Theatre Review – Page 2 – Back to the Drawing Board Productions

AWESOME OCEAN PARTY REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on November 25, 2019December 1, 2019 by Lloyd Marken

How did I ever not know about Wonderland? Every year at around about this time the festival runs at the Brisbane Powerhouse with a mix of cabaret, comedians, plays and experiments.

This is my third time reviewing shows for Scenestr magazine and it remains something special that I truly look forward to. As I approached the Powerhouse for my first show I smiled at the lit up ‘W‘ sign above the main entrance. It was good to be back.

Last Thursday I arrived to see shows Awesome Ocean Party and the highly anticipated latest from Act/React’s Die Hard: The Movie, The Play.

More on the latter later but you can read my review of Awesome Ocean Party here https://scenestr.com.au/arts/awesome-ocean-party-brisbane-review-wonderland-festival-2019-20191125. Nominated for Best Cabaret at Melbourne Fringe 2016, the show had a quirky home made charm about it, likeable performers and a lovely message.

About to enter Wonderland again. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Some new installations this year. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

With my baby. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Afterwards attending the show at the Turbine Studio, Karen and I went to the bar and had our beloved favourite Powerhouse pizzas – basil and cheese for Karen and pepperoni for me.

We then made our way to Nakatomi plaza.

To be continued…

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

SINCE ALI DIED REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on September 27, 2019May 4, 2021 by Lloyd Marken

The second week of September this year Karen and I were particularly lucky to be busy attending events for me to review. That Monday night we were in the Brisbane CBD at the Myer Centre for a preview screening of the hilarious Good Boys, Tuesday night we were at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus to attend Truthmachine playing at the Theatre Republic as part of BrisFest 2019.

We closed out the week Thursday night back at the Theatre Republic to see Since Ali Died by Omar Musa. All of this was on assignment for the amazing Scenestr team. I’m in third year of working for them and I feel very blessed continuing to do this work while I’ve been busy with my full time job.

Also performing as part of the Brisbane Festival was Strut & Fret with their show Blanc de Blanc and comedian Sam Simmons who I was lucky to interview for Scenestr.

Since Ali Dead is for the most part a one-man show from rapper and spoken word poet Omar Musa, son of Malaysian immigrants who grew up in Queanbeyan. A brown Muslim boy who found something to be inspired by and comfortingly familiar in the proud iconic figure of sports and culture.

Afterwards there was a Q&A with Omar who talked about finding the right balance in his work between light and dark, friendly and provocative, funny and heartbreaking.

For me, he got it right and you can read more of my thoughts here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/since-ali-died-review-brisbane-festival-2019-20190913

Karen and I took in our surroundings afterwards at the Theatre Republic which had many different interesting displays which I enjoyed. I grabbed a toasted sandwich at the local bar they had set up and walked up the stairs into an eating area that sat on top of construction scaffolding while local musicians sang beautifully. I’m quite taken how simply spaces can be transformed and little moments can satisfy in big ways.

On top of the world. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Before the show. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Cab coming to pick us up. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Meatball sandwich. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

The House of Common Hopes. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

I can relate. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Karen in the House of Common Hopes. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

-Lloyd Marken

TRUTHMACHINE REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on September 22, 2019September 22, 2019 by Lloyd Marken

I returned to the Brisbane Festival in 2019 following the chance to attend and review Ode to Man in 2018. I was on assignment again for Scenestr magazine and found myself at the Theatre Republic at Kelvin Grove campus of the Queensland University of Technology. I’ve studied and worked at QUT over the years and always find myself a little happy to make the rare trip back.

Back up the other end of the hill to take in some American style deli sandwiches. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Truthmachine itself has won awards and acclaim travelling throughout the country and I found lots of positive things to acknowledge in my review but I left a little disappointed. You can read my review here https://scenestr.com.au/arts/truthmachine-review-brisbane-festival-2019-20190911 and I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.

-Lloyd Marken

REVIEW OF GHOSTS BY HENRIK IBSEN REVIEW AVAILABLE ON WEEKEND NOTES

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Lloyd Marken

Weekend Notes 14.jpg

The shows put on by independent theatre company The Curators won’t be for everyone but I think they may have made their most interesting production yet. I was on assignment last Saturday for Weekend Notes to review Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen and adapted by Michael Beh at the St Barnabas Parish in Red Hill. I certainly feel very fortunate to have seen the latest show from The Curators after covering their first production Uncle Vanya in 2017 and The Third Beauty in 2018 for Scenestr magazine. I also got to interview co-founder, director and designer Michael Beh ahead of the Uncle Vanya run.

