labrador). The Guide was right. It's a reasonable simple storyline, but the manner in which the show is delivered - using, at times, a very Beat-ish style - makes the piece a very enjoyable experience.
Once again, Dawe rapid-fires through another piece of his life, repeatedly using certain situations which, as a spectator, you know are significant - and the final 2 minutes ties all the loose ends together (oops, spoiled it). Dawe's style, especially after having seen Labrador, is great for the audience - it makes for very satisfying viewing.
I'm going to rave again - TJ Dawe is the man. Brilliant writing... better than brilliant. Words cannot express, yada yada yada. See it. See it. See it.
The Kiwi Standup Show
WorldsEnd Cabaret
8:30pm, Mon 28 Feb 2000
Score: 6
Short Review: Amusing
Obviously Monday nights aren't big comedy nights in Adelaide. For the 16 people who turned up, these two Kiwis (Mark and Mike, apparently... why can't I remember their names? what a crap reviewer...) put in a reasonable show overall.
Mark (I think... again, apologies for the names) opened up with the usual "flight over" gags, and I think the audience all inwardly moaned. The pace picked up, thought, and the highlight of his set was undoubtedly the ode to JFK Jr set to "Candle In The Wind". Piss funny.
The second Kiwi, Mike, was far more memorable, and dealt with "comedy death" situations with great style. He also managed to dig himself into a corner when he proclaimed that New Zealand's only poisonous spider was, in fact, a myth - until an audience member mentioned that she had, in fact, been bitten by one. Again, the escape was very amusing.
Overall, reasonable material, crappy venue - which bore the brunt of a large number of jokes in the show. Go for a beer, stay for the show.
Cello Recital
Pilgrim Church
6:30pm, Mon 28 Feb 2000
Score: 6
Short Review: Patchy
I love the cello. Love it. Unashamedly, unreservedly. I know squat about classical music, but the tones of the cello just fire me up. So it was with great anticipation that I cruised into the Pilgrim Church on a sultry Monday evening to attend my first cello recital.
Problem 1: it was hot that night and, due to the extensive (albeit attractive) amount of stained glass in the church, it was quite warm inside. Thus it was necessary to strategically place a large number of fans around the inside of the church to try and keep the air moving & the patrons cool(ish). Unfortunately, the aforementioned fans also managed to flip the pages of cellist Belinda Manwaring's sheet music. Stutter, pause, recovery... but it didn't do much for the piece.
That said, the Vivaldi Allegros (with Lesley Lewis accompanying on harpsichord) were exceptional, and Paul Hindemith's "Solo Sonata op.25 No.3" was likewise excellent. The highlight of the recital, however, came from Manwaring's rendition of Australian Peter Sculthorpe's "Threnody for solo cello"... this work was incredible, and the cello belied the Aboriginal underpinnings of the work by managing to sound very didgereedoo-esque (!) at some points.
However, the rest of the works left a less palatable taste in the mouth. Maybe I was missing something, not being a huge classical buff... but some parts of the de Fesch and Bononcini sonatas seemed positively devoid of tonal sensibilities. Bummer, because half the program was exceptional.
Tip for WorldsEnd Cabaret FringeGoers - be prepared if it's hot. You will be stuck under a tent out the back of a pub, next to said pub's kitchen and generator, with not a skerrick of breeze to be had. This is probably a carefully calculated ploy...
If you go and see "The Exhibitionists", go early - there's many laughs to be had at the expense of the latecomers :)