Five for Fun

Coral Drouyn explores some of the theatre on offer at this year’s MICF.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival offers so many goodies that it would be easy to overdose and require medical assistance. Of course there is stand-up galore….from the totally inoffensive to the downright filthy – with plenty of the bizarre thrown in. But we are a theatre magazine and website, and there are also shows on stage – and many are on the “Must See” list. So here are my picks for theatre during the festival – hopefully I’ll see some of you there.

The Three Mikados.

Take Colin Lane (Lano and Woodley) and David Collins (The Umbilical Brothers) and add the delightful Esther Hannaford (King Kong), stir gently with some Gilbert and Sullivan – and expect mayhem as the result. Attempting to interview these two very funny men, I was treated to some excellent singing (who knew?) and learned that David Collins trained for, and always planned, a career in musical theatre and Colin is a closet singer and G&S fan….well, he’s an old fashioned guy! (his favourite comedy shows are still Seinfeld and Get Smart!). They worked together just once…in Pirates of Penzance …and got a taste for it, largely because they don’t have a stash of shtick together to draw on, it’s all new and exhilarating. A lot of the show will be improvised around the written script, and they’re just worried that the gorgeous Esther Hannaford (Colin calls her a REAL Musical Theatre person) might think she’s signed up for a legit production. 

These two award winning comics (The Umbilical Brothers have a swag of awards including TWO BAFTAS for their work on Wallace and Gromit; Lano and Woodley won the coveted Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival, and went on to fill the shelves with accolades) promise that there will be faithful renditions (from the verb render – meaning “to tear apart”) of the songs for the purists, but what transpires in between is anybody’s guess, in this story of two misfits attempting to re-create The Mikado without a cast.  The Umbilical Brothers are on hiatus and David will return to the duo. He likens working with Colin to having an affair – great, but it’s not going to last forever. Colin, on the other hand, sees working with David as “a second marriage” and adds – “and the sex is great.”

The Spiegeltent – Arts Centre – previews from 26^th March – Opens April 1^st

Avenue Q

Opening tonight at Chapel off Chapel (I’ll be there) and one of the HOTTEST tickets for the festival – this unlikely “Triple Crown” Tony Award winning musical shows how hysterically funny puppets can be with adult material. It’s not Sesame Street, so be warned – but with a stellar cast and a fabulous 5 piece band, this will be superb adult entertainment. Trifle Theatre Company have a monster hit on their hands.

Postscript – Even as I write this, I’ve just heard the season is entirely sold out…but you never know, there might be cancellations….and there will undoubtedly be a return season.

Photographer: Monika Mackowiak

Dolly Diamond – The Real Queen of Moomba.

British performer Michael Dalton now calls Australia home – his alter ego, The Fabulous Dolly Diamond – prefers the Melbourne Climate. Michael/Dolly is a superb cabaret performer and the consummate “Drag Queen” in the same ilk as the great Danny La Rue. Expect gorgeous gowns, perfect makeup and hair with original comedy material (Michael Dalton) and great original songs written by the fabulous Hedger and Nicholson – the Wunderkinds of Musical Theatre – as Dolly campaigns to get the public vote and ensure her the Moomba crown for next year. It will be a riotous experience – but don’t let Dolly fool you. Always a lady on the surface, there’s a bitch lurking just behind the lippy.

12 shows at The Music Room, Trades Hall, from April 7th.

Backwards.

Some shows are special because of the performer – and multi award winner Emily Taylor certainly qualifies on that score. But the fact that Emily wrote this with a bunch of schoolkids from Brunswick East Primary School makes this doubly special. After all, aren’t grownups just big kids after all…right down to tantrum throwing and disgusting habits? We’ve all been kids at some time, but now it’s time to see ourselves as kids see us. Find out why the critics have raved about Emily Taylor – and contribute to a charity at the same time. Yes, all profits are going to a charity of the Brunswick East Primary kids’ choosing. An original and endearing (as well as very funny) show that showcases Emily’s abundant comic talent and the mindset of kids. Let’s celebrate those parts of childhood we hold onto even after we are (technically) grown up.

Northcote Town Hall…in preview now. Opens Tuesday 31^st March –until April 18^th. Presented by Darebin Arts Speakeasy.

Centrelink – The Musical.

A huge hit and sell out at last year’s MICF – it’s back for a return season at Metanoia Theatre. While it may have divided the critics (what do WE know?) the audiences adored it. And anything which pokes fun at our welfare system, with its reams of paperwork, hoop-jumping, and the unemployable with a sense of entitlement, is worth a look. There’s a story behind every dole form. While it’s not Les Misérables, it’s even more bloody miserable. Written by Adam Willson (with 2 ls) and directed by Greg Ulfan, this is raw, basic and bloody funny, but often with real insight.

Brunswick Mechanics Institute until April 4^th.

These are just a sample of what the MICF has to offer. One thing is certain…no-one can say we are starved for entertainment choices in Melbourne.