You can read my review here https://www.weekendnotes.com/ghosts-henrik-ibsen-the-curators/

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

REVIEW OF HIGH FIDELITY AVAILABLE ON WEEKEND NOTES

Posted on July 11, 2019July 9, 2019 by Lloyd Marken

Long term readers may recall one of my first gigs for Scenestr magazine was reviewing a performance of the classic Australian play Cosi by the Beenleigh Theatre Group in 2017. This was followed by reviewing Anything Goes and Lord of the Flies and interviewing the latter’s director Bradley Chapman. Sadly I haven’t been to back to Beenleigh for a while, but over the weekend a last chance opportunity came up to attend High Fidelity on assignment with Weekend Notes.

We saw a Sunday afternoon performance which was in contrast to earlier Friday night attendance but I was pleased to see the cast give it their all and the audience really enjoy themselves. I do have some criticisms about the musical which had a brief run on Broadway but has found a second life in community theatre groups of the world.

I have not read the beloved book by Nick Hornby which spoke to a whole generation and still remains a classic. My best mate Mike recommended the film adaptation from 2000 as one of the year’s best starring John Cusack. I was pretty excited about this since his recommendation for the previous year was the excellent American History X. I am sad to report I was not as impressed but it may be time for a re-look. For me in a lot of ways the musical made certain improvements over the film and I was very charmed by the cast and the spirit of the piece.

You can read my review here https://www.weekendnotes.com/high-fidelity-beenleigh-theatre-group/

-Lloyd Marken

Karen scaling the heights in the carpark. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

FIrst time we went to theatre, we found a park nearby where a public library and the Beenleigh war memorial is. I decided to pay my respects upon our return.. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Outside the Crete Street Theatre. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Copright Lloyd Marken.

GIANTESS REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on July 9, 2019July 9, 2019 by Lloyd Marken

I was back at MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture last week to see Giantess on Thursday night at the Turbine Studio, Brisbane Powerhouse on assignment for Scenestr. Written and performed by transgender stand-up Cassie Workman, it has won numerous awards since its debut. Following Trade by Impromafia, a show I deeply enjoyed and felt privileged to attend, this was a quieter performance that proved touching with its message and the demure but steely presence of Cassie herself. What a wonderful thing it is live in a city where such a festival provides an outlet for artists and attraction for audiences.

You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/cassie-workman-giantess-brisbane-review-melt-festival-20190709

We took in our surroundings a bit more with the ice-block float hanging from the ceiling as part of the MELT festivities at the iconic Brisbane Powerhouse. We also grabbed the beloved bar snack menu pizzas – pepperoni for me and tomato and basil (margherita according to others) for Karen. While enjoying our pizzas outside on the balcony our possum came by to see if we’d let some scraps come our way. Unfortunately nobody told him/her how seriously Karen and I take our pizza eating.

-Lloyd Marken

View of a performance on the Turbine Platform. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Two floors up. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

View of ice-block second floor catwalk. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

On ground entrance level looking up at the MELT ice-block. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

View of lollipop on the level 1 walkway. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

PIZZA! Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Selfie time. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Karen waiting for our pizzas before the possum announced it’s arrival. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Stairs leading down to Visy Theatre, Turbine Studio and Mary Mae’s Bar. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Promo for the musical ‘Yank’ projected. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

‘TRADE’ BY IMPROMAFIA REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on July 1, 2019July 9, 2019 by Lloyd Marken

It has been a delight to attend MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture for the first time this year on assignment for Scenestr magazine.

There is a fantastic roster of shows, talks and displays so it was great to attend the latest show from the ever reliable and hilarious ImproMafia.

However this show was a little different from others I have attended and I feel that there was something special in the air that night at the Visy Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse.

You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/trade-brisbane-review-melt-festival-20190701

-Lloyd Marken

Karen and I attending MELT for the first time. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

MELT 2019 at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

‘TITANIC: THE MOVIE, THE PLAY’ REVIEW AVAILABLE ON WEEKEND NOTES

Posted on May 21, 2019July 9, 2019 by Lloyd Marken

Titanic

Long term readers will note I’ve seen a few productions of Act/React and have enjoyed their work. For Anywhere Festival this year they have brought back a production they mounted back in 2016 before I knew of them called Titanic: The Movie, The Play.

After checking out Chris Martin’s Claw Machine at Pincadia, Karen and I headed off to the nearby Queensland Maritime Museum to see a late performance of the comedic take on the film.

Unlike their production of Kiss of the Vampire Squid which was performed on HMAS Diamantina last year as part of Anywhere Theatre Festival 2018 this was not a fully improvised production but scripted. It did feature some mainstays of Impromafia and the newly formed The Shadow Collective in the cast so there was lots of laughs had from on the moment developments.

The immersive aspects of the production mean no two performances will be the same and create a real joy in the audience. I thought there was a real charm to the production and following the excellent Love/Hate Actually I expect big things to continue happening for Act/React. Amy Currie and Natalie Bochenski are taking Love/Hate Actually to Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year for starters.

