Well kids - it's here
again. The reason I started this blog in the first place. Adelaide
I started this blog to
collect my reviews of Fringe shows and to make recommend things that you should
consider getting along to see. And this is my pre-Fringe suggestion list. It's
pretty epic. But so are you and you deserve it.
I'm going to break this up
into sections.
COMEDY
This years Fringe is
missing some of the comedy acts that have become my favourite regular visitors
for fringe, so this year there is no Felicity Ward, Axis of Awesome, Dead Cat
Bounce, etc but we are not left wanting with masses of top notch comedy heading
our way, with not only international and national acts appearing, but one of
the most exciting line-up's of home grown shows in years.
ANDREW McCLELLAND feat DJ IAN BELL
HANG THE DJ
The Deluxe , Garden of Unearthly Delights
Mar 8 & 9, 15 & 16
Okay I admit, recommending
my own show first may seem a little...forward. But there is a lot of shows for
you to read about in this post and I'd hate for you to lose interest before I
suggest you come to ours. HANG THE DJ is a late night comedy show about music,
DJ's and DJing. You are in good hands with myself and Melbourne's Andy
McClelland AND then it turns into an funtastic dance party til extremely late.
Last two Friday and Saturday nights. Thanks for your indulgence.
Arkaba - MON FEB 18 7:30pm
Debuted at last years
Fringe the Adelaide Comedy 360 Gala was a massive success. Essentially a taster
plate for some of the best acts in the Fringe and a great way to get an idea of
show's you'd like to see. The format is unusual as the stage is in the centre
of the room with audience on all sides. Acts announced on www.adelaidecomedy.com very soon.
ADELAIDECOMEDY.COM INAUGURAL ROAST : GREG FLEET
ARKABA
Mon Feb 25
Greg Fleet loves Adelaide Adelaide
JAMES McCANN
NUNOPOLY : HOW TO PLAY WINNING MONOPOLY & LIVE
A FORFILLING LIFE IN CHRIST
Rhino Room - Beer Garden
Mar 5 - Mar 16
There is a position vacant
in the Vatican
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E6Pq-O0zfY
ANGUS HODGE
ANGUS HODGE HAS PENT UP REGRESSION
The Runt - Gluttony
Feb 15 - Mar 1
I saw an early preview of
this show and it's pretty damn good. Young Master Hodge has developed into a
sterling stand-up and this show has some crackers!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0CYHJLd3QU
CHRIS KNIGHT
FUNCOMFORTABLE
The Runt - Gluttony
Mar 2 - Mar 17
He is a strange fellow
this Chris Knight chap whose full and manly beard can sometimes make him look
like a Xmas tree decoration of Santa. His brain and his humour weave a
hypnotic, sometimes confusing, but extremely rewarding path paved with comedy
gold.
LORI BELL
A GOOD RED
Crown & Anchor
Feb 25 - Mar 2
She's a legend. She wins
awards for doing this stuff. She's my favourite lesbian. Five shows only.
RUBY WAX
OUT OF HER MIND
The Deluxe- Garden of Unearthly Delights
Mar 5 - Mar 17
Ruby Wax is American but
was part of the 'New Wave' of alternative comedy in 1980's UK Australia
WOLF CREEK THE MUSICAL
FORMAT
Mar 4 - Mar 17
There has been several
previews of this show and I missed every single one of them. At one of these
previews the guy who made the real Wolf
Creek
DAVID QUIRK
SHAKING HANDS WITH DANGER
Rhino Room - The Howling Owl
It's no secret that I am a
big fan of David Quirk's work. He goes to some seriously dark corners of comedy
but it's always worth the journey. In the guide it says 'a good show by a bad
person'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1LK68AS3Qo
DAVE CAMPBELL
BIPOLAR BEAR
Rhino Room Beer garden
Feb 16 - Mar 2
He dresses like Slash with
ADD and he is a bit of an oddball, but in the best way possible. One of the
stalwarts of Adelaide Comedy who keeps getting better and better.
GEORGIE CARROLL
NURSE CASE SCENARIO
The Maid (Stepney)
Feb 15 - Feb 28
With good reason Georgie
Carroll was the recent winner of Adelaide Comedian of the Year and a national
finalist in Raw last year. Her natural stage presence, A1 material and
impeccable timing has fast made her one of the most loved stand-up's in Adelaide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkaCV8qY4Aw
FRISKY & MANNISH
The Deluxe - The Garden of Unearthly Delights
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Feb 15 - Mar 17
Frisky & Mannish are
like a two person comedic Scissor Sisters. It's glitz and glamour and mad
humour, pop music parodies and buckets of fun. Totally pumped to be sharing a
venue with these guys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-15C5WkWOc
DUNGEON CRAWL
Gluttony - Pig Tales
I can't begin to tell you
how excited I am that Dungeon Crawl is coming to Adelaide Melbourne Melbourne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7MFJClhl7U
LINDSAY WEBB
CHITTY CHATTY BULLSHIT
Rhino Room - Howling Owl
Mar 5 - Mar 16
The hardest working man in
Ho Ho Business returns to his adoptive second home. Webb is the consummate
stand-up. Lightning quick wit, smart, delightful stage presence, great
material, great face that can deliver a punch line with the rise of a solo
eyebrow. Lindsay always pulls a big crowd in Adelaide Marion
GOLDEN PHUNG
GOLDEN PHUNG SELL OUT
Feb 20 - Mar 16
Fantastic collection of
local talent doing live sketch comedy - It's fast and furious and fucking
funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUL0XbXH_wc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TYFWCAHC9Q
EUROWISION ADELAIDE 2013
Gluttony - Pig Tales
Mar 9 ONLY
It breaks my heart to know
I am going to miss this years EUROWISION as it clashes with my own show.
