It was a privilege to be on assignment for Scenestr again to review a movie. This time Karen and I went to a critic’s screening in Gold Class at Chermside cinemas. We were given complimentary drinks and popcorn as well and I got to write a film review.
I saw the original in 2004 with Ron Perlman and was fairly blasé about it, having enjoyed the previous film from Guillermo del Toro – Blade II. I’ve heard good things but never got around to the sequel The Golden Army or reading any of the comics but they’re quite admired. I suspect true fans will be elated and disappointed in equal measure by this reboot. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/hellboy-review-20190411
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
Following ImproMafia‘s Heartfelt High on Tuesday night we next made plans to catch up with some friends on Saturday for the last round of After Hours and of course if we were going to do that then we decided we would attend Queensland Theatresports Championships the same night at 7:45pm. So on Saturday 23MAR2019 that’s exactly what we did. There were no pepperoni pizzas or chips with aioli though beloved they remain. We went up to the balcony and chatted with an airline employee from Hong Kong before the show began. I still marvel that this show is for free and it adds so much to the festival. One team, BCF, we’d seen compete two weeks earlier once again they were great as was everyone.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Outside the Powerhouse on the last Saturday night of the Festival. Copyright Lloyd Marken
These Minis were driven around Brisbane by comedians. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
After hours leaving. Copyright Looyd Marken.
The performers on stage during Theatresports. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright LLoyd Marken.
Afterwards I got some lemon, lime & bitters and sat down with Karen killing time. I ran into the talented sketch comedian Mark Lombard who confirmed with me that I had written the review of Brisburned@Work for Scenestr. He thanked me for the review and I congratulated him on the show. I enjoyed the exchange. You see performers around all the time at the Festival and I never quite know what to do but Mark did.
As we got closer to the time for After Hours our friends arrived and we went outside to the river to meet them. I talked up the highlight reel aspect of the first After Hours we saw but noted it could be different tonight and boy am I glad I added that disclaimer. We descended to the Turbine Studio that night and saw something more akin to what I was expecting the first time. Some comedian came out snorting and rubbing his nose before referencing he’d been drinking. Another felt he was dying and referenced that a fellow comedian Demi Lardner was laughing at him backstage while this happened. I don’t know if anybody was trying out rawer or edgier material for this particular show but if not, they were hardly conservative acts. Also with the festival wrapping up there were no cabaret shows trying to sell last show tickets, just comedians plying their trade. We saw Demi Lardner (energetic and brash – totally owning her set), Matt Stewart (the nicest and one of the funnier people on the night), Tom Ballard (the biggest name probably there that night and a solid closer although even he seemed to note there was a lot of anger in his bit). Blake Freeman (who does the kind of gross awkward humour that makes you nervous but kind of gets away with it because there’s something so likeable there). There were two more and I liked them but their names escape me. Dusty Rich was of course on hand to compere and came away the winner of the night doing some audience interaction with a big unit named Cammo. The only thing funnier for me was Ballard explaining where smashed avo comes from. We stole off into the night again certainly having experienced an After Hours not as good as the first one we saw but still remaining a show we would be eager to see next year. In fact a strong had been made to see if more than once every year!
Karen and I outisde City Hall about to go in. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Brisbane CIty Hall. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
That left my assignment for Scenestr magazine the next day over at the Ithaca Auditorium in Brisbane City Hall at 5pm. If you’re of a certain age you know of the Doug Anthony All Stars, they were just before my time but I saw some old The Big Gig episodes on Foxtel in the 90s and heard them whispered about in awe. One member Paul McDermott became a big deal to me with a little show called Good News Week which was of my time.
A relative of mine had MS and I saw her fight it for two decades. I took part in the fundraising Moonlight Walks for MS along my city’s river in 2007, 2009 and 2010 thinking about her and many like her. Some of them taking part in the walk.
