A New BRAVO!

Want to see a new musical called "A New Brain"?
umm... thats kinda a weird name.
Yep.

Sydney based independent theatre company SQUABBALOGIC have done it again. Bringing Sydney another serving of off broadway magic that would have otherwise been lost in the dusts of iTunes collections forever.

A New Brain is a triumph. A complete joy to watch. It's pretty to listen to, beautiful to look at, trippy, funny, emotive, and real. Something director Craig Stewart should be immensely proud of. From the small eccentricities of characters in the background to the simplicity and functionality of the set.

Wondering into the hygienically scrubbed linoleum surface- you know you're in for a treat from the get go. Stewart and his team Ash and Salle take the audience on a slick, effortlessly erratic operation of one song writer's struggle with mortality. The beautifully warm and engaging score by composer William Finn contrasts with the harsh subject matters explored of abandonment, death, and depression.

Here, not a single cast member steps out of line. Each an intricate spoke in the relentless performance machine Salle has wheeled up to deliver. Each production number a new and exciting visual treat for the audience. Every scene pops with illumination with these people to blame:

Daley shines as Rhoda, her character hardly leaving the side of protagonist Schwinn and giving it her all with a really perverse ventriloquist act.
Likewise, Daly is fierce as Schwinn's mother, exuding raw emotion, taking almost criminal advantage of the song Throw It Out.
Erickson as Schwinn's partner Roger is simply amazing- baring his soul to the audience, he doesn't miss a beat to get that last tear from you.
James-Moody has to be seen to be believed.
Leahy, as Schwinn, brings a beautiful and fragile arrogance to the role that balances his character perfectly to the ensemble. Tossed and pulled in every direction- he hardly needs to take a step all night.
Murphy is fabulously hilarious and an eyebrow expressionist scene stealer.
Pratt gives it all and a half- belting her narration and staring down the audience.
Saville's characterisation is simply delightful.
Simpson clears the floor with Eating Myself Up Alive.
Sippel gets all the best musical snippets and sings with a delightful joy.

Bring tissues. Visiting hours get pretty emotional. And at times, wickedly funny.

A New Brain is presented by Squabbalogic at the Sidetrack Theatre
from October 26th - November 12th
Tickets are $30-$35 and are General Admission

Tangled in Controversy

Hokay, appart from Disney's Tangled being a triumphant return to the fairytale, I had two observations:

Numero Uno:

The side kick actively kills the bad guy. Like it's thought out. Mother Gothel is going to fall out the window and rather than try to stop it or even just let it happen, Pascal actively participates by tripping her in the last moments. Pascal is EVIL.

Also, the androgynous chameleon wears a pink dress and it's funny. So, thats weird.

All I'm saying is expect him to go postal in the Direct-To-Disney-DVD sequel.

Numero Duo:

So the whole plot is about Rapunzel inheriting healing powers from a magical sunshine flower and being locked away in a tower until her 18th birthday. Not to be all slapped in the face with subtext but Disney has just released their first fairytale about virginity*.

Flyn Rider, the thief turned unlikely hero with super human good looks gets his chance to "take her flower" at the end. And he does, when she "gives it to him" through her magic tear to save him from death.

Its all very sweet and poetic and symmetrical, but what it really burns down to is a girl giving her flower away. And he repays her with a smothered boob hug. "I've always had a thing for brunettes" lol. Thus:

Anyhew, it just strikes me odd that no one else thought of this.

Also let me point out I cried like a girl even after 3 viewings.

*yeah, I know most fairy tales are about loss of innocence. But this is literal.

For A Better World, I wouldn't continue.

Tonight I braved a brand new theatrical production to review from Company No 3 theatre at the SBW Stables / Griffin 2011 Season entitled "For A Better World".

'Braved' being the most polite adjective I could use to describe what could only be viewed as some kind of extended HSC Drama group devised performance. Here we have four women and three men all doing their best with material beyond their knowledge.

A stage set with mirrors akin to any seedy gym lined with fluorescent lighting so as to blend in with the local Kings Cross culture, there was plenty of dazzle to distract the audience from the lack of plot and point.

The seven actors plodding half naked around the set, spreading blood, dropping feathers and creating havoc that would give the best of wardrobe and set dressers a heart attack were mildly representing a war time scenario. Each character indulging in either sexual fantasies or memories from the past as each, separately go mad and commit suicide. And don't worry. I really haven't ruined the ending, as author Roland Schimmelpfennig couldn't care less about the narrative mish-mesh of 80's war & science fiction films.

For me, the tour de force of the play was when the female lead shoots herself in the head, dresses herself in a wedding dress (complete with tasteful fairy lights), chanting wildly as a half alien half giant squid attacks one of the male actors (who has meanwhile managed to change into his birthday suit).

The cast are committed to an otherwise confusing piece, even though it calls for them to parade around in white underwear for the majority of the performance. Pity one of the men was so ridiculously prissy that any attempts of sexual interaction with the naked women before him were laughable.

I checked my watch 20 minutes into the 86 minute one-act-performance and tried desperately not to do so for the remainder of the evening.

Lucky I received free tickets on this one eh?