It's been a couple of years since I've done one of those, mostly because I've started rehearsing a show (or shows) in the weeks leading up to the Fringe - i.e. where I'd be most likely be thinking about what I'd be keen to see.
While I am in a show for 2020 - Titanic, with Therry; keep an eye out for that in June - we don't start rehearsals until the Fringe is nearly over. Which is great for me, cause not only do I not have to try and fit my Fringe-going around a couple of rehearsals a week, I also have time to plug the shows I think people should see.
Why plug shows? That's very easy: because if I think they're good, I want them to succeed; that way the chances of the person who's putting them on comes back at some point with something new and brilliant are likely to increase. It's a hugely competitive market out there, and if people don't make enough money, you can't really expect them to keep coming back.
So, without further ado, here are the things I'm recommending for 2020. If I see something that I think deserves a mention, I'll add it - so, check back each week for new additions.
Forbidden Broadway [Season Ended]
Feb 26-28
The Parks Theatres
"Broadway's greatest musical legends meet Broadway's greatest satirist in this hilarious, loving, and endlessly entertaining tribute to some of the theatre's greatest stars and songwriters. Known as the "Fall-Down Funny Roast of Broadway", 'Forbidden Broadway' is a take-no-prisoners parody of all your favourite Broadway hits. Journey through more than 20 Broadway shows and spend the evening with the casts of 'Wicked', 'Mamma Mia', 'Rent', 'Annie', 'Les Miserables' and more!"
I saw the last Forbidden Broadway put on in Adelaide (there are numerous versions of it, parodying a different set of shows each time), and it was excellent; I expect this one to be of the same high standard. Some great talent in the cast.
Tickets here
Shane Warne: The Musical [Season Ended]
Feb 14-21
The Parks Theatres
"Shane Warne: The Musical is a musical comedy by Eddie Perfect based on the life of Australian cricketer Shane Warne. A wild, funny and outrageous musical romp through the life and times of one of the world's greatest cricketers. The show spins us through the bowler's controversy-laden career and roller-coaster personal life."
On top of the fact it's about one of Australia's more, um, interesting sports people, there are two reasons to recommend this - a) it's being put on my some of my most talented and dedicated musical theatre friends, and b) it's from Eddie Perfect, one of Australia's finest creatives - If you aren't familiar with the name he wrote the music and lyrics for the recent Broadway production of Beetlejuice that got nominated for a bunch of Tony awards.
Tickets here
Friendly Feminism for the Mild Mannered [Award Winner]
Until March 8
The Bally at Gluttony
"Fresh from a sold-out debut season, join friendly feminist Millicent Sarre and her all-female band for this cabaret crash-course in modern intersectional feminism. Featuring 10 original songs, relatable anecdotes and a healthy dose of audience participation, this is a show for hard-core feminists and sceptics alike."
There are a heck of lot of talented people in the Adelaide musical theatre/cabaret scene, and Millicent Sarre is one of the best - I was lucky enough to see this show last year during its all-too-brief run and it was excellent. Clever, funny, meaningful and totally original - exactly what the Fringe needs more of.
Update: FFFTMM (for short) won a weekly Fringe award for best cabaret! You should definitely go see it if you haven't already.
Tickets here
Deborah Brennan: The Parting Glass
Mar 10-14
Gosse Bar and Lounge at Sporting Car Club of SA
"How far would you go to have just one more day with someone you loved? From the creative team behind A Case of You: The Music of Joni Mitchell and The Hummingbird Effect comes a brand new show starring songbird and story teller Deborah Brennan featuring the music of iconic artists including Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor and Colin Hay.
For anyone who has ever loved, lost, or loved again, The Parting Glass is a beautiful tale of grief, love and reconciling yourself to your past."
I've worked on shows with Deb, so I know first-hand how talented she is as an accompanist; having seen her show The Butterfly Effect, I can say that she's just as good as a writer/arranger/performer. Really looking forward to this.
Tickets here
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical (SOLD OUT)
Feb 19-29
Star Theatres
"The multi-award-winning Adelaide theatre company Davine Productions presents the South Australian premiere of 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical'.
This Tony, Olivier & Helpmann award-winning musical tells the true story of the legendary singer songwriter, from schoolgirl to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, her career spanning five decades, a songwriting collaboration with husband Gerry Goffin and friendship with Grammy-winning songwriters Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. The show is packed with songs like, Natural Woman, You've Got a Friend and It's Too Late from her classic Tapestry album (25 million copies sold) and other chart-topping hits they wrote for some of pop music's biggest acts such as Little Eva, The Shirelles and The Righteous Brothers."
Another show packed with some of Adelaide's finest musical theatre talent. Sadly, there's not much point me telling you to go see it or linking to the tickets - it's already sold out!