You see Tim Ferguson has MS, he’s 55 and he’s in a wheelchair. He was diagnosed in 1996 and went public in 2010. That was nine years ago when he walked with a cane. Diagnosis means one thing in terms of how things are going to end but that one thing is coming for us all. There was something deep and shared in Tim’s show. There was a little boy talking about his Dad, a rebel apologising, an young man passing on wise counsel, a sick man proving his virility, an old man looking forward to the future. I told Mark Lombard on Saturday night that Brisburned@Work was Karen’s favourite show at the festival and I was telling the truth. On Sunday night we left the auditorium and Karen turned to me and said “I have a new favourite.”
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
That concluded Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019, I had been on assignment 4 times with Scenestr, once for Weekend Notes and seen all up 11 shows. It has been quite a month and I feel really blessed and I thank you for coming along for the ride.
I have certainly been in full festival mode at this year’s Brisbane Comedy Festival.
Karen and I with her best friend saw Raven On Thursday night 14MAR2019 at the Brisbane Room in Brisbane City Hall. Raven On was a one woman production from Act/React starring Natalie Bochenski making peace with the impending end of the Game of Thrones. As a fan of Love/Hate Actually and Bochenski I eagerly awaited attending. Yet I found the show a little padded out and indulgent, missing the interplay and contrast with a fellow performer. Yet Bochenski remains one of the most entertaining and likeable presences you can find on stage. There were definitely highlights for me including a video of her Nan, a rap recap of the series that I hope goes viral , a gif involving David Bowie and an epic sword fight. Not to mention Bochenski herself, she’s kind of amazing. So I enjoyed it but thought it could have been even better yet despite my misgivings Karen and her friend were adamant it was a great show so there you go. Maybe there was something in the fact that I got excited when a poster for Independence Day appeared whereas they were more moved when Colin Firth’s performance in Pride and Prejudice got covered.
Wine in a can. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Brisbane City Hall. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken/
Karen and I grabbing something to eat a the nearby Pig’N’Whistle. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Exiting the main entrance. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
New unicorn shoes on the famous tiled floor of Brisbane City Hall. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
City Hall after the show. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Tasty. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
With Karen before we went in. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Brisbane Room before the performance. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Albert Street Uniting Church. Where Karen and I got married. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
From there that Sunday we saw Queensland Theatresports Championships again at the Brisbane Powerhouse which was even better than last time if that is possible.
My beloved pepperoni pizza from bar menu. Simple but effective. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen on the balcony. Last time we were below at a table. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The talented performers on stage at the Turbine Platform. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
On our way in. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
It was a rainy Sunday when we attended Theatresports. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Then on Tuesday night I was on assignment for the first time for Weekend Notes to attend ImproMafia‘s latest show Heartfelt High a lampoon of all teen shows form the 1990s. It was a thrill to get to review the show for Weekend Notes and keen readers will observe I’ve seen some shows from those involved with ImproMafia. Lord of the Thrones, Animated! at Brisbane Comedy Festival 2018 and they present Queensland Theatresports Championships. Performers involved are also part of Act/React and The Shadow Collective. It’s fair to say I’m familiar with their work and I’m a fan. Opening night of Heartfelt High did not disappoint but I do hope for larger more boisterous crowds to be in attendance at subsequent shows. You can read my review here https://www.weekendnotes.com/heartfelt-high-impromafia-brisbane-comedy-festival/
Weekend Notes are a growing online magazine with a wealth of contributors based out of several cities across the United Kingdom, Australia and New York. Articles are leisure related and can include a wide variety of subjects from rainforest hikes to cultural festivals, from what hot new play is on at your underground theatre to a ultra trendy eatery. Writers are paid for their work based partly on how many views their articles get so please feel free to stop by and show some love.
