This post has been updated to add new performance photos
Shows:
Peter Green Book Launch, Comedy on the Edge @ Hotel William Tues 11th
Jackie Loeb, Mic in Hand @ Friend in Hand Hotel, Thurs 13th
Theatresports Cranston Cup Semi Final #2 @ Belvoir, Sun 16th
Comedy on the Edge, upstairs at the Hotel William, is a big (big) comfortable space, filled with rows of sofas and a small stage. The audience for the book launch of Are Youse The Comoydians? were mellow and appreciative, anticipating a more laid-back night than your usual stand-up show, and so it proved. Fast-talking Jonas Holt and veteran Peter Meisel were delightful supports in the first half of the show, and then (proving room manager Mark Williamson’s maxim of “you just never know who may be dropping by the EDGE”) in the second half came the welcome surprise of “toughest woman in comedy” Julia Wilson doing a spot before Greeny came on to discuss his book with fellow cyclist-comedian Dominick O’Kieran (who also MC’ed the evening).
Peter Green
The Last Legs tour was obviously different: two comedians cycled across Australia and wherever they stopped for the night they put on a comedy show. Their own mishaps and the varied reactions and characters they met along the way make for a string of highly entertaining anecdotes. Chase down Peter Green and buy his book to see for yourself!
This week on Comedy on the Edge: “The Bad Boys of Comedy are back!! Featuring the Man, the myth the Legend Jeremy ‘Keasty’ Keast, Justin ‘D’ Lodge, all the way from Melbourne the Nelson Twins and your main attraction Barry ‘Hardcore’ Hamilton.”
A Mic In Hand: this room has built a strong reputation in the nearly six years it’s been open, offering crowd favourites as headliners and featured acts while providing a rising comics showcase as well. They always pull a good crowd, not least because top comedians often drop in unannounced to do a spot.
On Thursday, veteran Rob McHugh was MC, mixing well-refined material with the topical to good effect. The rising comics showcase offered the varied styles of Thomas Russell, Duncan McConachie, Hugh Cameron, Mikey Mileos and John Cruickshank to a generally strong crowd reception. Some material was slightly uneven but all had great moments. Dave Jory (triple j) dropped by to do a surprise spot, most uncharacteristically not wearing a suit, telling us he was too depressed to bother due to his Movember hairiness and the domestic tyranny of his cat, amongst other things.
Jackie Loeb at A Mic in Hand in 2007 (Liz Christie)
The featured acts were both musical comedians, but their styles are quite different. Supporting act Shane Matheson flashes an engaging cheesy grin to present as an amiably energetic lunatic with a keyboard and a ukelele, offering songs that are sometimes only one phrase long, and covering a plethora of topics. Transitions are abrupt and the laughs roll on top of one another. He was very well received. Headliner Jackie Loeb’s set, befitting her 14 years or so in comedy, was more structured and polished (especially in her use of audience banter), her absurdities and physical comedy sparkling amongst the trademark song parodies, most especially delighting the crowd by doing their requested Bassey song to end the show. [previous review]
This week at Mic in Hand: Peter Eigner headlining with David Smiedt as MC, plus rising comics open mic.
Theatresports Cranston Cup Semi Final #2 was a rip-snorting show last night, ring-mastered by the outstanding Ewan Campbell and Jane Simmons (pictures coming!).
Host Ewan Campbell & Timekeeper Jane Simmons (Source: sgr.com.au)
It started off as a fairly typical show, with the requisite chuckles and occasional guffaw, but by the end of the night the players were on fire, taking enormous risks with the challenges they set themselves and each other with absolutely hilarious results, enhanced by musical accompanist Jason Rushton. Winners on the night were student team Arabian Disko Knights from Blue Mountains Grammar School, a triumph richly deserved and truly memorable: for certainly the first time that either I or Impro Australia’s Geoff Bartlett can recall, the Schools contest winners have made it all the way through the heats to secure a place in the Grand Final: congratulations!