Promise and Promiscuity: A New Musical by Jane Austen and Penny Ashton [Season Ended]
Feb 14 - Mar 1
Masonic - Owl Room at Gluttony
"Winner of Best Theatre 2015 and the sold out hit of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival is back! Flushed by 7 years of success, from Edinburgh to Edmonton to Adelaide, comes New Zealander Penny Ashton’s collaboration with Jane Austen (deceased).
Join Miss Elspeth as she battles literary snobbery, cousin Horatio’s digestions and her mother’s nerves, armed only with a blushing countenance, excellent ukulele skills and being quite bright, you know… for a girl. In this hilarious, one-(freakishly talented)-woman show, Penny tackles all of Austen’s characters with song, dance & appalling cross-stitching."
Another show that's making a return visit to Adelaide (so the 'new' part of the title may be a bit redundant) and which I saw and loved the first time it was here. Hilarious!
Tickets here
Zack Adams: Love Songs For Future Girl
Mar 3-14
Drama Llama at Rhino Room
"To celebrate the show's 10 year anniversary, Australia's award-winning Rock'n'roll funny man returns to the Adelaide Fringe.
What happens if the girl you think is "The One" turns out not to be? Dumped, depressed and slightly drunk, actor/comedian Zack Adams figures that if you can't laugh at yourself, you may as well let an audience do it. A powerful Comedy Cabaret about love, loss, heartbreak, growing bad ginger beards and everything in between. Think of it as a cross between a rock concert and group therapy."
I've seen a number of shows from the people behind this, and they've never been anything short of excellent - I loved their show The Ballad of Frank Allen and gave it five stars when it was here in 2016.
Tickets here
Orpheus
Eurydice
The Gods, The Gods, The Gods
Feb 14 - Mar 14
Adelaide Botanic Garden/Black Box Theatre
A trio of shows from the Flanagan Collective/Gobbledigook Theatre/Harstone-Kinney Productions, I've seen the first two of the three in Fringes past - and I'm very keen to see the third this time around. Theatre perfectly suited for the Fringe - creative, engaging and very genuine.
Update: have seen The Gods, The Gods, The Gods and, while I didn't like it as much as either of the first two in the series, it's still great - albeit very different. I'd probably have been more into it had it not been the fourth show I'd seen that day, given that you stand up throughout the whole thing...
Tickets here, here and here
Cassie and the Lights
Little Theatre at RCC
Feb 15 - Mar 15
"Can kids be parents? From the team behind the multi award-winning We Live By The Sea (Best Theatre, Critic's Choice and Peace Foundation Awards, Adelaide Fringe 2017) comes a funny and uplifting story of childhood and adulthood, responsibility and fun, accompanied by live original music and projection.
When Cassie’s mother leaves in the night, the teenager wants to care for her younger sisters on her own. But is Cassie the right person to be "Mum" now, or should she let their foster parents adopt her sisters, and create a new family?
Based on real-life events and interviews with children in care, Cassie and the Lights examines our ideas of what makes a family, and celebrates the incredible determination and resilience of teenagers."
We Live By The Sea was one of the shows everyone was talking about in 2017, and I saw what I think was the final performance - and everyone was right; it was stunningly good. When a company does something that amazing, they go right to the top of my list when/if they return. That this is on in the Little Theatre, one of my most favourite spaces in Adelaide (both as performer and audience) gives it even further weight.
Update: I saw this and it's magical. Absolutely brilliant. Sarah from the ATG gave it five stars; review is here.
Tickets here
The King
Feb 25 - Mar 15
Holden Street Theatres
"Roger likes to think he is the King of his domain; then during a harmless stroll through a department store he meets Hank, a virtuoso BBQ salesman. Hank unscrupulously persuades Roger to 'make the best purchase' he will ever make and buy the world's greatest grill, the 'King' grill. Roger's life is turned into a tumultuous grab for the remains of his charred manhood and burnt marriage; a hilarious modern day roast of the importance of status and power in everyday life.
How do you convince a man to buy something he doesn't need? Remind him what it means to be a man."
Another group I've worked with before (and seen every other production since), Red Phoenix specialise in putting on shows no-one's ever produced in Adelaide before. In the last few years they've won a bunch of awards for their work, so this is a definite recommend.
Update: ended up reviewing this; it's a lot of fun - my review here.