-Lloyd Marken
Outside City Hall on assigment for Weekend Notes for the first time. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Sunset. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Outside the Brisbane Room. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The Brisbane room right after the show. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
I was fortunate enough to be on assignment for Scenestr again to review an upcoming release. I attended last Sunday a morning preview screening of The Lego Movie sequel along with lots of young people who could be heard dropping some truth bombs and giggling away throughout. The law of diminishing returns with sequels may apply here but the film was still more than entertaining and should prove very popular with families over the upcoming Easter holidays. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review-20190320
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month
It was Saturday the 9th of March at the Brisbane Comedy Festival, and Karen and I were having a wonderful time. We had arrived mid afternoon on a sunny day, attended a performance of Brisburned@Work for Scenestr which Karen really enjoyed, taken in a session of Queensland Theatresports, run into some people we knew and really had a great time and had our fill of the tasty bar food. Yet the day was not yet over as we descended the stairs that led to the Turbine Studio.
The Turbine Studio a smaller more intimate venue is housed right next door right across the Visy Theatre on the same floor – the river level. Despite seeing some fantastic shows at their more glamourous cousin the Powerhouse Theatre I have to admit I have a soft spot for these two venues and maybe in particular the Turbine studio just because it tends feature shows or entertainers that are building towards something. I saw Nath Valvo at the Turbine Studio when he was big in Melbourne but growing his fanbase here, one of the first performances of Love/Hate Actually, Cassie George in There’s Something About Mary(s), the promising debut of the Grass Is Dead On The Other Side and so as I headed to see After Hours at the same venue it felt appropriate. By choosing to attend I was in on a secret, by staying later I was somehow more hardcore and more genuine than other audiences but little did I realise what a treat I was in for. You can read more of my thoughts here https://www.weekendnotes.com/after-hours-brisbane-comedy-festival/
Afterwards Karen and I headed off into the night to home and bed. It had been a good day spent at the Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019.
Weekend Notes are a growing online magazine with a wealth of contributors based out of several cities across the United Kingdom, Australia and New York. Articles are leisure related and can include a wide variety of subjects from rainforest hikes to cultural festivals, from what hot new play is on at your underground theatre to a ultra trendy eatery. Writers are paid for their work based partly on how many views their articles get so please feel free to stop by and show some love.
-Lloyd Marken
Copyrigh Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The Brisbane Powerhouse nearing midnight. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The blue lights of the Brisbane Comedy Festival were already turned off as we left. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The Saturday before last I was lucky enough to be back on assignment for Scenestr at the Brisbane Comedy Festival. I was there to check out Brisburned@Work, the follow-up to last year’s run away hit Brisburned: Sketch Comedy About Brisbane. While I had not seen the previous show, the premise intrigued me and by all accounts I was in for a treat.
Mark Lombard and his fellow sketch comedians did not let me down, there were plenty of laughs and I almost fell out of my chair when James Tinniswood impersonated legendary rugby league coach Wayne Bennett. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/brisburned-work-review-brisbane-comedy-festival-2019-20190312 Local readers be aware the show performs this Saturday as well.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
Tree in the carpark. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
A familiar sight during the day. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
My favourite spot to sit. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Seating area near the bar. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Outside the River Room Terrace. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloy Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
The Turbine Platform. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Poster for the original Brisbane Comedy Festival as you can see in bottom right hand corner Scenestr have a long history with the festival. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
We arrived at the Powerhouse mid-afternoon with the sun still shining to check out Brisburned at 4:45pm in the Rooftop Terrace where I have now seen 3 shows at this year’s Brisbane Comedy Festival. From there we got dinner, tucking into the bar food pizzas and chips. The sun went down and we gathered at the Turbine platform in anticipation of the free Queensland Theatresports. Starting at 7:45pm it featured comedy improv performers competing against one another complete with commentators and a referee. In fact Michael Griffin part of Brisburned, was one of the commentators here. As free entertainment it was highly entertaining and the already substantial crowd quickly grew.
We had a wonderful night but it wasn’t over yet. I had bought tickets for After Hours. starting at 10:15pm.
-Lloyd Marken
On the way to the men’s toilets. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyrigh Lloyd Marken.
