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contemporary theatre for a contemporary audience
Australian Stage
Written by Stephanie Johnson
Sunday, 21 February 2010 14:09
Almost An Evening is an apt title for three short satiric plays that almost get it right in the Stables behind the Stag Hotel at Adelaide’s Fringe. Accidental Productions presents the trio all written by the infamous Ethan Coen, who wrote “Fargo”, “Burn After Reading” and “No Country for Old Men”. The threesome is indeed a mixed bad. The theme for all three plays is Hell – on earth and in the hereafter. First off the mark is an absurd play called “Waiting” in which a man appears to be waiting between heaven and hell. While initially intriguing the premise is not enough to sustain interest. Not even the excellent acting skills of Mark Fantasia, Renee Gentle and Alex Vickery-Howe are enough to pull this one off. Next is “Four Benches” an entertaining but unbelievable play about one man’s crisis of conscience. Kurt Murray is convincing as One whose faith in his work crumbles after a crisis, but overall this plays fails to engage. It is left to the skills of Director Joh Hartog to pull a rabbit out of the hat with the final play called “The Debate” – a hilarious debate between God who Judges (Tim Overton) and God who Loves (Alex-Vickery-Howe). This play has many clever twists and turns, and is satire at its best. Overton and Vickery-Howe excel at tongue-in-cheek humour, giving fine performances as the two Gods. Mel Matheson and Jesse Butler are delightful as the young woman and young man, whose post-debate dinnertime discussion quickly escalates into an emotional fight. It is in the final play that the originality and appealing wit of Ethan Coen is able to shine.
Written by Stephanie Johnson
Sunday, 21 February 2010 14:09
Almost An Evening is an apt title for three short satiric plays that almost get it right in the Stables behind the Stag Hotel at Adelaide’s Fringe. Accidental Productions presents the trio all written by the infamous Ethan Coen, who wrote “Fargo”, “Burn After Reading” and “No Country for Old Men”. The threesome is indeed a mixed bad. The theme for all three plays is Hell – on earth and in the hereafter. First off the mark is an absurd play called “Waiting” in which a man appears to be waiting between heaven and hell. While initially intriguing the premise is not enough to sustain interest. Not even the excellent acting skills of Mark Fantasia, Renee Gentle and Alex Vickery-Howe are enough to pull this one off. Next is “Four Benches” an entertaining but unbelievable play about one man’s crisis of conscience. Kurt Murray is convincing as One whose faith in his work crumbles after a crisis, but overall this plays fails to engage. It is left to the skills of Director Joh Hartog to pull a rabbit out of the hat with the final play called “The Debate” – a hilarious debate between God who Judges (Tim Overton) and God who Loves (Alex-Vickery-Howe). This play has many clever twists and turns, and is satire at its best. Overton and Vickery-Howe excel at tongue-in-cheek humour, giving fine performances as the two Gods. Mel Matheson and Jesse Butler are delightful as the young woman and young man, whose post-debate dinnertime discussion quickly escalates into an emotional fight. It is in the final play that the originality and appealing wit of Ethan Coen is able to shine.
Reviewed Saturday February 20th 2010 (See Fringe guide for dates, times, etc.)
Presented by Accidental Productions
This production is a collection of three short plays by Ethan Coen; Waiting, directed by Dee Easton, Four Benches, directed by Mark Fantasia, and The Debate, directed by Joh Hartog. Coen, and his brother Joel, are best known for the films that they make together, but Ethan has recently embraced playwriting, this work having had its off-Broadway debut in 2008.
The first play finds a man in a waiting room, with no doors and only a silent receptionist, typing away madly, to keep him company. From time to time we see him facing officials who delay him further at each encounter until the final truth is revealed.
The second has four scenes, each involving a bench, the first scene being in a steam-room where a British gent, fully dressed and even wearing his bowler hat, has a chance meeting with a Texan whilst waiting to meet somebody completely different. This meeting is definitely not to the Texan’s advantage.
In the final scene God meets God in a debate. The God of the Old Testament is a judging god who stirs up the fire and brimstone whilst the other is the unconditionally loving God. Other people and other debates quickly follow.
