Tag: Comedy

ADULTS ONLY MAGIC SHOW coming to Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Published on by Mrs Wilson of OzLeave a comment

“An Absolute Riot!”
 Edinburgh Theatre Weekly ★★★★★

ON SALE NOW!

Showmen Productions, also known as comedy (some might say legendary) magicians Justin Williams and Sam Hume, are headed back to their hometown for the first time in two years!! Fresh off the back of a stellar SELL-OUT SEASON at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2022, they’re bringing their hilarious 18+ magic show aptly named – ‘ADULTS ONLY MAGIC SHOW’ to this years Melbourne International Comedy Festival!

Prepare to be WOW’D out of your comfy red seats in this absolutely jam-packed, adults only spectacular!

Magic duo Sam and Justin have toured the world presenting this unique display of hilariously raucous comedy, mind-bending illusions, stunningly dangerous stunts and just a cheeky hint of nudity for the naughty ones amongst us, and now it’s time to bring the fun to Melbs!

The ADULTS ONLY MAGIC SHOW opens at the famous Spiegeltent, Arts Centre Melbourne from the 13th to the 16th April so you’d best grab your tickets ASAP!

“Quite possibly the Penn & Teller of Australia!” 
GLAM ADELAIDE★★★★★

“A True Triumph!”
ADELAIDE ADVERTISER ★★★★

WINNER – Best Magic Show, Adelaide Fringe Weeklies 2021

“A true triumph as two engaging lads deftly build a bond with the audience, going from card tricks & sleight of hand to illusions & escapes!” ADELAIDE ADVERTISER★★★★

After it’s debut season in Melbourne, 2019; the show has gone onto perform at renowned festivals across Australia and the world, including sell-out seasons as apart of FRINGE WORLD, Adelaide Fringe and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the UK. Having completely flipped the script on what you would expect from your typical magic show – replacing the top hats and bunny rabbits with naughty comedy and sex appeal – this is magic like you have never seen before!

“We have painstakingly put together completely original routines, bringing together a range of disciplines to deliver a show that is sure to leave an impression.  We guarantee the people of the Edinburgh Fringe have never seen anything like this before!” says Showman, Sam Hume.

“We are talking about Las Vegas quality performance art here. Such is the brilliance of the whole thing. I loved every minute. This is a guaranteed night of entertainment that I couldn’t recommend more highly – without a doubt 5 stars!”
Mumble Theatre ★★★★★

“If I could give it more than 5 stars I definitely would!”
One4ReviewUK★★★★★


“Magic at its FINEST and FUNNIEST!”
FRINGE FEED ★★★★

“Totally blown away… I couldn’t believe my eyes! This duo is a force to be reckoned with!”
WEEKEND NOTES ★★★★★


Make sure you get to the Spiegeltent to indulge in this rollicking evening of guaranteed entertainment, with two of the best magicians in the business in a show that will not soon be forgotten!

Please note: this show is restricted to ages 18+

Venue:  The Famous Spiegeltent, Arts Centre Melbourne

Time:  09:45pm (08:45pm on Sundays)

Dates: April 13th-16th, 20th-23rd 2023
Auslan Interpreted: Sunday 16th April 2023

Prices:  Full Price: $35 on weekends, $29 mid-week;
Concession: $33 on weekends, $27 mid-week
Previews: $25

Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2023

Facebook: @AdultsOnlyMagicShow

Instagram: @AdultsOnlyMagicShow

#adultsonlymagicshow

Review – Fringe Wives Club GLITTERGRASS

Published on by Mrs Wilson of OzLeave a comment

Welcome to the best bloody Hootenanny you’ve ever been to!!

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Grab your sequinned one piece, chuck on the hottest cowboy boots you can find, slap on your favourite pink lippy and get down to the Malthouse Theatre as the Fringe Wives Club are back! And they are KILLING IT! In this brand spanking new moonshine-fuelled sucker punch, these fierce femmes pay homage to the bad girls and dangerous women who strived for freedom and independence. Hustle your horse, it’s one hell of a ride!!

Fresh from their sold out debut in London (Soho Theatre and the Southbank Centre) the all-singing, all-dancing, all-fighting Fringe WivesClub are back in Oz for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

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There’s no hiding the talents of this group of powerful women, and it’s just sky rocketed with the introduction of Laura Frew and Sharnema Nougar. The comedy is thought provoking and genius, the outfits are… um…. well you’ll bloody want one… and the ferociously clever soundtrack is played LIVE by the wives themselves. Instruments include a banjo, accordion, uke, mandolin, washboard, lagerphone, musical saw, kazoos, the spoons (and anything else they can rustle up) with the support of a junk band rhythm section.