Later in the day but still light out. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
-Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Where the magic happens and the pizzas are born. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Before the show begins in the Rooftop Terrace. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Karen on our way in from this end. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Landed a park. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen and I explored the walkway on the 1st floor after having seen the show in the Rooftop Terrace on the second level. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Been a while so decided to strike my traditonal Brisbane Powerhouse pose. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
For many years the building was derelict host to film crews, homeless people and graffitti artists. The graffitti has been retained. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Views from the terrace. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
There were bowls with some jokes distributed around tables. I approved of this even if Karen did not. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken. This might have been working class men once sat for their lunch breaks and now swanky people sipping alcohol in th same space on their way to stand-up comedy. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
The crowd for the free Knock Off on Friday night. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Last night I went to a preview screening of Captain Marvel two days ahead of its release date to review it for Scenestr magazine. I have been to all sorts of screenings over the years, long before I got to be a freelance writer, Karen was winning tickets in competitions and taking me along. However until last night I had never been to a preview screening of a Marvel blockbuster. I attended it at the top of the Myer Centre in the Brisbane CBD with other press and social media influencers who had been invited along as well as elite female athletes which was on theme for the story of a powerful woman. We were given lanyards and a free drink from a makeshift bar. The VMAX cinema the film screened in was perfect for making use of big theatre sound. I do think there are things that could’ve been done better in the film but overall I enjoyed Captain Marvel and you can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/captain-marvel-review-20190306
This is coincidentally the 90th piece of writing I have had published with Scenestr and my 150th overall. Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month
-Lloyd Marken
Karen and I at the screening. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Going down Queen Street Mall at the end of the night. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Pizza after the movie at Vapianos. I got bbq chicken but Karen got a spicy meatball. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Lanyards. Copyright Lloyd Marken
Ascending to the top of the Myer Centre for the screening. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
First show was last Tuesday night to see Georgie Carroll who I am familiar with due to appearances on the entertaining television program Have You Been Paying Attention? My interest in seeing her though was due to her work as a nurse, as a former wardie I was interested in seeing a comedic slant on the work of hospital staff from someone who knows what they’re talking about.
We were back in the Brisbane Powerhouse which continues to grab my interest with its clever installations and lighting in a setting that evokes so much history. We saw Georgie perform in the Rooftop Terrace which was new since I’ve previously only gone to shows on the two bottom floors. It was a relatively simple room, similar to some others and about the right size for the crowd involved. Still always exciting to go somewhere new and I enjoyed the views.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
The view from the Rooftop Terrace. Copyright Lloyd Marken
Heading into the Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month
It is a thrill to be back on assignment at the Brisbane Powerhouse for Scenestr magazine. I took Karen to see The Duke to see on Valentines Day 2019 and the next night we attended Robin Hood & Me. Both are one-man shows from the talented artist Shon Dale-Jones of Hoipolloi theatre.
Seeing both shows in close proximity it is hard not to draw comparisons between the two. The Welshman is playing with narrative structure throughout and engaging with his audiences openly commenting on when something gets a laugh or cause silence. At our performance of The Duke a reaction that seemed to suggest an awareness of what was coming prompted him to remark “I see we have some writers in the room.” He creates an intimate atmosphere where you get wrapped up in the story even if he has been upfront about the fact that some of it may just be a story. The Duke featured a dear old Mum from Anglesey and a bit of whimsy. Robin Hood & Me featured more rage and despair in the performance of Shon Dale-Jones and was more upfront about how the narrative could have been a beautiful lie told to comfort ourselves.
After each which touched upon the less fortunate in our society there were buckets present to receive donations for charities that help those in need. I allow for the possibility that this is a Banksian-level commentary on the theatre going public, middle class guilt and the espousal of art but I think something much more sincere is going on. I think Shon is genuine about his concern for his fellow human beings and he writes pieces of theatre that will engage us to think of others, to donate time and money to charities and in our actions to feel a little bit better about the world.
It is fascinating to wonder which parts of his life really happened but what is definitely real is the emotions he stirs up in us and the values that he asserts are important. That’s real enough for me and I happily put some cash in those buckets on my way out.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month
-Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Posters for the shows. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
About to enjoy our pizzas from the bar. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Back to the Drawing Board Productions 