Author: Philippe Perez

Interview: Tim Campbell (Australia) talks nostalgia, sports, and high school discos.

Tim Campbell has dabbled in so many forms of entertainment that it’s becoming hard to classify him as a particular type of entertainer. It’s a general classification that he is content with regardless. Here he chats to Philippe Perez while he is on the road for his High School Disco tour. There seems to be…

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Live Review: Heavenly Sounds feat. Lisa Mitchell – St Michael’s Church, Melbourne (13.06.12)

Melbourne’s tram network was doing its job for once and I found myself blazing along Swanston Street. So when I arrived at St Michael’s with an amazing amount of time to kill, I thought I could collect thoughts, do a bit of street press reading, and maybe mull about discovering some wonderful church architecture. But…

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Live Review: Ainslie Wills + Gold Bloom + Lisa Salvo – The Workers Club (12.05.12)

Running a little late on this rainy night, I tried not get the water on my jacket rubbing up amongst other punters who were for whatever reason all close talkers tonight. Stunning voices on stage within a pub/bar setting has been slightly unusual lately. It’s either gravely voices or a dude behind a computer/decks bobbing…

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Review: Frankenstein is a uniquely different version of Shelley’s gothic book (at Theatre Works until 29th July)

In Theatre Works’ latest showing, Frankenstein gets an 180-degree turn in a shadowy and modern portrayal of a horror icon, however, this portrayal felt overly simplistic despite the theatrical reframing. This premier season directed by Phil Rouse tells the gothic story by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley flipping gender and turning to a somewhat contemporary angle by…

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Comedy Review: Fiona O’Loughlin tells deeply bold, but profoundly funny stories (MAP 57 in Melbourne until July 8th)

While waiting for Fiona O’Loughlin to come on stage at the new St Kilda winter garden known as Map 57, we see a guitar and a few mics set up next to the stand up’s own microphone. While thinking that O’Loughlin may have turned her wares to a musical act, it was actually a separate…

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Theatre Review: Vigil filled to the brim with character and passion (Art Centre Melbourne until 8th July)

Even though it is billed as a cabaret, Vigil is something that is far from that label. This one-person show – commissioned by the Adelaide Cabaret Festival – is filled with songs and interludes that weave through its story. While cabaret is traditionally seen as something jovial, Vigil cannot lay claim to this. It is…

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Live Review: The Necks trancelike performance is a precisely beautiful experience

The Necks Have this sense of touch and repetitive nurturing that makes them a special trio of musicians. Standing still for a moment, silent, the band collect themselves like they normally do. It’s then a case of ‘go with the flow, man’ when the twinkle of the pianos start sparkling away. This is what this…

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Review: 1984 is chilling, haunting and jarringly ominous (Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre until June 10th)

The tragedy (or triumph) of George Orwell’s 1984 as a book is that it is too real for today’s world. It’s a complex, evocative piece of writing where one Big Brother overrules all and controls our thoughts feelings and dare punish us for getting independent thought. This production, adapted by UK company Headlong, first came…

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The prolific Mark Vincent tells us about his latest tribute to Mario Lanza and My Fair Lady

Mark Vincent is an insanely busy opera singer. In a show of how much of a workhorse he is, Vincent has released seven albums since winning the third season of Australia’s Got Talent. More recently he’s been performing as part of the current Australian production of My Fair Lady, which somehow has been interspersed with recording his…

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Playwright Chad Beguelin talks writing for Aladdin, adapting it for Australia & working with Alan Menken

Aladdin has been drawing massive crowds since it hit the stage at Her Majesty’s in Melbourne. We have given you our opinions here at the Arts on the AU about the performances in Sydney and Melbourne and many interviews with cast and crew of the productions showing in Australia. Just after the Melbourne production, book writer of…

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Theatre Review: My Fair Lady is a faithful, surprisingly emotionally complex rendition (Now Playing at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre)

Melbourne’s Regent Theatre was filled up to the brim with people for My Fair Lady on Tuesday night, in anticipation for yet another classic tale of, well… not-quite-love, but respectability and a blossoming companionship. My Fair Lady needs no introduction. Its a story that has been cherished since the film of the 1940s, and as George…

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7 Arts Events Not To Miss Around Australia – May 2017

Yet again, it’s time to go through a bunch of events not to miss for the month of May. Here are seven of the events we think that’d be well worth going to see and check out, and despite it getting into the colder months of the year, there are many great things to get around to and…

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Book Review: Amy Bodossian’s Wide Open is a beautiful emotional ride through poetry.

Amy Bodossian is an Adelaide performer and cabaret artist who has recently turned her drawings and words with into her debut poetry book Wide Open. She’s performed at all kinds of festivals, from Adelaide Fringe to Woodford Folk Festival to The Big Day Out, and while that list of stages seems quite impressive, this book is…

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MICF Review: Alice Fraser’s Empire is amusing, but dense (performances until April 23rd)

There’s potential for the material in Alice Fraser’s Empire tone the basis of many inspirational talking engagements (she’s actually done a TED talk, so maybe she’s already there), but a show that gives us depth and meaning weren’t so much funny but reflective. Fraser doesn’t shy away from the tricky and the thoughtful. Starting on…

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MICF Review: Becky Lucas’ Little Bitch is a amusing tale of attitudinal whimsy (performances until April 23rd)