There is an anarchic humour running through these three plays that generates plenty of laughs, although there is a tendency at times to play it for laughs, rather than allow the script to do its job, so some sections could be even funnier.
The casts are well balanced with standout performances from Mark Fantasia as Nelson in the first play, Kurt Murray as One and Alan Grace as Earl/Mr. Boodrum in the second play, and Tim Overton as the God Who Judges in the third. Mark Fantasia and Todd Gray defy description and really have to be seen for yourself in their roles as angels. Catch this one if you can.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, GLAM Adelaide Arts Editor
Presented by Accidental Productions
This production is a collection of three short plays by Ethan Coen; Waiting, directed by Dee Easton, Four Benches, directed by Mark Fantasia, and The Debate, directed by Joh Hartog. Coen, and his brother Joel, are best known for the films that they make together, but Ethan has recently embraced playwriting, this work having had its off-Broadway debut in 2008.
The first play finds a man in a waiting room, with no doors and only a silent receptionist, typing away madly, to keep him company. From time to time we see him facing officials who delay him further at each encounter until the final truth is revealed.
The second has four scenes, each involving a bench, the first scene being in a steam-room where a British gent, fully dressed and even wearing his bowler hat, has a chance meeting with a Texan whilst waiting to meet somebody completely different. This meeting is definitely not to the Texan’s advantage.
In the final scene God meets God in a debate. The God of the Old Testament is a judging god who stirs up the fire and brimstone whilst the other is the unconditionally loving God. Other people and other debates quickly follow.
There is an anarchic humour running through these three plays that generates plenty of laughs, although there is a tendency at times to play it for laughs, rather than allow the script to do its job, so some sections could be even funnier.
The casts are well balanced with standout performances from Mark Fantasia as Nelson in the first play, Kurt Murray as One and Alan Grace as Earl/Mr. Boodrum in the second play, and Tim Overton as the God Who Judges in the third. Mark Fantasia and Todd Gray defy description and really have to be seen for yourself in their roles as angels. Catch this one if you can.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, GLAM Adelaide Arts Editor
ALMOST AN EVENING
Accidental Productions
The Stables
Until 10 Mar 2010
Reviewed by Tony Busch
This evening is made up of three short plays by Ethan Coen, famous for comedic film gems such as “Oh brother, where art thou” and “Burn after reading”.
The theme is hell on earth and in the hereafter and all three scripts wryly illustrate the human condition, though brought to life with varying success by the actors involved.
“Four Benches” is the least successful with caricature overpowering character. Coen’s writing is eminently subtle while the irony delivered by the cast was a little iron-clad.
“Waiting” has some fine moments, but fizzled at the end, maybe because of lost lines. “The Debate” is the pick of the three with some genuinely rich humour and much tighter timing from the cast who handled the difficult scene changes well, particularly the revolving table. With so many blackout scene changes required, it would have been helpful to make the breaks between plays more definite as many of the audience were confused as to where one play ended and the next started.
The cast of Mark Fantasia, Renee Gentle, Alex Vickery-Howe, Tim Overton. Alan Grace, Kurt Murray, Mel Matheson Jesse Butler and Todd Gray all have some good moments but these are definitely scripts where performance needs a “less is more” approach, rather than playing it for laughs.
Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)
Accidental Productions
The Stables
Until 10 Mar 2010
Reviewed by Tony Busch
This evening is made up of three short plays by Ethan Coen, famous for comedic film gems such as “Oh brother, where art thou” and “Burn after reading”.
The theme is hell on earth and in the hereafter and all three scripts wryly illustrate the human condition, though brought to life with varying success by the actors involved.
“Four Benches” is the least successful with caricature overpowering character. Coen’s writing is eminently subtle while the irony delivered by the cast was a little iron-clad.
“Waiting” has some fine moments, but fizzled at the end, maybe because of lost lines. “The Debate” is the pick of the three with some genuinely rich humour and much tighter timing from the cast who handled the difficult scene changes well, particularly the revolving table. With so many blackout scene changes required, it would have been helpful to make the breaks between plays more definite as many of the audience were confused as to where one play ended and the next started.
