Tag Archives: TAP Gallery

5 Questions with Brigid O’Sullivan

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brigidosullivanWhat is your favourite swear word?
Bollocks.

What are you wearing?
My pj’s – purple silk nightie.

What is love?
A higher power outside yourself.

What was the last show you saw, and how many stars do you give it?
JD Burgess And Friends at El Rocco – 4 stars.

Is your new show going to be any good?
Of course, I’m in it! Just joking. Unadulterated silliness is always good so we will have a great show.

 

Brigid O’Sullivan plays nosey journalist Rhonda in The Good, The Bad And The Lawyer.
Show dates: 10 – 27 Oct, 2013
Show venue: TAP Gallery

Penelope (Siren Theatre Co)

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penelope1Venue: TAP Gallery (Darlinghurst NSW), Sep 12 – Oct 6, 2013
Playwright: Enda Walsh
Director: Kate Gaul
Actors: Nicholas Hope, Thomas Campbell, Arky Michael, Philip Dodd, Branden Christine

Theatre review
Attending a work by independent theatre companies in Australia is unpredictable. We hope for the best, and expect the worst. Resources are limited, and it is a challenge for semi-professional groups catering to audiences who are accustom to productions by dominant, well-funded companies. Siren Theatre Co rises to that challenge with a formidable cast and crew that have come together successfully and exceed expectations. Penelope showcases excellent work by all its actors, designers and technicians, with Kate Gaul at the helm, directing, producing, and proving herself to be a woman of exceptional ability and a brilliant visionary.

The show is at once intelligent, funny, emotional, audacious and confounding. Artistic licences are de rigueur, and no moment is spared of theatricality. The actors, all equally impressive, constantly negotiate the spaces between narrative and extravagance in their performances. There is a strong element of vaudeville in their work, and it is their commitment to the creation of a distinct style that gives the production a specific and memorable voice. Nicholas Hope shows himself to be quite the force of nature, playing the role of Quinn with extraordinary focus and strength. His no-holds-barred mode of performance is disarming and wonderfully mesmerising. Arky Michael’s Dunne is an amalgamation of rock star and Norma Desmond, an outlandish and madcap portrayal that is absolutely joyful.

Production design features prominently. It services the plot perfectly, transforming the relatively small space into one that is full of possibilities for the actors, while carving out an aesthetic for the production that is vibrant and innovative. Indeed, this is a show characterised by its vibrancy and innovation. This company has created something that overflows with ideas and enthralment, and because Enda Walsh’s script is not a simple one, one is compelled to revisit Penelope to experience her more deeply. The femme fatale beckons.

www.sirentheatreco.com

5 Questions with Michael Cutrupi

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michaelcutrupiWhat is your favourite swear word?
A tie between Cunt Face and Fuck Knuckle.

What are you wearing?
Right now… not much in the throws of dressing for the day, I think. A dark green jean and French striped top.

What is love?
“Oh baby don’t hurt me anymore.” Love is understanding, passion and knowing when to shut up.

What was the last show you saw, and how many stars do you give it?
Penny Plain by Ronnie Burkett in Geelong, Vic. I give it 5 stars; a beautiful one-man marionette show about the end of the world. It was stunning.

Is your new show going to be any good?
Good? No! It will be great. 4 of the funniest men in speedos in a drained swimming pool speaking the words of one of the world’s contemporary theatre masters, Enda Walsh.

Michael Cutrupi is stage manager for Penelope.
Show dates: 12 Sep – 6 Oct, 2013
Show venue: TAP Gallery

Sure Thing (Walking Moose Theatre Co)

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surething1Venue: TAP Gallery (Darlinghurst NSW), Sep 11 – 29, 2013
Playwright: David Ives
Director: Raf Nazario
Actors: Steven Corner, Lisa Fletcher

Theatre review
Sure Thing is a very short play, running approximately 15 minutes, but it is marvellous. Certainly, “a quick game is a good game”, but this production also demonstrates that great writing and great performances can provide as much satisfaction as any two hour piece. David Ives’ writing is superb, and the condensation of time in the play creates a structure which ensures that every moment packs punches.

Raf Nazario’s direction shows a thorough engagement with the text. His insistence in working with the most minute of nuances creates a sense of multi-dimensionality that quickly draws the audience in and keeps us involved to the end. Things move quickly, but nothing feels rushed. Humour and cultural references are allowed their flashes of brilliance, and we relish them all.

Lisa Fletcher plays Betty, the straight man in this comedic two-hander. The audience identifies with her authenticity and she provides an anchor to the script’s frenzy. Steve Corner’s performance as Bill is magnificent. He plays a character that manifests in many different forms, with what seems like a hundred faces and voices, all compelling and charming. There is always a sense of joyous play in his work, and also a focus that is intense but never laboured. He plays his jokes on many levels, but whether subtle, obscure or hammy, Corner shows himself to be a rivetingly funny actor… and this little quickie leaves us pleasantly surprised and delightfully sated.

http://2013.sydneyfringe.com/…

Colony (TAP Gallery)

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colony1Venue: TAP Gallery (Darlinghurst NSW), Sep 24 – 29, 2013
Playwrights: Kate Dunn, Oliver Featherston
Director: Lucinda Vitek
Actors: Linda Ngo, Davey Friedman, Ian Ferrington

Theatre review
Three people take a voluntary one-way journey from Earth to Mars. This simple premise opens up countless questions, themes, ideas, and scenarios, and Colony does well in exploring a wide range of these concepts. It is a script that does not shy away from complexities, but also prevents itself from over-thinking and becoming too abstract. It is a strong script with interesting characters that consistently fascinate, and succeeds in bringing the science fiction genre to a minimal stage.

