Flying in my gondola

As if they stepped out of a fashion catalogue, the quartet who compose  Band of Magicians  – Justin Flom, Justin Willman, Nate Staniforth  and  James Galea  – look, talk and act completely different than any other visual illusionists out there. With the exception of the intro, the show was devoid of stereotypical laser, smoke and half naked magician’s assistants, it was obvious that  Band of Magicians  was going to take an alternate route to entertaining an eagerly awaiting Melbourne audience at the Crown’s Palms theatre. Sharing some magic secrets and showcasing an array of familiar tricks, gave the audience the illusion (yes, pun intended) of a somewhat predictable show – this of course was intentional so that the performance could experience a crescendo of sorts, and gradually increase its ooh-ah factor to a full-on awe level, causing the attendees to burst out in cheer. Besides performing as a team, each one of the magicians also dazzled with...

The below review was originally published on Australian Stage, and can be read by clicking here . Written by Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Wednesday, 28 May 2014 09:28 The letter “S” is the19th letter of the English alphabet; represented by a line which curves on top to the right and on the bottom to the left, therefore it is probably also the most balanced letter. The “S” can be perceived as sensuous as well, sophisticated, even a bit dangerous, and in this particular case it is the inspiration behind Circa’s powerful piece work, S , which the Brisbane-based circus troupe, performed at the Darebin Arts Centre last night. On a dark stage void of props, a lone female figure is barely visible, as it contorts to the rhythm of slow and heavy breathing. The bit of light which originates from a solitary lightbulb above her, highlights her body’s curves as she continues to bend and slither, possibly in pain, or perhaps in ecstasy, until she is met by a...

Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Saturday, 24 May 2014 08:47 Left – The Topp Twins. Photo – Sally Tagg Not familiar with the  Topp Twins ? Neither was I a couple of years ago, until I watched their documentary film,  The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls . I made myself a promise that, the next time they were in town, I would move heavens and earth to go see them live. Heavens and earth moved, I had my wish fulfilled. New Zealand’s national treasures, folk and country music singing activists and identical twin sisters,  Jools  and Lynda Topp  have been performing together for over 30 years. Born in the country, tending to farm animals and leading a true farmer’s life, the sisters started out as country singers, and eventually, due to their incredible sense of humour, they evolved into comedy. In the late 1990s, the  Topp Twins  had their own variety TV show, which showcased a cast of New Zealand stereotype characters among them, th...

Written by Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Tuesday, 20 May 2014 09:06 Left – Bert LaBonte and Jude Perl April 1st, 1984, on the eve of his 45th birthday, Motown Records’ superstar Marvin Gay, renown for chart topping hits such as “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” “I heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Sexual Healing,” was shot and killed by his own father. Ironically, when the news of the unfortunate incident broke out, many thought it was an April Fool’s joke, so they didn’t pay much attention to it. When Gaye’s passing was confirmed, the world was overwhelmed by a combination of shock and a devastated sense of loss. Upon learning of the incident, Rev. Al Sharpton said that Gaye’s death came “like a sick, sad joke.” Years later Marvin Senior was asked in an interview if he ever loved his son. He replied, “Let’s just say I didn’t dislike him.” 30 years after Gaye’s death, the show, Let’s Get it On at Melbourne’s Athaeneum Theatre, s...

Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Tuesday, 15 April 2014 08:29 Flying Fruit Fly Circus , Australia’s National Youth Circus, known for its training excellence and its award-winning performing arts company, was established back in 1979, and based in the twin border towns of Albury-Wodonga, on the Murray River. Since then the company has been training and touring young circus artists up to the age of 19, with many graduating artists going on to such companies like  Circus Oz, Cirque du Soleil, Circa  among many others around the world. The  Flying Fruit Fly Circus ’ latest  Circus Under My Bed , part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, is a a fabulously choreographed, directed and executed little show for all ages. Circus Under My Bed  is a story about a young girl, Celeste , who is in the process of moving houses with her family. This has brought  Celeste’s  mood down, but through the help of an imaginary circus ring ...

Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Thursday, 10 April 2014 09:15 Ever hear of ‘The Axis of Evil?’ The term was initially coined by former U.S. president George W. Bush in a State of the Union Address back in 2002, when he identified Iran, Iraq and North Korea as governments assisting terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction. What about ‘The Axis of Awesome?’ Contrary to what might come to mind,  The Axis of Awesome  does not describe countries which inspire an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or induces awe, instead it is the name three very talented musicians/comedians have gone by for nearly eight years. Rocking their unique brand of musical comedy and gaining fans from around the globe, including some A-list fans like Ashton Kutcher and Journey,  The Axis of Awesome  are back for their sixth Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) season, to elate audiences with their brilliant quirkiness. The Awesome  tr...

Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Friday, 11 April 2014 20:48 Singer composer,  Colin Hay  is touring the globe again. Once lead singer of Grammy Award winner Australian band, Men at Work, responsible for such hits as,  Who Can it Be Now ,  Overkill  and the unofficial Australian anthem, renown worldwide  Down Under . Hay  is in town performing at the Arts Centre as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MCIF). At first this may seem unusual, as he is not know for comedy, but,  Colin Hay  is no run-of-of-the-mill kind of artist; he is an accomplished guitarist, and a master story weaver.  Hay  must have been born under a lucky star which has enabled him with the gift of elaborate and extremely witty story telling.  Concert goers are well aware of the gaps and/or breathers which singers fill with some light chit chat and background information of the origins of a particular...

Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Thursday, 03 April 2014 21:42 Puppetry of the Penis , or The Art of Genital Origami! as it is also referred to, was conceived by Simon Morley and David “Friendly” Friend and first performed at the 1998 Melbourne International Comedy Festival – it was declared ‘the best comedy show of the festival’ by The Age at the time. How apropos that I see the show for the first time, right here in Melbourne part of this year’s MICF. At the infancy of their penis bending careers, Morley and Friend were initially booked for a five-week run at London's Whitehall Theatre, and eventually closed after an astonishing five-month run, due to the overwhelming response by audiences, including some A-listers like Hugh Grant, Bono and the Beckhams. The puppeteers are now many – much like The Blue Man Group – touring throughout the UK, Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific, elating its audiences. I caught  Puppetry of the Penis  at t...

Alaska String Band Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Saturday, 15 March 2014 07:37 Photo – Rebecca Friedlander  The Brunswick Music Festival, launched by the Brunswick City Council back in 1989, has featured live performances of folk, roots, and blues music, successfully drawing in new and repeat audiences young and old, year after year. The Festival has showcased Australian artists like The Audreys, Mick Thomas and Fiona Boyes, among many, many more. International artists have also been guests of the Festival, among them Andy Irvine, Vin Garbutt, Chris Smither, and the  Alaska String Band , hailing all the way from, as the name implies... Alaska. I had the privilege and pleasure of attending the  Alaska String Band’s  concert at the Mechanic’s Institute last night, and like the rest of the attendees I was completely floored by their performance. Winners of the Fame Awards – Bluegrass Band of the Year, the  Alaska String Band’s  m...

The Pirates of Penzance | The Production Company Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Saturday, 02 November 2013 07:29 Melbourne has been invaded by pirates. The Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic operetta  The Pirates of Penzance , that is. From the moment the doors open and the seats of Hamer Hall begin to fill, colourfully dressed young men and fair maidens stroll through the isles, interacting with the public as well as each other, whilst a merry bunch of swashbuckling pirates congregates on stage, enticing the observers with what is to come, and that which does come, is great over the top, light and fluffy fun. Though there was little reference to the classic which debuted in 1879, this silly adaptation, mirroring the 1981 Broadway production is one fabulously orchestrated show. From the beautiful costumes, overly dramatic acting (reminiscent of South American soap operas), earth shaking vocals, amazing Orchestra Australia, whimsical set design, spot...

Elixir | Head First Acrobats Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Friday, 04 October 2013 09:11 The elixir of life is a mythical potion which, when ingested from a specific cup at a precise time, supposedly allows eternal youth to the individual who drinks it. In ancient China, emperors have sought the elixir, Hindu scriptures mention ‘Amrit, the Nectar of Immortality,’ and in 18th century the elixir was on the lips of European nobility who yearned for life extension. It seems the topic of youth and physical stamina has been on humanity’s agenda since the beginning of time, and now in Melbourne, it has resurged via  Elixir , a contemporary circus performance, part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Created and performed by  Thomas Gorham  and  Callan Harris , who play research scientists in a high tech laboratory, conducting trials of a new drug which is sure to invigorate and boost physical endurance in its test subjects. In this case, t...

Written by Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Friday, 23 August 2013 08:07   After two decades of impressing audiences around the globe, the Brighton, UK and Manhattan-based dance troupe known as Stomp has come back to Australian shores. My first exposure to the troupe was in the US back in 1997, at the Orpheum Theatre, by which time New Yorkers had already enjoyed numerous performances over the years. For me it was all very new. I was impressed by its originality and awestruck from the first matchbox shake. If you have never heard of Stomp , imagine a sort of post apocalyptic junkyard, where its inhabitants or workers have rummaged through the scraps and salvaged such things as large plastic rubbish bins, metal paint buckets, shopping trolleys, rubber tubes, newspapers, etc. After which, these overall clad scruffy individuals perform a mind blowing percussion symphony which varies from Spanish Flamenco-like clapping to Brazilian Samba ...