Heading to the bottom of The Victoria Hotel is a somewhat weird experience. You’re in this dark room, with all kinds of spookiness looking to burst out of you. But really all that bursts out is delightful Becky Lucas with a charm and wit that lights up the room. Lucas captures people’s attention for her…

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MICF Review: Nick Cody’s On Fire is all tough and sensitive at the same time (performances until April 23rd)

There’s a brashness with Nick Cody. He seems like the friendliest person that you could meet your friend’s BBQ and just chat to about all manner of things. But at the other end, he seems like someone who could evaporate you with a flick of his pointy finger if you piss him off. This was…

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MICF Review: Guy Montgomery’s Let’s All Get In A Room Together is a fun, goofy bit of storytelling (performances until 23rd April)

Guy Montgomery has this interestingly crescendo-like style of stand-up in Let’s All Get In A Room Together. It’s certainly a set full of happiness and goofiness, free from any political doom and gloom that many other comedy shows are focusing on this festival, but he can certainly be set to go on a really good story which rises to…

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MICF Review: Rhys Nicholson’s I’m Fine is flamboyantly astute (performances until April 23rd)

With a characteristically flamboyant style, Rhys Nicholson could be the best-dressed-in-show for the whole of the comedy festival. He has a theatrical sensibility to him, and subsequently can be the most melodramatic-in-show for the damn festival as well. As a result, Nicholson doesn’t keep a slow pace through his hour dubbed I’m Fine. Which is…

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MICF Review: DeAnne Smith’s Post-Joke Era targets everyone, even herself (performances until April 23rd)

DeAnne Smith loves to poke fun. She pokes fun subtly. She pokes fun with as much full-on intensity too and there’s a bit of intriguing wit in there as well while we are at it. The title of her show, Post-Joke Era is a simple phrase which kind of encapsulates what is all shitty with society….

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MICF Review: Aunty Donna’s Big Boys is some damn good sketch (performances until April 23rd)

What can be said about an Aunty Donna show that is negative? Nothing much really. The troupe are truly at the top of their game after years and years of sketch shows and Youtube antics and they do it without any grand pomp or ceremony. The comedy from Zack, Mark and Broden genuinely glow on…

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MICF Review: Tessa Waters’ Fully Sik is refreshing in its originality (Performances until April 23rd)

A bundle of energy greets you with when you take your seat at Tessa Waters’ Fully Sik. High fives pumping music and a pillow fight start things off. You’d call it a little absurd if the only type of fare you’re used to in comedy theatre is someone telling jokes into the microphone. In reality,…

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The Comedy Zone’s Tom Cashman picks his Top 5 Shows of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF)

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has hundreds of performers and shows worth seeing – that’s the most obvious statement of the most obvious of obvious-towns. There are a huge amount of great showcases throughout the festival too – one of them being The Comedy Zone, a showcase of fresh and amazing comedic talent from around…

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MICF Review: Josie Long’s Something Better is politically charged, but delightfully so (performances until April 23rd)

Walking into Josie Long’s show was a strange experience. Thinking that I was late, Long was singing and doing her funky moves while singing into the microphone. It’s certainly a different way to start a show, and I liked it. I’d not like to have the heart attack thinking I was late though next time…

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MICF Review: Andy Zaltzman: Plan Z (performances until April 23rd)

Andy Zaltzman is a comedian who I knew little about prior to me seeing him. Weirdly, I knew him as the brother of Helen Zaltzman, a host on the very funny Answer Me This! podcast. But it was only when he was announced that I found out that he co-hosted a pretty hilarious podcast of his…

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7 Arts Events not to miss in Australia in April 2017

It’s time to go through our monthly look at the best the art, theatre and cultural industries has to offer this upcoming month around Australia. We have a wide array of things to see, including comedy, spiritual journeys and reliving Whitney Houston movies… on stage! Go out and plan for these upcoming events for April…

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The Comedy Zone’s Tim Hewitt picks his Top 5 Shows of MICF

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has hundreds of performers and shows worth seeing – that’s the most obvious statement of the most obvious of obvious-towns. There are a huge amount of great showcases throughout the festival too – one of them being The Comedy Zone, a showcase of fresh and amazing comedic talent from around  Australia. We decided…

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5 risqué acts to see at the 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

There’s all manner of comedy at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, from theatre, to stand up to improv. We have already put together a bunch of great shows you go and see already. Some people like to go all out and either shock, deal with subjects that push the edge, or simply provide thought-provoking stuff…

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Bridget Everett talks Mardi Gras, cabaret in NYC and energy on stage

There is a huge exuberance to Bridget Everett. Her performances at MICF last year where a barrage of singing, dancing and getting very close to audience members. Her style has caught the eye of comedians Amy Schumer and Whitney Cummings – who she has both collaborated with on TV projects. She is coming back to…

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Choreographer Tao Ye talks precision, the human body’s limitations, and his work 6 & 8.

Asia TOPA has just kicked off in Melbourne, and with it comes a variety of art from our country neighbours to the north. A collection of amazing performances including Tao Ye’s 6 & 8, originally featured in Paris Fashion Week. These two distinct dance works amazingly precisely the same in their execution. For these performances Tao…

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Laura Sullivan on Finding Notes and Whether She Has Found Yours.

Many of us see random pieces of paper, notes and other paraphernalia on the street without a second thought (unless you’re a sweet soul who takes the effort to put the paper in the bin). Laura Sullivan is different. She’s developed a bit of an instinct to find those sticky notes, cards and other pieces…

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