Using the framework of an old-time televised hootenanny, they reveal the “erased” women of past and present, examine which stories have been deemed worthy enough to survive, and question what we have done so far to change the future.

If you have never managed to catch the physical comedy queen Tessa Waters, the musical comedy powerhouse Victoria Falconer or even the acclaimed comedian and storyteller Rowena Hutson you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!!

Sexy, sassy and full of attitude, the Fringe Wives give respect to the unheard female voices of the past, including a somewhat moving song about lady bushranger Jessie Hickman. Together the wives throw wide open the conversation on feminist issues but more than that, this is a show about acceptance and female empowerment.  The way the wives seamlessly perform together is a lesson alone in supporting each other, and never holding anyone back.

Brave, bold and bloody good!

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Web fringewivesclub.com   FB: fringewivesclub Instagram: fringewivesclub

Date:  Thu 28 March – Sun 21 April (no show Mondays)

Time: Tues-Sat 9:45pm, Sunday 8:45pm

Venue:  Beckett Theatre, The Coopers Malthouse, 113 Sturt St Southbank

Tickets: $32 Full $28 Concession Groups 6+ $25, Preview $23

Bookings: 03 9685 5111 or online at www.malthousetheatre.com.au and www.comedyfestival.com.au

Duration:  60 mins duration – Rating: 18+

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Read our review of Glittery Clittery (2017)

Review – Garry Starr Conquers Troy

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As we were queuing to get into the Tower Theatre at the Malthouse, there was definitely a air of excitement rippling up and down the line. Garry Starr obviously had some super fans in the audience, which is always a great sign! My hopes were raised…. as was my heart rate by the time we’d reached the top of the tower and taken our seats!

Damien Warren-Smith has the magic ability to captivate the audience from the get go!  The show begins and instantly you hear the guffawing throughout the audience. If ever there was someone born to perform, I have found him, right here, in white tights a ruffle and a leather jacket! With his wild hair, extraordinary dance moves and his treasure chest of talents, he throws us, headfirst into his insane but ground breaking new book  ‘An Actor Pretends: How To Do Good Acting’ . It’s nuts, but it works!

Garry gives rebirth to the ancient art of ‘Pretendism’ by charting the dangerous rise of Method Acting (derived from the word Methadone) through Greek Mythology.

The show is centred around life as a performer and how to become a truly successful actor. By no means is this a performance solely for the arty crowd. This is a show for anyone who enjoys to laugh..out loud..a lot… If you are an actor, however, the tips Garry Starr delivers are worth taking a notepad and pen to record. Master a successful dance audition, learn how to adapt highbrow material for TV audiences, perfect the art of learning lines. This is revolutionary stuff!

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Jump on this journey through Garry Starr’s incredible book… If his comedy genius doesn’t have you rolling on the floor, he’ll get you with his hilarious characters. (Just the accents he manages to pull off are worth the ticket!) The laughter throughout the crowd only went to prove that this guy is a genius in the art of comedy! ‘Garry Starr gives rebirth to the ancient art of pretendism, once again saving the performing arts from its inevitable extinction.’ GO SEE THIS SHOW… or don’t… and live a miserable existence.

Damien Warren-Smith’s flexibility, musical talent and his wonderful comedic talents make this show a real hit for this years Comedy Festival.

Web: garrystarr.com Facebook: /thegarrystarr Instagram: @thegarrystarr

Date:  Thu 28 March – Sun 21 April (no show Mondays)

Time: Tues-Sat 9:15pm, Sun 8:15pm

Venue: Tower Theatre, The Coopers Malthouse, 113 Sturt St Southbank

Tickets: Full $29-32, Concession $26, Cheap Tues, Preview & Groups 6+ $24

Bookings: 03 9685 5111 or online at www.malthousetheatre.com.au and www.comedyfestival.com.au

Duration:  60 mins duration – Rating: 18+

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Melbourne International Comedy Festival -Top 5 for the kids

Published on by Mrs Wilson of OzLeave a comment

The whole family can enjoy this time of year! Not only because the school holidays are fast approaching, but because the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is in town!  Hundreds of insanely talented comedians from all over the globe, have hit the streets, theatres, pubs and clubs of Melbourne, and will be sharing their gags with us  until the 21st April. There is enough fab kids comedy to keep even the most miserable kids, highly entertained for the entire stretch.

It would be impossible to see every show (although we’d love to give it a go) so get your hands on a guide as soon as possible, highlight the shows you want to see, and get planning.

