SHORT+SWEET Week Eight, this is the final week of heats of the Top 80, with the SHORT+SWEET Finals Series next week, including the People’s Choice Showcase and the Wildcards Finals, and soon the SHORT+SWEET Gala Finals.
(1) “Balls Alive” creatively directed by Zoe Tomaras and is a deliciously written comedy by Brian Wallace. Over the top, but quite passionate air band called “Balls Alive”, is apparently playing the wrong air instruments, all whilst practising in front of the the lead guitarist’s air-girlfriend (Vanessa). Starring Suriya Ticehurst as Bobby, Tyler Cross as Jason and Matthew Bartlett as Jon.
(2) “Movies with Naarni” wonderful message piece written by Uma Kali Shakti, and directed by Kazuyo Kitada for ITC Rainbow Connections. Naarni yearns to teach her adolescent grandson all about life and always living well. Effective monologue, starring Jorie Licett as Naarni.
(3) “Paper Cuts” an unsettling dance piece, with both irony and comedy, written, directed and performed by Lara Rix and Rose Nguyen. Rose Hates Dance versus Lara Loves Dance, complete with a Music-Equipment failure and a housemates relationship ending live on stage, with unexpected but cute audience participation.
(4) “Swingers” comedy of assumption and presumption as directed by Carly Fisher and written by Julie Johnston. Bruce and Annie are an average married couple, and suddenly glamour couple Greg and Candice extend an invitation for them, to all go for an intimate spa party. This is a comedy of mis-direction and mis-understanding, so if you decide that you are cheating, then please do check first, that everyone actually wants to be swingers. Starring Rosie Niven as Candice, James Coates as Greg, Nic Westwood as Annie and Trey Tagaloa as Bruce.
(5) “The Spanish Room” mispronounced English, delivered an excellent robbery comedy, written and directed by Craig Delahoy. Millie and Hector are underworld criminals who fail badly both at crime and exactly how to correctly use a panic room, and most especially incorrectly understanding the English language. Starring Duncan Armitage as Roger the Sperm Banker, Liz Hovey as the wife Barbara (Boobie), Mark Fowler as Hector and Rizcel Gagawanan as Millie.
(6) “HMS Headwind” directed by Amelia Gilday. Michael. Gordon Shapiro has written an 1880s Gilbert and Sullivan-esque musical comedy, about an unskilled crew aboard a British Vessel. Conflicted Black Abigail the Pirate Queen versus her uncle, the very British Naval Captain Abernathy. Starring Alex Fenner as Captain Abernathy, Laura Bailey as Black Abigail the Pirate Queen, Sean Bermingham as Sergeant Adams, Alicia Badger as Harriet, Jarrod Kitto as Mr Dobbs and Nathan Bolton as Mr Corwin.
(7) “The Bachelors” refugee message piece with comedy, directed by Mark Fowler and written by Xavier Toby. At the USA Consulate in Istanbul, when applying for a H1B work visa, a young model (Lily) gets propositioned twice, complete with two green-card marriage proposals. Starring Kate O’Neill as Lily, Shivam Mehndiratta as Illya, Tino Iheme as Malik and Yasemin Sirin is unseen as The Announcer.
(8) “The Last Cuppa” relationship drama by ITC Active Theatre Productions, written by Allan West and directed by Simon Doctor. Elderly couple Stan and Ethel are having a cuppa, to celebrate their 43rd wedding anniversary. Alzheimers and a heart attack, so what is real, so is this the past, or the future? Starring Simon Doctor as Stan, Deirdre Campbell as Ethel and Rowena McNicol as their daughter Vicky.
(9) “Channel 8” comedy parody of Morning Television complete with parody advertising for Secret Wigs, written by Melinda Ryan and directed by Wendy Winkler for ITC Act IV Theatre Co. In a very different universe, if men were treated like women, and the latest horrible news story, provides the details of a gang of women raping a man. Starring Melinda Ryan as Darla Davis, Riccardo Ingle as Sam Smith, Niamh Burke as Rachel Ryan, Kaitlin de Lacy as Paula Page, Monica Ulibarri as Julia James, Annelies Tjetjep as Amber Andrews and Jeremy Jackson as Jeremy Jackson.
(10) “Ask Me Anything” comedy job interview as written by Philip Middleton Williams and directed by Florence Florens. Strange job interview for a very sensitive job vacancy, with so many weird questions. Starring Jake Paul as Martin, Mel Smith as Stephanie and Florence Florens as Lea.
This year in a big new venue for S+S, and located inside the Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) building, and comfortably seating a maximum of 171. Top 80 Week Eight Thursday 22nd March 2018 until Sunday.
The S+S festival has new shows every week for eight weeks, and runs from February until April, with both a Top 80 program (Thursdays-Fridays-Saturdays at 7.30pm and Sundays at 6.30pm) together with a separate Wildcards program (Saturdays at 3.30pm and Sundays at 2.30pm). The S+S gala finals take place in April 2018.
Short+Sweet Theatre (@ Tom Mann Theatre) Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) 136 Chalmers Street Surry Hills
All photos by Chris Lundie.
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