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Fringe 2008 Reviews (2)
Circus Oz - 30th Birthday
Bash
Assembly and Circus Oz
Assembly Hall
***
Circus Oz perform a fantastic and (literally!) cheeky show of amazing
circus skills and irreverant Aussie humour. From their opening sequence
of phenomenal strength and skill on the pole, this troupe work as a
team throughout. Whether juggling, jumping, clowning or even bricklaying
the performers work together fanastically and maintain a very enjoyable
relationship with the audience. Any wobbles or drop of the juggling
ball is soon rolled past with a smile and a laugh and the next sequence
of fantastic physical skills sweeps on to stage. One performer however
does stand out for her irrepressable humour and irresistable charm -
Nicci Wilks - who's stature will never measure up to her unforgettable
personality.
This is a great show to see - and thankfully some of the jokes will
pass over younger children's heads - this includes the very 'bad dog',
a remote control dog who's humour nearly threatened to steal the show.
However the performers bound onto stage, leaping through the air, performing
amazing rope stunts and rollerblading and clowning with great panache.
Great fun and great performers.
Cecily Boys
Frank Woodley - Possessed
Frank Woodley
Assembly @ George Street; Music Hall
**
Australian comic Frank Woodley plays Louie, an introverted, agoraphobic
young man who lives in his basement, never goes out and has a great
deal of trouble climbing his stairs. He builds models boats, gets strange
phone calls from his slightly mad mother and is frightened by the rat
that scampers about his home. He receives a package one day which contains
a piece of memorabilia from one of the ship of which he is currently
building a model. At this point he finds himself possessed by the spirit
of a young Irish woman who was aboard the ship and drowned in the storm
that wrecked it.
Woodley combines impressive slapstick and physical comedy into his
routine, which includes comic monologues, a few songs and some improvisation
relating to the audience. Although this is conceptually the perfect
vehicle for Woodley's talents it seems to fall some what flat in the
production. Knowing nothing about this comedian I felt that he would
have benefitted from relating to another performer on stage to buoy
his confidence and give him a further focus than the one or two mistakes
that he made during the show. However it seems that Woodley has just
left a Perrier Award Winning partnership, or so says his publicity.
This seems a pity, as Woodley seems to lack confidence on his own as
a performer, which means the show contains a somewhat nervous edge,
despite the comedian's skills.
Cecily Boys
Before We Remember
Gomito Productions
Bedlam Theatre
***
What will flash before your eyes when you die? Will it be a web of
fantasy spun in the mind or a true representation of your life? Gomito
Productions question that flash in Before We Remember at Bedlam
Theatre.
True to form, Gomito use the simplest props to create some truly magical
visions. The stage is transformed into a sequence of photographs of
remembered events with all the intensity of human emotion.
However, despite a standing ovation, and the moist eyes of the audience,
I think the play was lacking in certain areas.
The trade-mark torch light so unique to Gomito productions did not
produce the usual stunning visuals and at some points was simply annoying.
While appreciating that the story was a reflection of the jumble inside
our minds, I was often lost and struggled to follow the story.
Nevertheless, the play was enjoyable and fits perfectly into a forty
minute slot. Some interesting questions were asked and the audience
seemed truly stunned, although I personally feel I've seen better from
this company.
Alison Burns
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