How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse | Dark Stories, Brisbane
The team quickly established their very particular rules and statistics for surviving the undead hordes outside the building and reminded us to pay attention, because we’re about to be tested. And test us they do, as those of us who don’t follow their advice drop like flies over the course of the evening, until only a few remain. I, for one, definitely did not survive.
How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse | Dark Stories Brisbane
Words cannot describe how nervous I was before I arrived, yet there was something strangely comforting about this weird ride from the get-go. A little bit university science lecture meets AA meeting, with Rocky Horror vibes on slow burn; this one was definitely a creeper.
Comedy Course Showcase, June 2021 | The Humour Experiment
As MC Dorothy May (founder of The Humour Experiment) said in her welcome address, tonight was all about stand-up tragedy and boy did the performers deliver. From toilet analogies to discussions to the social lubricant of alcohol to bad santa stories, there was no waiting at the door for the jokes at the Humour Experiment’s Comedy Course Showcase.
The Pageant | The Beryls
Roger Seahorse, played by Laura Trennery, was a stiff, wide-eyed dork of a man, clad in a bedazzled pale blue suit. He was timid but endearing and practically plastic with fake tan and glowing white teeth. Victoria Beauvoir, played by Patrick Dwyer, was lush, larger than life, suggestive and sexually available in a shimmery gown and a cloud of blonde curls. Both characters were extreme, almost demonic, caricatures of pageant hosts. The footlighting cast shadows across their faces that twisted their white smiles.
Cattle | Kate Coates and Cale Bain
As per many improv shows, Kate and Cale set up their scenarios with prompts from an audience member. What sets them apart is that some of the best laughs of the set came from in depth discussions with an audience member that followed the prompt. The duo’s natural responses to people’s (over) sharing that came from a place genuine surprise, curiosity and the right amount of gentle teasing was a joy to watch. When they received a response too sincere and moving even for them, they could only respond with, “We can’t mock that!”
Untitled Relationship Experiment | Big Fork Theatre
One part that stuck with me in particular was Samantha’s character’s strained relationship with her mother who refused to see her daughter’s committed lesbian relationship as anything more than a close friendship, even after marriage. It brought to light the combination of humour and pain found in the common queer experience of dealing with family members who are for the most part loving and yet wilfully ignorant or unaccepting of who they are
The Secret Super Hero Galaxy-Travelling Family Band Show & Jam | Big Fork Theatre
I interpreted this scene as a powerful statement about what art at its core is really about; not striving for an illusive ideal of perfection but rather, supporting each other through the process of making something together, going with the flow, embracing imperfection, and having plenty of fun along the way.
Cool Story Bro, Culprits & Interstate Mates | Brisbane Improv Festival
Scenes developed at a rapid pace and build and strange, weird and wonderful directions. They go forward and back in time, explore the most obscure ideas. The improvisers jumped in whenever they got an idea and everyone was given a chance to play and lead. Jasmine’s love of peanut butter and disappointment in how small the containers are at the supermarket, unfolds as a scene of a couple’s illegal obsession with tiny anthropomorphic foods and Aarons tale of travelling in a tiny sleeper train in winter develops into a son taking his parents to school for a career day, who just happen to be stuck living in a fridge.
Those meagre descripions are in no way doing justice to the chaotic hilarity that unfurled before us.
Improvised Dr Who | D4WH
We enter the theatre and seats are filled. The lights switch off, the Spotify play list cuts, the mics not on, we laugh, the audience laughs. We hear “We're having a tech issue, so talk among yourselves”. So, what do a couple of women do seated behind me? Sing the Dr Who theme song, so of course, I join in as do others with a rendition no fan would think was worthy – out of tune, with a couple of dog howls - but what the heck, we were ready to jump in the Tardis to travel to an alternative dimension full of aliens, Daleks, Cybermen and save the world cliches.
Women’s Show and Queer Show | Big Fork Theatre
As it went on, the intricate tale only tightened and strengthened, so much so that if someone had told me this story was carefully crafted and rehearsed, I would have believed them. I think that’s a great testament to the actors’ skill.
Hard Boiled Dick | Edge Improv & Never Before Musical | Ho Hum
I rocked up on the first night of the festival to a line going out the door (and round the corner) of the Ron Hurley theatre. It seems Brisbane has been hungry for improv, and Big Fork Theatre are serving up a feast. I saw back-to-back shows of Hardboiled Dick (Edge Improv) and Never Before Musical (Ho Hum).
Same Penis Forever | Rebel Lyons
Having married and divorced at the age of 24, Rebel Lyons draws upon her own experience to paint a full picture of the discomfort of butting up against a life that has been laid out for you. What a power move. Same Penis Forever was raw, wild, and unapologetic, with a heavy dose of elevator music.
Hot Mess Comedy | Ting Lim & Sandeep Totlani
The second half is competitive improv and this is where the real fun begins, as the comics are thrown in the deep end by a series of absurd topics written by a few unforgiving audience members. During this part, I could really appreciate the craft, as I witnessed some of the comedians thinking up side-splittingly funny gags on the spot, while some completely bombed under the pressure.
Tit’s Up | Good Chat Comedy Club
There was something really welcoming about an all-woman line-up. There was no bros club vibes, no borderline sexist jokes to bore the women in the crowd, no locker room humour, plenty of smut but all of it was self-directed, this was art that punches up – and really there should be no other kind – nobody made anyone uncomfortable, except in a nerdy kind of way, and it was a real relief to be honest.
It was a solid way to spend a Friday night. Would go again. Would recommend.
Giantess | Cassie Workman
[Giantess] is neither scandalous nor tragic, although it offers poignant memories as punctuation to the tale of a little girl, kidnapped by a troll, who will not be released until she finds all the answers, and faces up to her fears. And the answer is revealed through a beautiful show presented as a comedy, but actually a more nuanced performance with storytelling, spoken word, and a fluctuating line of parable.
Tyrone and Lesley in a Spot | David Megarrity & Nathan Sibthorpe
A co-production with Metro Arts and Brisbane Festival, David Megarrity and Nathan Sibthorpe’s Tyrone and Lesley In A Spot is a ukulele-led dance of screen and song that transports you on a whimsical journey of small discoveries through laughter.
Titanic: The Movie, The Play | Act/React
Bochenski cheekily turns the appearance and attire of each“Young Rose” into chuckle fodder as she invites them up, and the guest is deftly guided and prompted by the cast, all commendable improvisers who are able to springboard from each audience participants’ lines, however hesitant or giggly the delivery.
#FirstWorldWhiteGirls | Spirit Animal
#FirstWorldWhiteGirls figuratively burnt the house down at the Brisbane Powerhouse's Comedy festival tonight. It's infectious, funny and all too real.
The Return of the Angry Mime
There’s something really lovely about stages like these. As our host pointed out early in the piece, you may be treated to great glory, or witness to failure, and that is beautiful in itself.