This week explore comedy, drama and physical theatre with each ten minute play covering all manner of things, including high society celebrity, Irish superstitions, the drug menace, surviving grief and theatre ghosts in a tasty assortment of live theatre treats vividly explored on stage during Short and Sweet Week Six of “The biggest little theatre festival in the world”.
Every week there is a new Short+Sweet Top 80 program (Thursdays-Fridays-Saturdays at 7.30pm and Sundays at 6.00pm) together with a separate new S+S Wildcards program each week (Saturdays at 3.30pm and Sundays at 2.30pm). The annual Short+Sweet huge gala finals, all take place during April 2019.
Second year in this big new venue for S+S, and comfortably seating a maximum of 171. Top 80 WEEK SIX is a huge week of must-see comedic delights with each brand new play under ten minutes, Thursday 14th March 2019 until Sunday. The S+S festival has new shows every week for eight weeks, and runs through to April 2019.
(1) MARK AND MARGOT
Relationship comedy delivered by a unconventional middle-aged married couple with no children. Their twelve year old marriage needs far less on-stage swearing and more depth, plus a proper detailed explanation all about the man named Ted.
Written by Monica Keaton
Directed by Inga Silfr Jon
Starring Andrew Gobran, Melanie Ringer
(2) THE SECOND ONE
Thought-provoking drama with no unwanted questions, as the experimental consumption of unknown drugs (pills) unfolds in a manner very reminiscent of the 1998 movie “Run Lola Run”.
ITC: Fade To Black
Written and directed by Grant Wilson
Starring Sarah Moon, Jack Douglas, Anthony Constanti, Jasmine Lambos
(3) BUY BYE
Excellent shop-assistant comedy in the very expensive “everything store” where buying the perfect crafty and arty gift, is too difficult. If only there was some clever way to ensure that everything was being given away for free.
Written by Vee Malnar
Directed by Tom Richards
Starring Melissa Myles, Liz Hovwy
(4) NEIGHBOURS BY THE SEA
Refugee boat people this “losing everything” allegorical tale is told in words and in dance. Beach thief drama is lovingly and beautifully choreographed by a huge cast.
Written by Emma Goldman Sherman
Directed by Cecile Payet
Choreographer Genevieve Morris
Starring Mathilde Anglade, Sabrina Muszynski, Sarah Goroch, Naomi Reichardt, Cassandra Spilling
(5) PLASICITY
Parenting comedy with many dramatic moments all about his zip-lock-plastic bags and his cheating, and an unexpected twist ending. He cheats, she wins.
ITC: RAPA INC
Written and directed by Warren Bradey
Starring Shakira Wood, Teodora Matovic, Hamish Street
(6) TIMES ARE A CHANGING
Comedy very reminiscent of the 2015 comedy-drama film “Inside Out” and this comedic play, shows in words and deeds, precisely what happens each night in a man’s mind, whilst in rem sleep dreaming. We experience the intrigues and conspiracies and loss of control.
Written and directed by James Brettel
Starring Leigh Tuckwell, Erin Bruce, John Harding
(7) SOCIALITE NETWORKING
Audience favourite, superbly costumed comedy spoken with royal and proper RP accents. Instantly creating the correct impression with each glorious black and white photograph, long before the invention of the selfie. The rich socialite butler, her advisor and her butler are creating brand-new fresh lies with each new photo.
Written by Nicky Denovan
Directed by Olga Tamara
Starring Anthony McShane (Carstairs the Butler), Rebecca Smee, Kristelle Zibara
(8) TELL DADDY
Drama about death, grieving and the shock from the loss, because Meagan is very very dead.
ITC: Dare Collective
Written and directed by Matt Taylor
Starring Sasha Simon, Fransico Lopez
(9) THE HOLD UP
The philosopher stalking his girlfriend, the robber, and the shopkeeper. Quick-fire comedy with so many memorable and just very wrong one-liners, provided huge laughter frenzy all in under ten minutes.
Written and directed by Greg Gould
Starring Peter Fock, Michael Ubrihein, Phillip Meddows
(10) FAIRIES
Interesting message play, about Irish alcoholism and Irish loss. Ireland is the perfect place to grow beautiful daffodils, but beware the sacred fairy trees. Dancing fairies constantly protecting their fairy trees.
Written by Adam Szudrich
Directed by Georgia Drinon
Starring Zoe Sadler, Katherine Shead, Madelaine Caban, Remington Adeny
(11) THEATRICAL DEAD
Beware the “theatre ghost” comedy with one of the bard’s greatest monologue. Screams and drama, the musical Oklahoma, is being upstaged by the ghost of Hamlet, who seems unable to remember all of his lines, plus also forgets to say “prompt” or say “line”.
Written by Bart Meehan
Directed by Chris Snell
Starring Anthony McShane, Debbie Tilley, Dirk Nagel, Joshua Patterson
(12) WHAT’S A LITTLE AX BETWEEN FRIENDS
Comedy delight as the executioner gets to know his next client. However his new client will soon be meeting the freshly sharpened axe.
Written by Joe Starzyk
Directed by Valywn McGonigal
Starring James Sugure, Brennan Kinley
Short+Sweet Theatre (@ Tom Mann Theatre) Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) 136 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills
SHORT + SWEET THEATRE – Top 80 – WEEK SIX – 14th March 2019 until 17th March 2019
7:30pm Thursdays-Fridays-Saturdays
6:00pm Sundays (followed by the official presentation)
TICKETS: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/shortsweetsydney
WEBSITE: https://shortandsweet.org/festivals/shortsweet-theatre-sydney-2019
https://www.facebook.com/pg/shortsweetsydney/
https://shortandsweetsydney.wordpress.com/