The cast of Mark Fantasia, Renee Gentle, Alex Vickery-Howe, Tim Overton. Alan Grace, Kurt Murray, Mel Matheson Jesse Butler and Todd Gray all have some good moments but these are definitely scripts where performance needs a “less is more” approach, rather than playing it for laughs.
Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)
THE UMBRELLA PLAYS - BARRY LENNY
This is a collection of very short plays with a linking motif; the ubiquitous umbrella. Every play involves at least one umbrella, whether physically present of merely referred to as having some significance in the interactions between the characters involved. Most plays are two-handers, involving a man and a woman, although one particularly funny piece has another woman interpreting what the other two really mean by the things that they say to one another. She is an expert in both man-speak and woman-speak. Mel Matheson does not hold back in this knockabout role, to the extent of actually sustaining minor injuries as she is thrown around the stage by the other two.
The first scene finds Charlotte Rees and Alex Vickery-Howe as a couple of married people meeting for their weekly tryst, as they have done for the past eight years. This time, however, one small lie is exposed, then another, then more. Worse still, truths are admitted and the consequences are hilarious.
Another play shows just how much the contents of your garbage can reveal about you. This could be dangerous information in the wrong hands, so watch and discover who knows what about the other.
Jesse Butler, Mark Fantasia, Charlotte Rees, Katie O’Reilly, Mel Matheson and Alex Vickery-Howe each take a number of roles, every character being eccentric, and several of them are downright weird! This is a highly entertaining hour of clever comedy from the pen of Cerise de Gelder, directed with a fine comic insight by Joh Hartog. Put this one on your list.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, GLAM Adelaide Arts Editor.
This is a collection of very short plays with a linking motif; the ubiquitous umbrella. Every play involves at least one umbrella, whether physically present of merely referred to as having some significance in the interactions between the characters involved. Most plays are two-handers, involving a man and a woman, although one particularly funny piece has another woman interpreting what the other two really mean by the things that they say to one another. She is an expert in both man-speak and woman-speak. Mel Matheson does not hold back in this knockabout role, to the extent of actually sustaining minor injuries as she is thrown around the stage by the other two.
The first scene finds Charlotte Rees and Alex Vickery-Howe as a couple of married people meeting for their weekly tryst, as they have done for the past eight years. This time, however, one small lie is exposed, then another, then more. Worse still, truths are admitted and the consequences are hilarious.
Another play shows just how much the contents of your garbage can reveal about you. This could be dangerous information in the wrong hands, so watch and discover who knows what about the other.
Jesse Butler, Mark Fantasia, Charlotte Rees, Katie O’Reilly, Mel Matheson and Alex Vickery-Howe each take a number of roles, every character being eccentric, and several of them are downright weird! This is a highly entertaining hour of clever comedy from the pen of Cerise de Gelder, directed with a fine comic insight by Joh Hartog. Put this one on your list.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, GLAM Adelaide Arts Editor.
THE UMBRELLA PLAYS
Accidental Productions
The Stables
Until 7 Mar 2010
Review by Brian Godfrey
Usually known for their thought-provoking, sometimes abstract works, Accidental Productions are, at the moment, presenting a fairly straight-forward show, “The Umbrella Plays” by Australian writer Cerise de Gelder.
De Gelder has written a selection of short plays using as their central theme the innocent umbrella and its uses for starting and ending relationships (marital, friendly and the mere meeting of strangers). Accidental Productions have selected eight of these and they are absolutely delightful.
Director Joh Hartog finds every laugh possible as well as a nice little emotional moment. He understands the plays and has a finely tuned cast at his disposal. He also understands some of the pitfalls of the venue, using a very awkward, unsightly support post, situated right at the front of the stage, to very good use several times throughout the production.