I thought I’d put our (very edited, mini) list up here to give you an idea of the variety that’s out there for the kids.

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       Mr Snot Bottom’s Horrible, Terrible, Really, Really, Bad, Bad, Show

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Join the downright disgustingly distasteful Mr Snot bottom in a brand-new show as he attempts to perform the most elegantly magnificent and preciously important master-work of his career.

Expect an horrendous hour of the most appalling acting, stupidest scripts, just-dumb dialogue, pathetic pantomime and thoughtless theatre in a putrid performance of horrid humour, that will make you absolutely, utterly… love every minute!

Dates: 6th – 14th Apr 2019
Times:  Sat 6 Apr & Sun 7 Apr: 1pm;
Tue 9 Apr: 2.20pm;
Wed 10 Apr – Sun 14 Apr: 1pm
Duration: 50 mins
Venue: Melbourne Town Hall – Lower Town Hall
Location: 100 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Tickets: $18 – $68
Information: Mrsnotbottom.com
Ages: Suitable for audiences 5+

Read our review from 2017! 

Super Amazing Giant Girl – Anna Lumb & Jez Davies

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Adapted for the comedy festival and following an awesome smash-hit Australian tour, Super Amazing Giant Girl is an hilarious story of strength, fragility and triumph exploring the challenges of fitting in when you’re a super amazing GIANT – bigger than the Big Pineapple, stronger than super glue and cooler than an ice cream in the arctic!
An action packed, fast-paced and interactive theatre show for kids, Super Amazing Giant Girl created by Anna Lumb and featuring Jez Davies combines thrilling circus, absurd comedy and ingenious physical theatre and stunts at the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Super Amazing Giant Girl is for all little, strong people – it features an interactive hail storm throwing plastic white balls, hula-hoping while eating a banana, roller skating over bubble wrap, walking over glass bottles on tippy toes, contortion, juggling, skipping, some other really cool tricks and extremely awesome dancing. COUNT US IN!!!!
Dates: 6th – 21st Apr 2019
Times: 11.30am Tue – Sun
Duration: 45 mins
Venue: Melbourne Town Hall – Lower Town Hall
Location: 100 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Tickets: $18 – $25 plus booking fees
Information: annalumb.com
Ages: Suitable for audiences 5+

The Greatest Magic Show

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Sam and Justin are ready to amaze and excite you with the debut of their brand spanking new, hilarious magic show! They have promised us hysterical magic, breath-taking circus stunts, and a mystifying new character, The Ringmaster!  Audience participation is always an attention grabber isn’t it!? The show will feature incredible illusions, escaping from 200m of GLAD WRAP before being covered in a bucket of slime, incredible circus artistry, and invisibly shooting a very special guest out of a cannon across the stage; these are just some of the things that make this family-friendly magic show, the GREATEST! PLUS, every child who attends will receive a FREE magic wand on entry and may even be one of the lucky few to come up on stage and become a star of the show… what’s not to love?!

Dates: 7th – 20th Apr 7 Shows only (no performance Monday 15 April)
Time: 2pm
Duration: 60 mins
Venue:Melba Spiegeltent
Location:35 Johnston St
Tickets: $15 – $80 plus booking fees
Ages: Suitable for all ages

Captain Cauliflower and Marvin The Mischievous Moose (UK)

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What kind of Expats would we be if we didn’t encourage you to see some true British Comedy?? This show invites you to join the invincible Captain Cauliflower and his faithful companion Marvin on an unforgettable adventure filled with extreme silliness and unquestionable danger. He flies into outer space and swims deep under the ocean saving those in peril – but can Captain Cauliflower beat his arch-nemesis, the evil and odorous Onion Man? Now, Onion Man sounds like someone we’ve got to meet!! 

Joyous physical comedy for all the family!

British comedians Dan Lees and Neil Frost (aka The Establishment) are hailed as two of the best clowns around, adored by adults and children alike. They cleverly combine physical comedy and imaginative storytelling in a 50 minute non-verbal show that’s suitable for the whole family. This is their first time in Australia, so make them welcome, and grab your tickets before they sell out.

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FYI:  These guys sold out their entire season at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018. So you really must book early to avoid disappointment!

