Arrogant Worms
The Governor Hindmarsh
10:00pm, Fri 17 Mar 2000
Score: 8
Short Review: Song-a-rific!
Take a quick ride down Port Road (not too far, you might wind up in *gasp* Port Adelaide ;) and go to the Governor Hindmarsh. We did so on St Patrick's Day, and managed to find a pub full of pissed people dressed in green. And the Arrogant Worms, another Canadian comedy export.
Quite simply, these guys were really funny. Any group that takes the piss out of Canadia (sic) and their most famous exports - Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, and Shania Twain - gets the big thumbs up from me, and their Internet love song "Log On To You" is right up there with Tripod's Political Song. Any any song that starts "I am cow, hear me moo" is sure to win kudos from this little moobaa.
If this act had a fault, it was that they didn't localise their content enough... most of the songs were obviously their stock Canadian stuff. Which is still cool, because it was all funny.
(An aside - it was a hot night, and the show was in the rapidly-heating-up balcony at the Gov (the butt of many jokes). After an encore, despite the fact that the Worms were obviously hot, tired and bedraggled, one particularly pissed audience member refused to let the Worms leave until they did another song - "I was just starting to like you guys". They complied :)
Slaughter/Guernica
Proscenium Club
8:00pm, Fri 17 Mar 2000
Score: 6
Short Review: Patchy
Two plays presented by the Footlight Theatre Company (Vic, NSW) in the Proscenium. First up - I like the Proscenium as a venue; it works really well, especially for plays which can surround the audience. Second - try "Red Bull" Energy Drink. Neato.
Enough plugs. First play up was the Slaughter - Scenes from Germany, writtn by Heiner Muller. The programme notes that Muller is widely regarded as "one of the most influential and controversial writers in European theatre". It should also add that he has penned some of the most atrocious rhyming couplets ever - the dialogue was not pretty at all. Muller (apart from having a cool surname) is no Shakespeare. But then, maybe that fits in with the whole darkness surrounding the piece... :)
Slaughter displays five tales of betrayal in different situations throughout Germany in World War II. The first was remarkable for the awkwardness of the dialogue between two brothers. The fourth betrayal received the most passionate direction of the play, with a frantic attack scene. Other than that, the most fun I had during this play was groaning inwardly at the rhymes.
The second play, Guernica, was much better. Intimidated and ineffectual, but very loving, Fanchou has had the love of his life buried underneath the rubble of their toilet during a bombing raid. The banter between the two of them is most amusing; the constant passing of planes overhead creates a sense of diminishing time, as does the faceless woman with child. The writer also provides a humorous distraction. Great stuff!
In all, one good play, one not-so-good... On the other hand, my SO's opinions were completely the opposite of mine. So, with that in mind, you might roll up and love both. Or hate both. That's the great thing about opinions, eh?
Mongolmongol - My Wonderful Left Hook
Uniflex Physical Theatre
5:30pm, Fri 17 Mar 2000
Score: 5
Short Review: Indistinct
My Wonderful Left Hook by Korean company MongolMongol is part mime, part dance, part musical. Unfortunately, all the seperate pieces don't really gel together that well to form a coherent piece of work; more a well-produced jumble.
The positives first: there's a cello, so I'm happy from the start (references: 1 2), and the cellist also has a wonderfully haunting singing voice. So the aural aspect of the performance was great, as was the lighting and overall direction. The dancer (sorry, no names!) was also elegant; the movement of her arms was mesmerising.
Now the negatives: the miming varied from competent to pretty bloody awful. What the hell happened to the baby? I've got no idea, the miming was that bad... did he throw it away? drop it? kill it? make it's head fall off? It'll take someone with either (a) a whole lot of imagination, or (b) a script to explain it to me. The plot was outlined on a flyer presented to patrons; good thing, too.
So, a mixed-performance piece which only really satisfied the ears. A pity, really, since I think there's a gem of an idea in amongst it. But kudos to Mongolmongol for bringing it out here - they're all really nice people (just a shame the piece wasn't up to scratch).