ADELAIDE

Sat 23rd and went on my first cellar door experience to a winery in the Adelaide Hills (rude not to). This is free wine tasting and very sociable! On toa show called Highly Flammable Love whch i had high hopes for, but sadly it didn’t live up to expectations. Like a student performance, it was billed as a modern Australian musical, but there was very little music ad unless I missed something, only two numbers in the first half. It was also in a venue way out of town (40 minute train ride) so I had to excuse myself at the interval and run to catch my train back for the next show. Back in the city, I went to the A Club Loft to see The Other Side of 25, really strong piece about a young woman who agrees to act as a surrogate for her sister and then something happens to the sister… Young American actor who gave a well-balanced convincing performance. Perhaps not too suitable for rural touring, mainly due to strong content, but definitely a fringe show, or suitable for programming in mid-scale theatres.

Sun 24th and I went to see a physical comedy show at Tandanya Arts centre. Young Australian actor with his first show. Really, really enjoyed this! He also won an emerging artist award at Sydney Fringe and at Adelaide this week, so one to watch. Probably aiming to tour in UK/Scotland after Fringe 2020. Highly recommended.
Later, went to see a show at The Mill called Benchmarks. Two hander about conflict between an old down and out and a young man leaving home and trying to find his way. Interesting script, although a bit over-written. I’d say probably more successful with stronger actors and a bit of editing!
Then on to Holden Street Theatre for my second visit. This is a very impressive venue, like an oasis of culture in an industrial estate (I may have said that before). The show was The Merger starring Damian Callinan. So glad. Caught this and it was the last night of the run. The one man show has recently been made into a feature film and Damian was leaving the next morning to fly to Dublin and then onto Glasgow for the film festivals there which will feature the film. Really funny and he was extremely adept at engaging the audience and interacting with a handful of “victims”. It was delivered in very thick Aussie accents (he played several characters) but I got enough to make it an ejoyable experience. The play was about the impending merger of an down on its luck Aussie Rules football team, but it was really about integration of refugees into Australian society, tolerance and social inclusion. Highly recommended. Go and see the film in Glasgow if you can!

 

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