Dates: 6th – 21st April
Time: 10:45
Duration: 50 mins
Venue: The Coopers MaltHouse, Mini Merlyn
Location:113 Sturt Street
Tickets: $18-$20
Ages: Suitable for ages 5+

Comedy Club For Kids at Chadstone

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The comedy isn’t just hanging around the city! During the Easter holidays Chadstone The Fashion Capital, is hosting a whole heap of fun too!  Hosts Josh Earl and Tessa Waters (Click for our review of Tessa’s Rockstar School 2017) will be joined by a cavalcade of the best circus, musical comedy, sketch and stand-up from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Your little giggle monsters are going to love this jam packed show, full of the Festival’s best! This promises to be a super-sized, massively fun show, perfect for kids aged 6 – 12!

Dates: 6th – 21st April
Time: 1:30
Duration: 60 mins
Venue: Chadstone, The Parlour
Location: 1341 Dandenong Rd
Tickets: $16.50-$21
Ages: Suitable for ages 6+

Have a fab time, fun people! Let us know if you have seen something awesome, so that we can add it to our list!! 

A child’s laugh, could simply be, one of the most beautiful sounds in the world!

Liv xxx

Review – Tanya Losanno – The Good, The Bad and The Elderly

Published on by Mrs Wilson of OzLeave a comment

From feeling like she grew up on the set of the Godfather, where the weapon of choice was guilt, to feeling like she is in a spaghetti western, where belligerence is the weapon of choice, The Good, The Bad and the Elderly is about a modern day cowboy trying to look after two old school ones.

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Tanya Losanno has returned to the stage at the Melbourne Comedy Festival with her heartwarming, and witty show about the reality and the chaos that ensues when you find yourself thrust from generation X, into the sandwich generation. (The sandwich generation are those of us caring for our children whilst also caring for our elderly parents.)  This is a show many will relate to, and if not yet, a show you need to see, to get a little insight into what’s ahead.

The show pays homage to Tanya’s parents, with heartwarming and funny stories, anecdotes about Aldi special buys and scammers, and a truth that gives the audience a real insight into the chaos of being everything to everyone!

There is no doubt that Tanya is a wonderful storyteller. She speaks passionately, from the heart, and the show is at times visibly poignant to her.  There were moments where I had a lump in my throat, truly moved by Tanya’s words, only to be pulled back by another well timed gag. She shares her incredibly personal journey, the ups and the downs, with wit and compassion, which is why Tanya truly captivated the audience from the get go!

“I have lots of stories to tell and my family inspires a lot of my comedy.”

Tanya has a talent, not afforded to many. She manages to fill your heart with tenderness, have you gushing with love and feelings of “shit, that’s my life,” then darts a one liner at you, which forces tears of laughter down your cheeks. Book your tickets as The Good The Bad and The Elderly is not to be missed. On now until the 21st April at The Coopers MaltHouse, Shell Room.

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Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Top 5 for the adults

Published on by Mrs Wilson of OzLeave a comment
Everyone loves a good night out, especially when it’s to enjoy some A class comedy sans kids, with a wine in hand! Melbourne is once again host to the worlds best comedians and I for one, will absolutely be making the most of the comedy festival this year! *My babysitter will be bathing in $50 notes by the end of April!
Here are my top picks for this years Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Top 5 is pretty hard, and there are a stack of shows that are also on my (other) list , and absolutely should be on yours too….(including the insanely funny 50 Shades, The Musical Parody)
However, here are 5 shows that you mustn’t miss, in no particular order… Although, I do have a huge girl crush on all of the Fringe Wives so….

 

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Glittergrass incorporates storytelling, slapstick comedy, Dolly-dazzling outfits and a killer soundtrack played entirely LIVE by the wives themselves on banjo, accordion, uke, mandolin, washboard, lagerphone, musical saw, kazoos, the spoons (and anything else they can rustle up) with the support of a junk band rhythm section.

This timely and uncompromising feminist call-to-arms is created and performed by physical comedy queen Tessa Waters (Winner: Best Comedy Weekly Award, Adelaide Fringe 2017, Womanz/Over Promises/Fully Sik), musical comedy powerhouse Victoria Falconer (Winner: London Cabaret Award 2015, EastEnd Cabaret/Yeti’s Demon Dive Bar) and acclaimed comedian and storyteller Rowena Hutson (Winner: Most Outstanding Comedy Melbourne Fringe 2015, Strong Female Character) and this year will also feature Laura Frew (Double Denim / Director’s Choice Award MICF 2018) and Sharnema Nougar (Two Little Dickheads).