Comedians from around the world come together to battle it out for the title,
complete with crazy European-ish hosts. Last year was fantastic.
DEANNE SMITH
LETS DO THIS
Tuxedo Cat - Cat Bowl
Laser precision comedy
from a smart cookie. She's Canadian. They are like us except they have more
Mooses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvP3JuiYKHo
GORDON SOUTHERN
THE KERFUFFLE
Rhino Room - Howling Owl
Feb 15 - Mar 2
Last year the irresistible
Southern thrilled sold out houses with his show A Brief History of History
(which he is also doing two shows only of at Rhino Sat 16 & Sat 23 Feb)
which included some of the some of the most enjoyable stage time of the entire
Fringe. I like him - go see him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onVPaLly5hE
BRYN ADAMS & DEMI LARDNER
The Runt - Gluttony
Mar 2 - Mar 17
Demi Lardner is going to
be a big star. She looks like a 12 year old boy. Her material is sophisticated,
polished and extremely funny and she is a natural on stage. Bryn Adams likewise
is set for a big future is extremely likeable on stage. Both specialize in
wonderful awkwardness and you should while you still can. Opening night sold
out already so get on it!
DAVE CALLAN
A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION
Rhino Room Upstairs
Feb 15 - Mar 2 (No Sun/Mon)
One of the highlights of
Dave Callans excellent show last year was him perfectly busting out the Single
Ladies dance at the end of each show. The site of the large beardy Irishman
getting all Bootylicious on yo ass was a festival highlight. In his new show he
promises 'A Little Less Conversation' and more utterly hysterical dance moves.
DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW - WILL SELL OUT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SZMvZvrLtI
CELIA PACQUOLA
DELAYED
Rhino Room Upstairs
Feb 15 - Mar 2
Without wanting to sound
too overly dramatic here. This show is NOT TO BE MISSED AT ANY COST! Celia
Pacquola, from Melbourne (and part of the
excellent Anarchists Guild sketch comedy group) has been living in the UK for the past few years and we are on the
verge of losing her to mother Britain
DENISE SCOTT & JUDITH LUCY
THE SPIRAL
The Vagabond - The Garden of Unearthly Delights
Mar 9-11 Three shows only.
Two of the countries best
and legendary stand up's together for the first time. Only three shows.
RANDY
RANDY IS SOBER
The Vagabond - The Garden of Unearthly Delights
Mar 15 - Mar 17
The purple headed one did
one performance of this excellent show last year and those lucky enough to have
caught it raved about it. I was one of them. It's a show about giving up
drinking amongst other things and you'll be amazed at the emotional depth of
what is essentially a glove puppet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCsU4BmFz-U
SAMMY J
POTENTIALLY
Umbrella Revolution - The Garden of Unearthly
Delights
Feb 15 - Mar 1
The skinny non-puppet one
from Sammy J & Randy also returns with a new solo show. I'm not sure why
the dynamic duo are not doing a show together this year, but solo shows from
each is still a bonus. He released a splendid CD last year and I never leave a
Sammy gig without being astounded how anybody can remember and deliver so many
lyrics in such machine gun perfection. The loveliest many in comedy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfahRnzvrLo&list=PL33303F68D2DC9C6F&index=1
MARK TRENWITH
AFTER DARK
Rhino Room - Howling Owl
Mar 5 - Mar 16
Now living in Melbourne
one of Adelaide's favourite comedy sons returns with a show called After Dark
which will start in daylight hours (6:15pm - see even the timing of his show is
funny). He really is a smashing performer - I love his material and I'm really
looking forward to this show.
ARJ BARKER
GO TIME
Feb 15 - Mar 15
Arj Barker should just
move to Australia
MORGAN & WEST
CLOCKWORK MIRACLES
Le Cascadeur
Feb 15 - Mar 17
One of my absolute
favourite discoveries at last years Fringe were Morgan & West. I'm not
really one for 'magic' shows or the many 'slight of hand' performers that swarm
over the town at this time of year. But after going to see these Victorian (era
not state) raconteurs on a whim last year they were INCREDIBLE. They do things
that are impossible. Things you will not believe and things that do your head
in a bit. Astounding.