Arabian Disko Knights in action on Sunday (Source: sgr.com.au)
Teams now through to the Grand Final (at Enmore Theatre): Man/Raven. Dave Bloustein, Marko Mustac and Steve Walsh. North Sho’ Pimps. J Rex (Jon Williams), Lynch Pin (Steve Lynch) and Tao of Yao (Jeremy Yao). Super Love Ultimate Team (defending Cranston Cup Champions). Lee Naimo, Jordan Raskopoulos, Steen Raskopoulos and Simon Greiner Arabian Disko Knights (2008 Schools Contest Champions): Jimmy Tredinnick, Nadia Odlum, Ben Hunter, Lauren Moscovis
Teams in next week’s Repechage Playoff (at Belvoir Street): Osama Bin Laden Blues Exposion. Rebecca DeUnamuno, Cameron Knight and Dave Williams Obese People Can Be Healthy:Study. Grant Davies, Scott Hall-Watson, Matt Foster Pyjama Party. Lisa Ricketts, Amanda Buckley and Susie Youssef Unicorns Are Racists, Too. Alice Fraser, Tess McLellan, Mitchell Alistair and Carlo Ritchie
Manchoir: who knew there were this many blokey comedians in Sydney who can sing (acapella, too)? The video below was recorded at this year’s Celebrity Theatresports(R) at the Enmore Theatre. Manchoir are doing a few shows over the next two months (details below video).
Toorak’s Laughing Lion comedy room has moved to Friday nights, so no comedy at the Toorak Lion this Tuesday, but a bumper line-up on Friday 21st to make up for it: headlining Bev Killick supported by Xavier Michelides, Cathal O’Loughlin, Tom Middlebrook & Guests (find updates on the Laughing Lion Facebook group)
Comedy at BB’s (Bar Bondi) is now a weekly room, this week featuring Lehmo supported by MC Jim Rochford, Danny McGinlay and The Nelson Twins. If you guessed that you can find updates on Facebook, you’d be right.
Registrations are still open for performers for the 2009 St Kilda Laughs festival (Jan 30-Feb 7), also for the Comedy Convention taking place that first weekend, offering performance tips from top comedians plus a special workshop from Brad Oakes and more to be announced. Read more details at The Groggy Squirrel.
If you know of any more comedy rooms which have made some changes, or acts that rarely perform who are doing end-of-year/Xmas gigs in the next month or so, please leave details and a link in the comments section.
Tags: Bev Killick, Comedy@BBs, Grand Final, Laughing Lion, Lehmo, Manchoir, Quest For The Best
Whether you win or lose a bundle on the gee-gees, kicking on at a comedy show after the race is a fine way to finish off the day.
Your comedy options are listed by State:
SYDNEY
Comedy @ Marble Bar: catch The Axis of Awesome supported by Ray Badran, Jay Sullivan and MC’ed by David Smiedt at the iconic Marble Bar under the Hilton Hotel in George Street, Sydney. Includes “so you think you’re funny?” spot for the audience and a prize for the best hat! Doors 5:30pm, show 7pm $15 [more details]
Full Body Contact No Love Tennis Horse Race: a night of impro mayhem with pairs of veteran improvisors competing for the night’s prize at the Roxbury Hotel in Glebe. 8pm. Book through moshtix[facebook]
Comedy On The Edge@ Hotel William: Makybe Diva as MC! 8pm, Exit by donation [myspace]
Comedy @ The Harold: Harold Park Hotel: Featuring Brett Nichols 7pm, [more details]
Ridiculismus @ Belvoir: UK comedy duo play all the parts in The Importance of Being Earnest. Multi-award winning show. 6:30pm on Tuesday nights. $52/$45/$33 [more details]
MELBOURNE
Being a public holiday, there’s a Monday night gig kicking on late because everybody can sleep in the next day! Local Laughs @ The Local, St Kilda: Why not wear a hat? MC is Lawrence Mooney
PLUS: David Quirk, Damian Lawlor, Ryan Coffey, Dan Walmsley, Adam Knox, Richard McKenzie, and more. $12/10 [myspace]
Tuesday night: Laughing Lion @ Toorak Lion: Chris Franklin, CJ Fortuna, Eliza Rounds, Cameron Marshall, Steele Saunders & Luke Ryan. Doors 8pm, show 8:30 $12/10 Ph: (03) 9827 8244 [myspace]