I’ve been lucky enough to have had a review I wrote of the show published with Weekend Notes. You can read it here here https://www.weekendnotes.com/titanic-the-movie-the-play-anywhere-festival/ and if you’re local you can still purchase tickets for this weekend if it sounds like your bag.

The Anywhere Festival for 2019 is a marvellous thing that happens in my city and I feel very grateful to have taken in two great shows this year at such interesting venues.

-Lloyd Marken

RAVEN ON LIVE REVIEW AVAILABLE AT WEEKEND NOTES

Posted on May 11, 2019May 15, 2019 by Lloyd Marken

Game of Thrones is the one show I can’t miss when it is on and more and more it feels like the end of an era. Is there any other show where the next day work colleagues rush to discuss with each other, some slouch scampering away to avoid spoilers because they missed it last night. People watch on their tablets and phone in their lunch breaks to see it as soon as it hits midday Monday morning Australia time. This is the last of the water cooler shows, something that has infected the pop culture so much that there is common ground amongst fandom. As we fall more and more into echo chambers and niche markets Game of Thrones is the closest thing we have to a unifying thing. In America it rates 17 million viewers but per captia that’s nothing compared to the well over 1 million Australians who tune in one way or another.

With such a community of fans its no surprise to find that a whole cottage cheese industry has sprouted up around it of recappers, predictors and reviewers. Even I had my own humble go at it for Heavy Magazine on the eve of season 7 in 2017. There’s plenty to recommend Emergency Awesome on YouTube gets over a million views over night going over in detail the previous episode and predicting what may come. My regular haunting place on YouTube Screen Junkies News (now Fandom Entertainment) have their own recap show Watching Thrones featuring the ever talented Roth Cornet and co.

Yet when it comes to Australia, one woman reigns supreme and that is Mother of Kittens Natalie Bochenski. Her written recaps have been published nationally and she has developed a podcast where she recaps with her fellow writer Stuart Layt.

Recently on assignment for Scenestr magazine at the Brisbane Powerhouse I saw a sign indicating a live recording of the podcast. I first found out about Bochenski when I saw her perform in ImproMafia’s Lord of the Thrones two years ago. I’ve seen a few of her shows since then and always been impressed by her talent – this was a no brainer.

So following the all important and action packed Battle of Winterfell episode I headed back to the Powerhouse last Tuesday to see the live recording of the Raven On podcast. We were located in the Mary Mae’s bar which is the one of the last places at the Brisbane Powerhouse I hadn’t been to before. You can read my review here https://www.weekendnotes.com/raven-on-game-of-thrones-recaps-mary-maes/ or download the podcast here https://soundcloud.com/girlclumsy/raven-on-s8e3 . By the way Karen gets mentioned at one point during the podcast at around the 32 minute mark.

This is my tenth post with Weekend Notes following reviews for Woman at War at BIFF 2018, Ash is Purest White at BIFF 2018, Arctic at BIFF 2018, Chasing Smoke (one of the best shows I saw last year), King of Thieves at the British Film Festival 2018, On The Basis of Sex, Death of a Salesman by Queensland Theatre in 2019, After Hours at the Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019, Heartfelt High by ImproMafia at the Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019 and now Raven On: Live by Natalie Bochenski and Stuart Layt.

-Lloyd Marken

JOHN BIRMINGHAM: ON FATHER IN CONVERSATION WITH PAUL BARCLAY REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Lloyd Marken

My father is the greatest man I know, strong, dependable and smart. He is the rock of our family and a giant I stand in awe of. Long ago I came of age and saw that he was just a man like us all but he remains someone I deeply admire and cherish. He will turn 75 this December and as a family we savour the time left together, it gives me some peace to know that my parents became grandparents last October, they have earned that milestone and time was running out.

Time ran out for author John Birmingham and his family a little while back and the result for John was six months of depression. When he came out of it he wrote On Father and knowing him by reputation I sought a chance to see him talk about On Father at the Brisbane Powerhouse as part of the series Writers+Ideas. Scenestr made it possible and you can read my review of what I saw here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/john-birmingham-on-father-in-conversation-with-paul-barclay-review-brisbane-powerhouse-20190417

-Lloyd Marken

Making out way to the Brisbane Powerhouse. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

A moonlit night. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Going to our first event here since the Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

Wearing a tie my father gave me. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

At one of our regular haunts after a gig, the New Farm Pig’n’Whistle for dinner. Copyright Lloyd Marken.

	Lloyd Marken on FIVE YEARS WITH SCENESTR…
	Lloyd Marken on FIVE YEARS WITH SCENESTR…
	Don Ostertag on FIVE YEARS WITH SCENESTR…
	beetleypete on FIVE YEARS WITH SCENESTR…
	beetleypete on FIVE YEARS WITH SCENESTR…