Date:  Thur 28th March – Sun 21st April (no show Mondays)

Time: Tues-Sat 9:45pm, Sunday 8:45pm

Venue:  Beckett Theatre, The Coopers Malthouse, 113 Sturt St

Tickets: $23- $32

Bookings: 03 9685 5111 or online at www.malthousetheatre.com.au and www.comedyfestival.com.au

Duration:  60 mins duration 

Marina Margarita presents Odette! Baby Daddy

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Fun, feisty and incredibly fertile Odette! is the larger-than-life cleaning lady everybody loves to love. Meet her in this award-nominated debut solo show, fresh from successful runs in Australia and the UK.
On a quest for the passionate romance that can only come from an immaculately coiffed superstar of daytime TV, Odette! dreams of shacking up with heart-throb Ridge Forrester from The Bold and The Beautiful.
After her shock elimination from the 2019 annual B&B super fan championship competition by a trick question in the first round, Odette! has broken into the final and pushed her way to the head of the queue, determined to be the first to catch Ridge’s eye.  With an arsenal of ideas to win him over, indomitable optimism and an ever expanding baby bump, her dreams seem within reach.  Until Brian, her jilted ex-lover, appears.
A hilarious new song-fuelled character comedy about dreaming big and falling hard, Odette! was nominated for the FRINGE WORLD Best Comedy Award 2018. 
Dates: 25 March – 4 April
Time: 10pm
Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place off Lt Collins Street
Tickets: $27-$34
Duration: 60 Minutes

Tanya Losanno The Good, The Bad and the Elderly

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2019 Moosehead Receipt Tanya Lossano returns to the stage with a show about the reality and the chaos that ensues when you find yourself thrust from generation X, slap bang into the sandwich generation.

Tanya Losanno is a first generation Australian to post World War 2 immigrant Italian parents and has recently moved back to where she grew up, with her family in tow and is now looking down the barrel of being a carer to her elderly parents.

From feeling like she grew up on the set of the Godfather, where the weapon of choice was guilt, to feeling like she is in a spaghetti western, where belligerence is the weapon of choice, The Good, The Bad and the Elderly is about a modern day cowboy trying to look after two old school ones.

Dates: 28th March – 21st April
Time: 6pm, 7pm
Venue: The Coopers Malt House, Shell Room, 113 Sturt St
Tickets: $20-$28
Duration: 60 Minutes

Two Little Dickheads Present 

What Would Bill Murray Do?

By David Tieck

Want to have more fun in your life? Start asking yourself- What Would Bill Murray Do?

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David Tieck is a big-fat absurdist, idiotic, stupid faced, teddy bear type person. In this new hour of silliness, Tieck is officially promising to show off at least 37 totally weird, reckless and flippantly foolish ideas, as well as possibly up to as many as 1 profound ideas.

Taking a note from Bill Murray’s beautiful approach to life and comedy, this visceral show weaves together mischievous characters and sublime silliness with poems, songs and ridiculous joy.  Tieck and Murray have a lot in common; they both studied at The Second City Chicago, they both have brothers, they’re both survivors of horrific cystic acne and they both love to leave audiences with a new life philosophy on how to have the most fun ever.

Dates: 27th March – 8th April (no show Wed 3rd April)

Time: 18:30

Venue: Imperial Hotel, 2-8 Bourke St

Tickets: $18-$22

Duration: 50 mins

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au

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GARRY STARR CONQUERS TROY

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Acting was invented by the ancient Greeks. Before that people were just pretending. With the release of his ground-breaking new book ‘An Actor Pretends’, disgraced actor Garry Starr enlightens us all with the ancient art of ‘not-for-realism’, thus (once again) saving the performing arts from inevitable extinction.

Following his multi-award-winning debut in 2018 (Garry Starr Performs Everything), comic wunderkind Damien Warren-Smith delivers another anarchic drama masterclass to remember.

Damien Warren-Smith grew up in the sleepy snowy mountain town of Cooma before studying at Actors Centre Australia. Upon graduating, he moved to London where he spent more than a decade working as an actor and deviser with companies such as Tall Stories, Hull Truck and Nottingham Playhouse. In 2013, he studied at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris before creating internationally renowned clown collective A Plague of iDiOTS.

Date:  Thu 28 March – Sun 21 April (no show Mondays)

Time: Tues-Sat 9:15pm, Sun 8:15pm

Venue: Tower Theatre, The Coopers Malthouse, 113 Sturt St

Tickets: $32-$24

Duration:  60 mins duration – Rating: 18+

Bookings: 03 9685 5111 or online at www.malthousetheatre.com.au and www.comedyfestival.com.au

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Have a wonderful time, and make sure you let us know about all the awesome shows you have seen so we don’t miss out!

Liv xx

I just like to smile, smiling’s my favourite – Buddy (Elf)