Meme Girls - Review

Malthouse Theatre presents

Meme Girls

Created by Ash Flanders, Stephen Nicolazzo & Marion Potts

based on an original idea by Ash Flanders.

Direction – Stephen Nicolazzo

Set & Costume Design – Eugyeene Teh

Lighting Design – Katie Sfetkidis

Sound Design &Composition – THE SWEATS

Cast – Ash Flanders and Art Simone

Stage Manager – Lisa Osborn

Beckett Theatre

8 April to 2 May 2015

Art Flanders and Stephen Nicolazzo have a significant following in Melbourne.  They are, together and individually, unique voices in the contemporary Melbourne theatre scene.  I think it is fair to say their refined yet bright and bold, very visual approach to theatre, flair and irreverence has garnered significant respect from audiences.  

Art Simone and Ash Flanders - Photo Pia Johnston

Meme Girls is beautifully crafted/Directed - with set, lighting and sound exquisitely coordinated.  It looks fabulous and is lit by Katie Sfetkidis.  Designer Eugyeene Teh has woven her considerable magic to provide a set that infers numerous environments including the probing of a camera lens and perhaps the more relevant circle that is the Looney Tunes iconic signature image.  Over all Meme Girls offers a glorious loud, high camp opportunity to sit back and marvel at what can be achieved. 

However, as representations/imitations of You Tube posts, it often seems flat and without dimension.   Loud, brash, relentless, and generally without the use of the reflective relief of irony, the whole seems to be about narcissism and ultimately feels indulgent and narcissistic. 

Art Simone and Ash Flanders - Photo Pia Johnston

Assisted cleverly, with exquisite timing, by Art Simone who is dressed in stunning drag, Ash Flanders goes through transformations on stage to portray various fragile characters.  But most of the women vaguely realized by Flanders tend to morph and fade into each other.   They are not adequately integrated as individuals and there is starkness in their portrayal that borders on bland stereotype.  Perhaps it was the result of first night nerves and as Flanders relaxes into the show he will access the feminine with more veneration, joy, enjoyment and definition.

Art Simone and Ash Flanders - Photo Pia Johnston

There are at least two opportunities for sensitive and poignant explorations of women finding themselves in difficult and baffling circumstances.  However when rendered as unadorned imitation in a matter of fact way both, intimate revelations, lack dimension and soul.  Perhaps a clearer definition between performer and character or more thorough characterization would add texture and liberate meaning.

The whole is micro-phoned with enough amps to reach into the corners of a noisy nigh club and certainly supports Flanders ultimately rich and agreeable singing voice. 

Sadly I am left with little idea of what the creators are trying to communicate with this slick but lightweight work except perhaps a capacity to bring all elements of Theatre together to create a visceral event that does not require interrogation.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)

Review - Absinthe

Absinthe

by Spiegelworld

March 21 2015 – April 26 2015, under the Spiegeltent on the Rooftop at Crown Melbourne

Chief Creative Officer – Wayne Harrison

Director of the Australian Tour – Daniel Kells

Creative Producer – Matt Hodges

Costume Designer – Angus Strathie

Choreographer – Tracie Morley

Audio Designer – Colle Bunstin

Lighting Designer – Ginger Corbett

Production Designer – Josh Zangen

Music Producer – Jamie Siege

The Green Fairy – Karla Tonkich – Australia

Chair Stacker – Oleksandr “Sascha” Volohdim – Ukraine

Banquine (Lost Souls) – Andrii Kalashynk, Bogdan Kalas

hynk, Dmytro Bilogubets, Oleksandr Orlov – Ukraine

Duo Straps – Jacob Oberman and Maika Isogawa – USA

Balloon Strip – Angie Sylvia – Sweden

Horizontal Bars (Los Dos Tacos) – Aliaksandr Yurkaveats and Andrew Sizoneko – Belarus

Duo Adagio – Ivan and Ivana Chekhov-Jones – Russia

Aerial Hoop (Cavea Aurea) Laura von Bongard and Luka Clayborn – Germany

Fire Burlesque – Angie Sylvia – Sweden

Hand Balance (Duo Creative) – Michal Nowosadko and Zbignew Sobierajski – Poland

High Wire (The Frat Pack) – Paul Lopez, Paul Resell and Oleksly Snarskyy – USA

Photo - Mark Turner

Seamlessly and expertly put together Absinthe is a wild and wonderful erotic romp made up of a variety of individual, and group routines by international Circus performers and Burlesque artists.  From Chair Stacking (Oleksandr “Sacha” Volohdim) to breath taking High Wire (Frat Pack) this show for adults, taps into the inner child’s amazement for and love of The Circus, in a very grown up way.

Not for the faint hearted it is riddled with rude and crude comedy from the tawdry duo of compares – Gazillionaire (Voki Kalfayan) and Penny Pibbets (Anais Thomassian) - who are pretty dam offensive.  These two present a number of hilarious moments that are totally ‘politically incorrect’ on so many levels.  Sometimes it can be so darn liberating to feel free to see the irony in, and laugh at, what we hold dear.  Absinthe offers that opportunity in the liminal space of a hazy fantasy world with an affecting sound track designed by Collie Bunstin.

On opening night a very good-humored Glenn Ridge got caught up in the insulting repartee and was embroiled in a scenario where he was referred to as ‘the old man’ and was in some danger of having his ‘crown jewels’ tampered with.

Photo - Mark Turner

All that aside, the very backbone of Absinthe is the exceptional production team lead by Wayne Harrison that supports and highlights the skills and work of consummate performers.  Beautifully fit artistes; gymnasts, acrobats and aerial artists work with split second synchronicity often leaving the audience agog in awestruck surprise and relief.  Moving on a number of levels Absinthe contains tender stories and displays of acute sensitivity, awareness and vulnerability, placed in sharp contrast, with the crude repartee of the brazen hosts. 

And pick a favorite – well that is pretty well impossible.  One is continually moved by the beauty, strength and capacity of the human body.  As stunning Circus this show magnifies the tension created between the young virile exquisitely trained, and in some cases bodies modified and changed through training, and the suspenseful fear of mishap created by the risks taken in enthralling an audience.  Tension and relief - delight is enhanced by the close proximity and intimacy intrinsic to the gorgeous atmospheric Spiegeltent. 

The opening night audience was wowed by this tremendously energetic and very slick ride to the point of an enthusiastic standing ovation. 

Photo - Mark Turner

Absinthe is a wonderful opportunity to imbibe in thrilling, astonishing and totally captivating entertainment.  It is truly a treat – a taste of Los Vegas in Melbourne and, as such, an opportunity for a great night out with friends as long as they are eager to ‘let their hair down’ and are not easily offended.

Great fun and a must see!

Australian Tour information – go to:  www.absintheaustralia.com

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)