The ensemble cast of Mark Fantasia, Alex Vickery-Howe, Charlotte Rees, Katie O’Reilly, Jesse Butler and Mel Matheson are just great in all their various roles, proving again what talent there is amongst South Australia’s up and coming young actors. The only real flaw with this production is, again, one of the venue - The Stables gobbles up noise (especially when the fans are on) mercilessly. On opening night, lines were lost by all actors, but once they are familiar with the quirks of their surroundings, this hitch should improve. To paraphrase the song: let an umbrella be your smile - brighten up an already impressive 2010 Fringe with this little drop of entertainment.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Accidental Productions
The Stables
Until 7 Mar 2010
Review by Brian Godfrey
Usually known for their thought-provoking, sometimes abstract works, Accidental Productions are, at the moment, presenting a fairly straight-forward show, “The Umbrella Plays” by Australian writer Cerise de Gelder.
De Gelder has written a selection of short plays using as their central theme the innocent umbrella and its uses for starting and ending relationships (marital, friendly and the mere meeting of strangers). Accidental Productions have selected eight of these and they are absolutely delightful.
Director Joh Hartog finds every laugh possible as well as a nice little emotional moment. He understands the plays and has a finely tuned cast at his disposal. He also understands some of the pitfalls of the venue, using a very awkward, unsightly support post, situated right at the front of the stage, to very good use several times throughout the production.
The ensemble cast of Mark Fantasia, Alex Vickery-Howe, Charlotte Rees, Katie O’Reilly, Jesse Butler and Mel Matheson are just great in all their various roles, proving again what talent there is amongst South Australia’s up and coming young actors. The only real flaw with this production is, again, one of the venue - The Stables gobbles up noise (especially when the fans are on) mercilessly. On opening night, lines were lost by all actors, but once they are familiar with the quirks of their surroundings, this hitch should improve. To paraphrase the song: let an umbrella be your smile - brighten up an already impressive 2010 Fringe with this little drop of entertainment.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Adelaide Fringe Review: Krang
Anne Denny - from: AdelaideNow
February 21, 2010 5:27PM
TWENTY-something angst is all on show here - troubled memories, troubled present and troubled about what might or might not happen.
The young cast of Adelaide actors, under the banner of Accidental Productions, deftly take their audience beyond the superficial interaction of housemates to explore what lies beneath.
David Hirst and Matthew Crook have strong stage presence and Hirst, particularly, can carry the audience with him as his character Dan's fears unfold.
The intimate Stables venue, behind the Stag Hotel, is ideal for a show that invites its audience in to each character's personal space and then takes them on a journey that shows maybe their thirties won't be all bad.
Some really promising performances,with Caitlin McCreanor growing in confidence as the show progressed but more voice projection from Miranda Pike would lift it even further.
The Stables, until March 13 (Feb 20/21; Mar 2-7/9-13)
Friends with a twist
three and a half stars
Anne Denny - from: AdelaideNow
February 21, 2010 5:27PM
TWENTY-something angst is all on show here - troubled memories, troubled present and troubled about what might or might not happen.
The young cast of Adelaide actors, under the banner of Accidental Productions, deftly take their audience beyond the superficial interaction of housemates to explore what lies beneath.
David Hirst and Matthew Crook have strong stage presence and Hirst, particularly, can carry the audience with him as his character Dan's fears unfold.
The intimate Stables venue, behind the Stag Hotel, is ideal for a show that invites its audience in to each character's personal space and then takes them on a journey that shows maybe their thirties won't be all bad.
Some really promising performances,with Caitlin McCreanor growing in confidence as the show progressed but more voice projection from Miranda Pike would lift it even further.
The Stables, until March 13 (Feb 20/21; Mar 2-7/9-13)
Friends with a twist
three and a half stars
Krang! could easily be retitled Four Characters in Search of an Author; a director, and a dramaturge with a blue pencil, would also help. It consists of numerous short scenes that appear to revolve around the same group of people. There is Daniel (David Hirst), who Marty (Matthew Crook) calls Dad, and Maia (Caitlin McCreanor), who is the object of the dyslexic Daniel’s affections. Quite what the other girl, Miranda Pike’s character’s relationship is, was still a little unclear. She could possibly have been Marty’s sister, or even his girlfriend.
The Fringe is about new and experimental work and this fits that category, but it still needs some more work though, some trimming and tightening of the performance. Some scenes are incomprehensible but others work well and have some good, if not fully explored, concepts behind them. The quiz scenes drew plenty of laughs, and the audience clearly related to the idea of a place where all of your lost property ends up.
