Flying in my gondola

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...

Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Friday, 07 February 2014 17:26 Los Angeles-based company  Diavolo Dance Theatre , established by director Jacques Heim back in 1992, has come to Melbourne’s Arts Centre, bringing an amazing mix of modern dance movement and breathtaking acrobatic stunts, set on a variety of oversized sculptural structures. Diavolo  is a medley of endless and diverse styles, among them, everyday movement, ballet, contemporary, acrobatics, gymnastics, martial arts, and hip-hop. When first exposed to Diavolo’s performance, one might think the group is executing random and improvised steps, but soon it’s clear that they are manifesting something which is choreographed down to the minutiae. Architecture in Motion , presented as a double bill, showcases architectural aesthetic with two dance pieces set to a stunning contemporary soundtrack, and is inspired by urban design and cityscapes. The dancers, slide down, climb upon and perform daredevi...

With her infectious laugh and a voice to be reckoned with, Jessica Mauboy was a delight to watch and hear. Upon its announcement, The Melbourne Zoo Twilights 2014 program received an enthusiastic response from music lovers of all ages, with three shows immediately selling out even before the season began. Among the three was the Northern Territory’s Jessica Mauboy, whose concert I had the pleasure of attending this past Saturday. A concert at the Zoo? Indeed! Melbourne Zoo Twilights blends music with wildlife exhibits - open exclusively for Zoo Twilights guests - and gourmet delights, all in the glorious setting of Australia’s oldest Zoo. The proceeds help Zoos Victoria fight wildlife extinction, via the They’re Calling on You campaign to help save the Gorillas. Back in November 2014, the Zoo saw the birth of a new baby elephant. Before entertaining the thousands of fans who came to see her, Jessica Mauboy started her day at the wildlife p...