Mock The Vote @ The Bella Union Bar (Trades Hall): A night of fresh political satire, witty barbs and last chance deals on George Bush material. Hosted by Courteney Hocking and featuring Rod Quantock, Mat Keneally, Dan Burt, Kate McClennan and Nick Caddaye. There’s a panel of political pundits, and quite possibly no horses will be mentioned at all. $18/$15 [more details]
ADELAIDE PJ O’Briens: Featuring Ben Darsow, MC Phil Cowie. 8pm, $10 Entry $8 Conc. [more details]
PERTH Wild West Comedy Fest @ Subiaco: spoiled for choice! Featuring performances by Rachel Berger, The Scared Weird Little Guys, Ben Russell, Jeff Hewitt and many more!!! [more details]
Addit: Shapiro Tuesdays @ Lazy Susan’s (upstairs at The Brisbane): MC Ben Wright, Jordan Newnham, James Palm, Josh Makinda, Cameron Davis, John Conway, Laura Davis, Paris, Tess and Sam (class clowns WA winners), Ben Russell, Zack Adams & The Sexy Ghosts [more details on facebook]
Please leave details of any comedy shows not listed in the comments below.
It’s a big line-up for the festival this year: 26 days of stellar Australian comedy acts, starting from October 28th.
Big Purple Undies
Fiona O’Loughlin
Rachel Berger
Tom Gleeson
Bob Franklin
Scared Weird Little Guys
Over The Fence
Comedy Film Festival
Tym Jeffery
Dolores Lorette
Tom Middlebrook
Ben Russell
Zack Adams
Kieran Butler
Jeff Hewitt
Luke & Drew
John Robertson
Comedy Killed the Radio Star
Matt Dyktynski
Llama Bar Festival HQ
Heath Franklin’s CHOPPER
Flying Heart - Broom! Broom!
George Smilovici
From StarNow, the international Casting Call website [link]:
Group and solo comedy acts wanted for Sunday afternoons in Melbourne from August 2008
We are inviting applications for group and solo comedy acts to appear at a weekly Sunday afternoon event beginning in August. The event is aimed particularly at backpackers 18 - 35 but not exclusively and will be held in a pub environment.
One comedy act each week will be required to perform for approx. 20 minutes with the emphasis being on crowd participation. Whilst traditional stand-up are welcome to apply, we are keen to source unique acts or acts with a twist that might include, games, singing, musical, character roles, etc. Anything goes at this event and you can be as rude and crude as you like if that is your act. Applicants of any experience level will be accepted.
Could be interesting. If anyone’s got more information about who’s running this etc, pass it on?
It’s coming up to that time of the year again. Officially the dates of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe are 3rd - 25th August 2008, although there are preview seasons for some shows. They’re taking bookings for shows now. [link]
The breakaway Comedy Festival being run by the the four biggest venues on the Fringe – Underbelly, Pleasance, Gilded Balloon and Assembly Rooms – is looking strong, although it’s ruffling some feathers on the Fringe Committee. So far, acts at these four venues are still on the official Fringe website, but who knows whether they still will be next week?
(Update: edcomfest.com has now gone live listing the shows (and offering bookings) at the four venues above [link] - thanks Sarah for the news! Beware - the search function is pedantic - if you miss a comma it will say “no data was returned”)
Here are the results of a search of the various Edinburgh Fringe websites for Australian performers - the performers below are appearing in some of the largest rooms in Edinburgh and some of the smallest, from stand-up to cabaret and back again (I’ve included expats and immigrants! (update: and now on special request, even a few Kiwis)).
If you’re going to be in Scotland for those 3 weeks and want to catch some shows that sound like home I suggest you do a search using the names of the shows below : Read the rest of this entry »
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