Tickets here
Emma Knights Productions
Emma's stuff is always worth checking out, whether it be her solo work or shows that she's producing or co-producing. Here's what she's got on this year:
Opera Mouse
We'll Meet Again: Vera Lynn, the Forces' Sweetheart
Piaf and Brel: The Impossible Concert
Ingenue: Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland and the Golden Age of Hollywood
Floating Melodies: Burlesque on a Boat
Lenka
The Nights by Henry Naylor
Holden Street Theatres
Feb 14 - Mar 15
"A returning Jihadi bride, an Islamophobic journalist & an antique dealer with a violent past all collide in a dark, timely tale. Three-time Fringe First Winner Henry Naylor is 'The Fringe's unofficial star-writer-in-residence' (The Spectator), with his plays having won, or been nominated for, over 35 global awards."
It's gotten to the point where I've put 'Henry Naylor play at Holden Street' on my to-see list before I'm even sure there's going to be one. But he and his talented group of creatives have yet to disappoint, and I doubt this one will either.
Update: I reviewed this and thought it was brilliant, though maybe without quite reaching the heights of his earlier work. Review here.
Tickets here
Nina Oyama is 'Doing Me' Right Now [Season Ended]
Cupola at The Garden of Unearthly Delights
Feb 14 - Mar 1
"Best Newcomer Nominee - Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2019
Hey you guys! I'm Nina Oyama! Comedian. Writer. Actress. Possum.
That's right. I danced around in a possum suit on ABC's The Set. Actually, you might know me better as Courtney from 'Utopia', or playing kooky characters on 'Kinne Tonight', and 'Tonightly with Tom Ballard'.
But for my brand-new hour of comedy, I'm just doing me. It's a new character I'm working on. Just kidding. It's just me!"
Nina is excellent in the brilliant ABC TV comedy Utopia, and she's hilarious on Twitter. I expect her to be much the same doing stand-up.
Tickets here
The Eulogy
Masonic - Owl Room at Gluttony
Mar 3-8
"An absurd, theatrical, character-driven parody of a funeral speech."
This show sold out performances and won awards last time it was here in 2016. That doesn't happen often. Go see it while you can.
Tickets here
Tiramisu
Hell's Kitchen at Rhino Room
Feb 25 - Mar 14
"Ciao! E benvenuti in Italia! Come take a playfully ridiculous and ridiculously playful romp through Italy. WINNER: Best Solo Performance, 2019 Boulder Fringe.
Tiramisu is the most playfully ridiculous and ridiculously playful homage to Italy. A physically - comedic romp through the passionate Mediterranean country of art, cuisine, history and culture. This show - like a good meal - is meant to be shared with friends and family."
I saw Michael Burgos in The Eulogy (see above) a handful of Fringes ago and it was excellent, one of my favourites of that year. So, I reckon his new show is worth a look.
Update: I saw this last night and loved it. But if you do go see it, keep in mind it's a particular kind of show - what tends to be called 'contemporary clowning' - and it only really works for you if you let it, i.e. you have to relax and go with where he takes you. React, laugh, applaud, play along. It's better for everyone if you do.
Tickets here
Modern Māori Quartet: Garage Party [Season Ended]
The Cornucopia at Gluttony
Feb 14-16
"Back home in Aotearoa (New Zealand), where you fullas park your cars, we Maori party, drink and sing. These nights overflow with laughter, cheeky banter and hearty harmonies as we celebrate life, love and all round good times. Come on down and party with us at the flash-est garage party Adelaide has ever seen. Che!"
I saw these guys a few Cabaret Festivals ago and they were excellent. Funny, charming and great harmonies.
Update: I saw this and it was a lot of fun. And quite different from the set they did at the Cabaret Festival.
Tickets here
Enterprise
Adelaide Botanic Garden/Black Box Theatre
Mar 3-15
"Four business colleagues pull out all the stops to save their Manhattan corporation from the brink of collapse. ENTERPRISE is not just a surreal office comedy: it's a lacerating satire of modern day America laughing in the face of Capitalism!"
Joanne Hartstone has performed in and produced some great shows at the Fringe in recent years, so that's enough for me. Plus it includes local actor Anton Schrama, who I worked with some years back on the award-winning production of Young Frankenstein.
Update: I saw this and liked it. My review here.
Tickets here
The Rad Pack [Season Ended]
Top of the Ark at Arkaba Hotel
Feb 16 & 20
"A sophisticated lounge act with some of Adelaide's best entertainers, paying tribute to the Rat Pack era. Featuring the music of the great crooners Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and the American Songbook, with comedy, duets and more! There's something for everyone in The Rad Pack. Starring Michael Coumi, Stephen Tongun and Doug Phillips. Co-starring David Daradan and Stefanie Rossi. Live instrumentals by Breezin. Performing at The Arkaba Hotel - Top Of The Ark for a limited two show season."
I've done shows with Michael and Doug, and they're both excellent. Only two shows, though!
