The Laugh Stand

Every month on a Wednesday night The Laugh Stand gets people together for a night of stand up comedy at the FBi Social in Kings Cross.
Dane Hiser is the man behind The Laugh Stand. His motivation is to give, up and coming comics a night to perform and also give audiences a quality night with the addition of a more seasoned MC! FBi Social is a great venue for stand up, it is small and dark and has a array of seating options!
I went last Wednesday with my husband, we sat towards the back just to make sure, that  if any of the comedians were going to pick on an audience member it wasn't us! We weren't the only ones I spotted a few that we trying to blend in with the black background. There was your usual array of audience members men with large fluffy beards and strangely most of the women had long black straight hair! We weren't the easiest of audiences to warm up and even the MC Mikey Robins seemed a little afraid when he first saw us. But things did get going, probably helped slightly by the $5 Magners who sponsor the event!
It was well organised with Mikey then a few comedians then a break, and repeat. I am not too sure how many times that happened as I did have a couple of Magners! The up and comings for the night were James Colley, Richard Lindesay, Alex Waisel, Matthew McKenna and Jazz Twemlow (ABC2’s ‘The Roast’), though there did seem more than that, Dane did a spot too. All the comedians performed well considering the audience were all trying to pretend they weren't really there! Actually, there was little crowd questioning so we all could have relaxed!
It was a good night out, cheap too at just $15 which includes a Magners! So, if you fancy a laugh or trying to disguise yourself as a black wall for the night head to the Laugh Stand at the FBi Social. The next show is on Wednesday 18 September.

Quiet Companions and The Bryce is Right - double bill, Review

This double bill Quiet Companions and The Bryce is Right was at the New Theatre just for a few nights, 25 - 28 August.
It was a very enjoyable Saturday night at the theatre. Both were very different from each other making it a good double bill. The first Quiet Companions starred Lyn Pierse and Marko Mustac.  Set in a Victorian Salon the two characters find themselves stood up by their friends, so decide to embark on their own parlor games.  These were based on many impro games and were very funny. The awkwardness between the two is very apparent and as the games progress the innocent flirting begins and ends with the revelation of a dark secret. Lyn Pierse was superb, she didn't need to speak, her face said it all. The only thing that I thought let this play down was the end, it just didn't make sense and really didn't fit with the lightheartedness of the rest of the play.  The performance was enhanced by some impro music from Bryce.
The Bryce is Right, is Bryce Halliday debut as a one man show. Bryce is very talented not long out of University where he studied music and in particular Musical Theatre.  He is heavily involved in Impro Australia and has provided the music for many of their Theatresports championships.  His one man show was a musical journey through things that are wrong, according to Bryce! The show contained music, jokes, storytelling and more. It was a brave move by Bryce and he obviously felt more comfortable behind the piano. The electronic techniques were clever and I didn't even realise possible. Bryce is one to watch, even though this show, in my opinion still needs a bit of spit and polish, he has a long career ahead of him and I can't wait to see where he is going to take it.

Bob Downe - 20 Golden Greats

Bob Downe known for his polyester outfits and huge laughs. Last night was the opening night at the Sydney Theatre.
Bob pranced around the stage like a small child, full of energy and fun. It was a show that made you feel exhausted just watching it. He interacts with the audience making you feel more like a conversation with Bob, rather than a straight show (not that it is that straight, if you get my drift!). This show had me laughing, singing, clapping and waving so if you are not feeling energetic this might not be for you!
I interviewed Bob on The Hubbub last Monday and he did tell me that you don't sweat in Polyester, well sorry Bob I didn't believe you, and now I have seen the show I know it wasn't true. Mind you with the amount of energy that Bob puts in I think if he had been naked (what a thought!) he would have been sweating!
20 Golden Greats is a show every loosely based on 20 songs, whether he actually sang 20 I have no idea. I can tell you he can sing, dance and entertain all at once, quite a feat. I can't tell you the names of any of the songs, one I was too busy laughing and another as he told me on Monday he would have to kill me! There is trivia in the show, so a chance to win some great prizes, I won't say more than that otherwise I will spoil it!
The audience last night loved the show so much we didn't want him to leave the stage, begging him for more, I must say the time flew by.
This is only a short run and will close on 26 May so get your tickets now, it is such a hoot!
https://boxoffice.sydneytheatre.org.au/EventSBandPrices.aspx

Interview with Bryce Halliday

Bryce is the producer of Fresh - The Scriptless Cup. Find out about the event and how Bryce got involved with theatresports.

Listen here, recorded on Triple H 100.1 fm

(please note the link will become inactive in about 3 months time, call 02 99403649 if you would like to listen)

Interview with Jorge Menidis

Jorge Menidis is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Sydney Comedy Festival. The festival is an annual event which takes place April/ May, this is it's 8th season. The festival opens with a Cracker Night, find out what this is and what the line-up is so far, plus more, listen here!

Recorded on The Hubbub, Triple H 100.1 fm

(please note the link will become inactive in about 3 months time, call 02 99403649 if you would like to listen)

An Interview with Donte

Listen to a great interview with Donte (Comedy in the Raw), why did he come to Australia? What shows are happening? Why is he organising a Dance-a-thon, that's not comedy? Find out the answers to all these and more ...