This is a production that relies heavily on its actors. Atmospherics are crucial in this genre piece, and in the absence of more substantial sound design, the players are required to create a sense of mystery, foreboding and tension but they only succeed occasionally. Linda Ngo is slight in stature but her presence is strongest in the cast. There is an element of daring to her performance that is alluring, and she provides a necessary dimension of levity to the earlier scenes. Davey Friedman brings the drama, and gives the most polished performance to the play. His character development is distinct and we are captivated by the way his role transforms through the course of the show.

The production begins well, and ends impressively. Director Lucinda Vitek does a wonderful job in handling the surreal turn later in the story, and all the explosive action as the end approaches. It is unfortunate that the tightness and urgency does not appear earlier. There are scenes in the middle that could benefit from being more lively; perhaps some editing would help in achieving greater tension. Nevertheless, this is an interesting work with intriguing concepts and an entertaining story that would appeal to theatre-goers everywhere.

www.colonysydneyfringe.com

5 Questions with Diana Popovska

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dianapopovskaWhat is your favourite swear word?
Fuck.

What are you wearing?
Black high waisted skinny jeans, a black football jersey and black creepers.

What is love?
I’ve come to realize that love is loving someone without placing conditions or expectations on that love. It is the ultimate state of being present, where you abandon all your blissful dreamers notions and hopes of permanence, but rather, appreciate what you have now.

What was the last show you saw, and how many stars do you give it?
Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead. I give it 3.5 out of 5.

Is your new show going to be any good?
Good is boring. Our show, Penelope, is going to be fantastic!

Diana Popovska is assistant director of Penelope.
Show dates: 12 Sep – 6 Oct, 2013
Show venue: TAP Gallery

5 Questions with Steve Corner

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stevecornerWhat is your favourite swear word?
Australia … by Baz Lurham. Don’t believe it’s a swear word? Try saying you liked it in public and see how many people get offended.

Otherwise, ‘fuckshit’. It’s a portmanteau profanity which I think was coined in that superb Giant Crocodile meets Betty White vehicle Lake Placid. Use it like this: ‘You Fuckshit’ or ‘Over here Fuckshit’ or ‘Put her down Fuckshit.’

What are you wearing?
This season Mr. Corner can be seen sporting heart sized sleeves.

What is love?
Yes, Suzy, I can play Jeopardy: all of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen live.

What was the last show you saw, and how many stars do you give it?
Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem at the New Theatre – supremely well executed. I prefer the star systems observed by Galileo, Newton and Einstein, not Pomeranz, Stratton and Wilkins.

Is your new show going to be any good?
No – it already IS good. To make it even better it only runs for 10 minutes (with an interval of 2 hours). Read Suzy’s review here.

Steve Corner is appearing in Sure Thing, part of Sydney Fringe 2013.
Show dates: 11 – 29 Sep, 2013
Show venue: TAP Gallery

5 Questions with Julian Dibley Hall

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juliandibleyhallWhat is your favourite swear word?
Shit. Simple, effective and multi-purpose.

What are you wearing?
A navy blue knitted jumper and my old, comfy, falling-apart track pants.

What is love?
Honesty, compassion and the desire to always give more of yourself to the person or thing you love.

What was the last show you saw, and how many stars do you give it?
STC’s Rosencrantz And Guildenstern – 4 stars

Is your new show going to be any good?
YES!

 

 

Julian Dibley Hall is assistant director of Penelope.
Show dates: 12 Sep – 6 Oct, 2013
Show venue: TAP Gallery

5 Questions with Kate Gaul

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kategaulWhat is your favourite swear word?
FUCK (Has to have caps!)

What are you wearing?
Black jeans I found in an op shop and a black T shirt from Supre – charming!

What is love?
Breath on my neck – oh hang on that’s lust… LOVE? Love is being flirted with even after all these years…

What was the last show you saw, and how many stars do you give it?
Einstein on the Beach – 5 out of 5.

Is your new show going to be any good?
FUCK! It will be MAGNIFICENT – funny, dark, perilous, slightly weird, unexpected, beautiful and an amazing achievement for everyone who helped make it.

 

Kate Gaul is director of Penelope.
Show dates: 12 Sep – 6 Oct, 2013
Show venue: TAP Gallery

5 Questions with Stephen Carnell

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stephencarnellWhat is your favourite swear word?

Fuckstick.

What are you wearing?

Pyjamas.

What is love?

An irresistible attraction that lasts.

What was the last show you saw, and how many stars do you give it?

Can’t remember, so no stars.

Is your new show going to be any good?

It’ll be hilarious!
Read Suzy’s review here.

 

Stephen Carnell is producer and director of Spring Comedy Double Bill.
Show dates: 27 Aug – 7 Sep, 2013
Show venue: TAP Gallery