SAM SIMMONS
SHITTY TRIVIA
Romantiek - Garden of Unearthly Delights
Feb 15 - Mar 17
Fresh from the success of
his first TV series 'Problems', the master of the surreal Sam Simmons. Always a
favourite of mine, last show (and inspiration for some of the TV show) was a
10/10 show, with possibly the best pay-off joke of any Fringe show I have ever
seen. He's loud, he's an oddball, he back.
TOM GLEESON
HELLO BITCHES!
Umbrella Revolution - Garden of Unearthly Delights
Feb 15 - Mar 17
After many years of doing
shows at the Rhino Tom Gleeson fever went through the roof last year, with a
sold out run and extra shows added all over the joint. This season he's moved
to the Garden and is in the gi-normous Umbrella Revolution for the entire run
of the Fringe. Never fails to deliver a brilliant show (and I'm sure he'll be
turning up at Rhino's late show at some stage).
JASON PESTELL
LET'S GO
Rhino Room Upstairs
Rhino Room Upstairs
Mar 5 - Mar 16
It's been a big year for
Jason Pestell. He saved a mans life with his iPhone. He faced a comedians worst
nightmare the possible loss of his voice before going under the knife. Now he's
back, with a great new show. He's a lovely man (who is a bit obsessed with U2)
go and see his show.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151288000163407
GRAVITY BOOTS
Holden Street Theatre - The Arch
Mon 2 - Mar 16
These newcomers are set to
become huge. Some of the smartest, well written, seriously hilarious comedy for
ages.
CHRIS TAYLOR
THE TAYLOR
Paradiso - The Garden of Unearthly
Mar 9 - Mar 11 (three shows only)
That Chaser boy, Taylor
delivers a lecture on the state of Modern World. Expect feathers to be ruffled.
HANNAH GADSBY
HAPPINESS IS A BEDSIDE TABLE
The Deluxe - The garden of Unearthly
Delights
Feb 15 - Mar 2
Hannah Gadsby is right up
there with my favourite comedians from anywhere. A gifted story teller whose
last three shows have all been utterly brilliant. You might have seen her on
the telly, you should go and see her in the really life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwchUNbdW-8
PAUL McDERMOTT
PAUL SINGS
Arts Theatre
Mar 5 - Mar 16
The man, the legend, the
God. I spent many nights engulfed in the bosom of the glory that was the Doug
Anthony All Stars. I loved seeing Gud. Good News Week in all it's permutations
and the Sideshow. And now McDermott (this years Fringe Ambassador) brings his
first solo show to the Arts theatre for ten shows. Welcome back you sexy man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUpioV2I-8U
MARCEL LUCONT
GALLIC SYMBOL
Tuxedo Cat - Yellow Room
Feb 15 - Mar 17
Sadly missed last year,
say Oo La La, at the return of the most fabulous Frenchman you could wish to be
mocked by. Amazing improviser with magic timing. Marcel Lucont is Tres Bon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_8KGSMBnE4
DAVE THORNTON
TALL & POINTY
Le Cascadeur - The Garden of Unearthly Delights
Feb 15 - Mar 3
Another former Adelaide boy made good Thornton
BARRY MORGAN
ORGAN IS NOT A DIRTY WORD
The Campanile - Garden of Unearthly Delights
Feb 15 - Mar 17
I love Barry and his organ
and the promise that he will tackle both Lady Gaga and Skyhooks this time round
should really be all I have to say.
DAVE BLOUSTIEN
GRAND GUIGNOL
The Piglet - Gluttony
Feb 15 - Mar 1
also
SOCIAL CONTRACT REDUX
The Piglet - Gluttony
Feb 15 - Mar 1
The Popeye
Feb 15 - Mar 1
Ex-Adelaide stand-up
Bloustien brings two shows to the Fringe this year and one of them is on the
Popeye - seriously. Grand Guignol is "five rib-tickling tales of terror
told by grotesques in outrageous hats". Social Contract Redux takes place
on our most beloved South Australia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWBBIjim0NU&feature=share
ABANDOMAN
THE LIFE & RHYMES OF ABANDOMAN
The Cupola, Garden of unearthly Delights
Feb 15 - Mar 17
improvised comedy rapping
by genius Irishman. Has been described as Flight of the Conchords meets 8 Mile.
PAUL FOOT
KENNY LARCH IS DEAD
Cinema Nova
Mar 13 - Mar 17 five shows only
In a festival where there
are all kinds of weirdos, they all should all bow down and worship their new
weirdo King. Paul Foot's over the top show last year had him doing a pre-amble
explaining what the show would be from behind a curtain for ten minutes and
escalated to him climbing over the audience and more.
COMEDY ACTION RANGERS
Mar 6 - Mar 16
Four of Adelaide
AMOS GILL
YOU'VE CHANGED
Rhino Room
Feb 15 - Mar 2
Amos Gill is one of the
brightest young comedians in Adelaide
I'll do a quick round up of stuff other than comedy
in the next day or so but this turned into a bit more of an epic than I had
intended.