Click to Listen

(please note the link will become inactive in about 3 months time, call 02 99403649 if you would like to listen)

Sam Simmons - the Precise History of Things

What makes a good comedian?

Funny? Check.

Truthful and observant? Check.

A little toilet humour? Check. (An oldie but a goodie).

How about one who begins by lecturing you on the rules of the show; namely, no ‘yellow’, no running with scissors and no looking like flight centre attendants; and who ends by forcing you to query the never-ending meaninglessness of this somewhat existential life?

Throw in some unnerving audience participation, sound effects, talking Llamas, lonely pinecones and most importantly – a chubby bald man wearing (rather short) pyjamas and a pair of thick-rimmed glasses, and you have Sam Simmons – The Precise History of Things.

I placed a lot of trust in this bald, sweaty, cursing man as he repeatedly told us there was a point to his random yelling, abnormal props and sing-songs. He asked us to bear with him and that it would all make sense in the end.

And it did.

My thoughts varied from wondering why so many people were laughing at his crude, nonsensical humour when I was about to walk out (no, I probably wouldn’t have for fear he would make a scene!), to cheering, clapping and praising this man – not because he was finished – but because he had me pondering the meaning of 45 minutes of self deprecation, brilliant facial spasms, musings and a shopping trolley full of groceries. And I got it!

Watch it. You won’t be disappointed.

Well, that’s not entirely true, but you won’t leave feeling disappointed by the performance or cheated out of $30 and that’s the most important thing.

Reviewed by Lana Hilton http://thefirsttimer.com

It's a comedy news brief..brief!

We're loosing one of our favourite sons to the USA in a few weeks, so we're throwing him a farewell comedy bash.

The very funny Daniel Grozdich is heading to the states in a few weeks, so this Saturday night, 8pm, he's guest hosting "Quick..Some Comedy Quick with a few wackingly funny surprise guest comics. Over 10 comics on stage for $11 bucks! Yes you'll be laughing all the way to the bank baby. Come join us in wishing him well.

Thanks to all who voted for us in the Comedy Awards. I don't know who won, but just wanted to say Mucho thanks :-)

We had 2 sold out shows this past week, all comics were on their best game, thanks to Mr laughs, Ade Norman for hosting Quick Comedy! As Arnold would say "He'll be back"

We're looking to bring in a few headliners soon, just testing the waters. we'll keep u posted

Dont forget our  Fred Hollows Foundation 12 Hour Dance-A-Thon Charity Dance Contest, Bondi Pavilion, June 12, 2011. Win up-to $1000 bucks! Registration closes  May 30th. For more info or to register  www.danceathon.com.au   Thanks to all who've donated.  Make a donation of $5.00 or more this week and get a free ticket to see Daniel Grozdich farewell Comedy Bash this Saturday night at Star Bar! (First 25 people to donate only)

U can make a donation towards the event at:        http://www.everydayhero.com.au/donte_winbush

This week at  Donte D1's  "Star Bar's Comedy Theatre"

Movie Extra Tropfest

FOUR WEEKS TO CREATE A WINNING FILM SCORE!

Are you the next John Williams, Bernard Herrmann or Jerry Goldsmith? Or perhaps you have the talent to rival the likes of Quincy Jones, Danny Elfman and Nick Cave? If you think you have what it takes to be the next big thing in film scoring enter MAX TROPSCORE before entries close on Thursday 13 January 2011.

Theatresports & Impro in Sydney

Laughter is very good medicine it soothes the soul and eases the stress. A few year's ago Sydney's comedy scene was not so funny, with only a few shows here and there with little publicity. However, it was there hidden in small bars. Every week groups of men and women would meet, they were determined to have a good time themselves and see where it would take them. Little did they know the impact they would have on the Comedy scene in Sydney.
Now Sydney has it's own comedy annual festival, it has the fiercely fought over Cranston Cup, it has several weekly Theatresports/Impro shows that are well established and it has the National Theatresports Championships. All of these have grown over the years and have produced and promoted talented acts such as The Axes of Awesome who are about to go on a World Tour.
So what is Theatresports and Impro Comedy? Basically it is a team of people who make stuff up on stage and somehow make it very funny. Some Impro I have seen has been very clever. I recently saw Pink Ladies (Friday night late show at the Roxbury Hotel). They acted out a documentary about different characters which they made up on the night. How these characters came about and interacted with each other was very clever. Not all the scenes were rip roaringly funny but you had to admire their quick thinking and reactions to the unknown. In 45 minutes you had met and understood at least 10 - 15 characters all acted out by 5 women in a scenario that unfolded and twisted and twisted and then came back together, from the plans of Kenya to a mental institution, a university to a covent and from Woolworths to a prison cell! Where will the Pink Ladies take you next week?
The Cranston Cup 2010 is underway with heats 1 - 4 already been and gone! This is a serious competition with the grand play off in December for the cup. Each heat has 4 teams who are set various challenges, there are judges and a time keeper! For example one team had to put a marshmallow in their month but not eat it every time the audience laughed, there were playing a scene in a launderette! Another had to perform a yodeling opera in the wilderness, and so it goes on with challenges until the scores are added and a winner is announced! I saw heat 3 on Sunday and yes I was crying several times with laughter, it did soothe my soul and ease the stress. I think I should return each week for therapy and so should you. The Cranston Cup.

To find out all that is happening in Theatresports and Impro in Sydney head to Impro Australia.