Although it is a very intimate venue and I sitting was in the second row, Miranda Pike was completely inaudible for much of the show, until she got to the point where she dons a false beard to play a hobo, at which point she displays a strong voice. All four offer energetic performances and great enthusiasm, with plenty of personality in their performances and, with an experienced eye or two being cast over the script to knock a few rough edges off of it, this could be a strong entry in the Fringe repertoire. I would be interested in seeing this if it goes through a development process with some outside assistance.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, GLAM Adelaide Arts Editor
The Fringe is about new and experimental work and this fits that category, but it still needs some more work though, some trimming and tightening of the performance. Some scenes are incomprehensible but others work well and have some good, if not fully explored, concepts behind them. The quiz scenes drew plenty of laughs, and the audience clearly related to the idea of a place where all of your lost property ends up.
Although it is a very intimate venue and I sitting was in the second row, Miranda Pike was completely inaudible for much of the show, until she got to the point where she dons a false beard to play a hobo, at which point she displays a strong voice. All four offer energetic performances and great enthusiasm, with plenty of personality in their performances and, with an experienced eye or two being cast over the script to knock a few rough edges off of it, this could be a strong entry in the Fringe repertoire. I would be interested in seeing this if it goes through a development process with some outside assistance.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, GLAM Adelaide Arts Editor
KRANG!
Accidental Productions
The Stables
Until 13 Mar 2010
Review by Brian Godfrey
Accidental Productions, one of the best things to happen to professional Adelaide theatre in a long time, have, for this Fringe, taken the bold step of presenting five plays in a back-to-basics venue, The Stables.
However this reviewer admits to being disappointed with one of their offerings: “Krang!” Devised, directed and performed by Matt Crook, David Hirst, Caitlin McCreanor and Miranda Pike, “Krang!” is extremely hard to describe. The audience are presented with four young people about to move out of a flat, each with their own peculiar foibles; one can’t handle money, one constantly loses things, one has dyslexia and one appears to overdo study (the last one not being that clear). Through a series of sketches and vignettes, the audience find out more about the individuals.
While a clever idea, perhaps it’s too clever and needs some input from a fifth viewpoint - a director not associated with the writing (and some judicious re-writing). Crook, Hirst, McCreanor and Pike seem too close to the material. There are however some great ideas and touches - set changes are hilarious and the game show and lost objects segments are inspired lunacy.
All four performers sparkle, believing in and delivering their craft firmly and with skill. In other hands, this production could have been a disaster. Worth seeing just for the fact that it is from the Accidental stables (and you’ve seen one play with a great title).
Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Accidental Productions
The Stables
Until 13 Mar 2010
Review by Brian Godfrey
Accidental Productions, one of the best things to happen to professional Adelaide theatre in a long time, have, for this Fringe, taken the bold step of presenting five plays in a back-to-basics venue, The Stables.
However this reviewer admits to being disappointed with one of their offerings: “Krang!” Devised, directed and performed by Matt Crook, David Hirst, Caitlin McCreanor and Miranda Pike, “Krang!” is extremely hard to describe. The audience are presented with four young people about to move out of a flat, each with their own peculiar foibles; one can’t handle money, one constantly loses things, one has dyslexia and one appears to overdo study (the last one not being that clear). Through a series of sketches and vignettes, the audience find out more about the individuals.
While a clever idea, perhaps it’s too clever and needs some input from a fifth viewpoint - a director not associated with the writing (and some judicious re-writing). Crook, Hirst, McCreanor and Pike seem too close to the material. There are however some great ideas and touches - set changes are hilarious and the game show and lost objects segments are inspired lunacy.
All four performers sparkle, believing in and delivering their craft firmly and with skill. In other hands, this production could have been a disaster. Worth seeing just for the fact that it is from the Accidental stables (and you’ve seen one play with a great title).
Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Reviews: Almost an Evening - Ethan Coen
Reviews: The Umbrella Plays - Cerise de Gelder
Reviews: Krang!
Almost an Evening
The Umbrella Plays
Krang!