Tickets here
Tartuffe
Holden Street Theatres - The Arch
Feb 18 - Mar 15
"Liz Lochhead's un-PC, rude, rhyming cut of Molière's classic relocated to a 1940s Scotch living room. Con man Tartuffe, with his perfect mark in the gullible paterfamilias, will ruin them all. Unless, together, trophy wife and sassy maid prevail? Sex: men and women using it against each other. You have to laugh! In association with Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and The Stephen Dunn Theatre Fund. Directed by Tony Cownie, following a sell-out run at Oran Mor."
I saw this on Saturday night and loved every minute of it; it's an absolutely brilliant take on the Molière classic. It's advertised as being in Scots language, but I think of it more as Scottish English - you'll understand almost everything (if you're good with accents) but there'll be a few words here and there that you'll need to check the surtitles for the meaning of.
Tickets here
Scotland! [Season Ended]
Le Cascadeur at The Garden of Unearthly Delights
Until Mar 1
"International physical comedy trio are BACK after a completely sold out season in Adelaide 2019. Bringing their own brand of award-winning physical comedy of what it really means to be Scottish to Adelaide Fringe. You guessed it - think tartan, shortbread, deer stalking and whisky.
Join the lads for a wild ride to the Highlands, with rhythm, body percussion, singing, stomping, audience participation, clowning and a celebration of the true spirit of Scotland!"
Saw this, and it was brilliant. The most fun kind of physical comedy. Just be warned that, if your're in the front row, you might be asked up on stage to do some very strange things...
Tickets here
Spitfire Solo
Mainstage at Bakehouse Theatre
Until Mar 7
"June 2000 - for eighty-year old Peter Walker, ex-Battle of Britain pilot, an unexpected new challenge is about to begin.
As he re-lives past glories, losses, wartime experiences, family memories and the heady days of blue skies and battles, he searches for the answer to the biggest question so far!
Personal, charming, funny and inventive, Spitfire Solo blends theatre, music and film. UK award-winning Fringe favourite Nicholas Collett (Your Bard, Oysters, director 2018 Best Theatre That Daring Australian Girl) plays a multitude of characters and recreates the Battle of Britain - onstage!"
Nicholas Collett is very, very good at everything I've seen him do and this is no different - I saw a production of this way back in 2013 and loved it - read my review here.
AJ Holmes: Yeah, But Not Right Now
The Bally at Gluttony
Until March 15
"Following a sell-out run at Edinburgh Fringe, actor, writer, and composer AJ Holmes makes his Australian Fringe debut with a one-man musical! Best known for The Book of Mormon on Broadway, the West End, and Australia; writing for South Park, and co-composing Starkid's A Very Potter Musical."
I hadn't noticed this in my first pass over the Fringe guide, but I've heard only good things about it - Talia from the ATG gave it five stars in her review here. I'm intending to see it soon.
Tickets here
The Wild Unfeeling World
The Garden at Holden Street
Until March 14
"A tender, furious and fragile reimagining of Moby Dick from multi-award winning writer and storyteller Casey Jay Andrews. A suburban fable of bad luck, reckless choices and irrational hope. The times when we leap, where sometimes we soar, and sometimes we drown. The epic infamous whale tale is reinvented in London and follows a young woman on the brink of self-destruction.
By Casey Jay Andrews, creator of THE ARCHIVE OF EDUCATED HEARTS - Winner Best Theatre Weekly Award 2019."
I saw this the other night and it's a delight. Clever storytelling by a very talented performer.
Tickets here
The Wild Side
RCC - The Attic
Until March 15
"UK's drag cabaret superstar, and Adelaide Fringe fan-favourite, Jonny Woo (A Night At The Musicals) returns with an open love-letter to all things Lou Reed and revives the heyday of the NYC underground at Max's Kansas City. Reminisce your favourite songs from Lou Reed's Transformer album, with special appearances from Andy Warhol and Valerie Solanas. Swapping glitter and boa for punk rock and leather, let Jonny take you for a Walk on the Wild Side in this night of cabaret, live music and tales of the Warhol era."
Saw this last night; it's excellent. But it's done like a concert, with Jonny (as Lou Reed) telling stories between songs, mostly from (as noted) Transformer.
Definitely read the content warnings on the ticket page if you intend to go see it. There is nudity. Oh, and Jonny (as Lou) interacts with the audience in a very abrasive manner.
Tickets here
Further information
Read about my previews and adventures in Fringes past in these posts - one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven and twelve.
Reviews will appear on the ATG website – you can also follow the ATG on Twitter to get frequent updates on when reviews are posted. I'll no doubt be tweeting regularly, so feel free to follow me if you don't already. The Twitter hashtag for the Fringe is #adlfringe and for the Festival it's #adlfest.
The Fringe ticketing website – where you can search for show information as well as buy tickets – is here.
Hope to see you out and about during Adelaide's fantastic festival season!
No comments:
Post a Comment