Around the Fringe (part one)

So, as I mentioned yesterday, the 2009 Melbourne Fringe Festival is upon us. Huzzah! Featuring over 4000 artists and more than 300 shows, it's a public expression of Melbourne's creativity; and is unique among Fringe Festivals in that over 85% of shows staged are by Melbourne artists, rather than by performers from interstate or overseas.

The plan is to post reviews of Fringe shows here on a daily basis - hopefully. Knowing my schedule I might not always find the time, so I can't make any promises. Other places to look for Fringe reviews are the new blog by 'John Bailey', Capital Idea, Express Media's Buzzcuts program, and the excellent Spark Online; while The Groggy Squirrel is running reviews from the comedy stream of the Fringe program.

Before I get underway, just a quick disclaimer - the opinions expressed in the following reviews are made in a private capacity, and do not represent the opinions of the Melbourne Fringe Board, of which I'm Chair. With that said, it's on with the shows!

+1 SWORD

When I saw this stand-up comedy show about Dungeons & Dragons listed in the Fringe program, it was the very first thing I booked for, and I'm pleased to say I wasn't disappointed. It's a little slight but very silly, and definitely enjoyable regardless of whether or not you've ever rolled a d20. It's also perfectly suited to the cellar in which it's presented in Collingwood.

Local comics Ben and Richard McKenzie are not related, but share an abiding love for fantasy role-playing games as well as a surname. This new show explores the history of the Dungeons & Dragons game and introduces the audience to some of its more ludicrous concepts (the sketches of monsters such as the Beholder and the Trapper that are displayed to the audience not only illustrate such concepts, they're also extremely well executed; and attest to the level of detail invested in the show, which extends to lots of props, and even a mysterious hooded figure who greets you at the door; a trope stright out of D&D). It also provides plenty of laughs at the expense of the game and those who play it, but it's definitely a laughing with rather than at sort of show.

The show's only real weakness is that it's clearly very new. The night I saw it, which was opening night, it felt pretty loose. With more development, or as the show's run continues, it should definitely get tighter and stronger.

Rating: Three stars


ECOSEXUAL

Staged in the highly appropriate confines of The Order of Melbourne, a salubrious bar in the CBD, Ecosexual is a cabaret show exploring environmental and feminist themes, and incorporating elements of circus, burlesque and cabaret. Unfortunately it does so in a somewhat stilted way, with some of the of performances residing at the amateur side of the scale. A lack of vocal projection from some of the cast members doesn't help proceedings, and nor do overlong and awkward change-overs between acts. That said, there were clearly some opening night nerves on display the evening I saw this show, so as the season progresses some of these flaws should fall away, allowing the more accomplished and charismatic performers to come to the fore.

Katherine Copsey, who both directs and stars in the show, appears to have been overly ambitious, given that this is her first performance in the Fringe. Next year I'd advise that she either find a director to help her tighten its structure and improve the quality of the acts, which would also assist in drawing out some of this show's interesting but poorly articulated themes (such as burlesque's empowerment of female sexuality vs the demeaning raunch culture); or she should withdraw from performing and just direct the show. She definitely has talent, as well as a good voice and stage presence, but this production isn't doing her and her fellow cast members justice.

Rating: Two and a half stars