ifs—ML
CABARET REVIEW Ahi Ataahua
Mika: Lizard Queen Last year, the :nfectiously gifted Maori
cabaret queen Mika and his two male
back-up babes, the Uhuras, sent Festival goers sailing happily into the dark on a sexy, glitzy, camp and exotic song—anci-(lance high. With his three- octave ioir e, passable dance skills and impish, ll7£if(lly sexiness, Mika is a master at warmly working a crowd. This year, he's back In a solo show
vilrose title translates as 'beautiful fire'.
Unfortunately, the whole plusth-lit package blazed only fitfully, exposing Mika's lirriitatrons Yet, the feeling remains that on another night, this unique entertarner could realise his full potential {Donald Huteral
333555 Ahi Ataahua (Fringe) Mika, Observer Assembly (Venue 3) 226 2428, until 5 Sep, various times, [9.50/f850
([8. 50/17 50)
THEATRE RFVlbfil
Ghost Of A Chance
\‘\l "H gr H (2 rr.
rioting, lily/light Zone rr‘ntint time :26)’. t‘.'/é:nty minutes, but H :cizc'o: k couldn't have made a half- hrzur from this 90 minute version of the Faust myth.
Lager arlrlrct Bob (Paul Henry aka
Benny from Crossroads) is offered an end to his problems if he hands over the body of his son to the devil. The Prince Of Darkness first appears as a massively amplified voice, losing a bit of omnipotence as he fluffs his lines, then as the boy, who declares ’human sex is a powerful relief.’
So is a glass of water after this bit of stodgy naturalism full of sentimental excess and ham-fisted social commentary. (Steve Cramer)
a Ghost Of A Chance (Fringe) Maverick Theatre, Observer Assembly (Venue 3) 226 2428, until 37 Aug, 77.30pm, £8.50/f750 (f7. 50/f6. 50).
COMEDY REVIEW
oz.dot.comedy
e air are
Throwing three Australian males together to do their debut show at the Fringe may seem like a recipe for a loud disaster. It probably would be, if they were that organised. instead, Carl Barron, Matt Sutherland and Adam Richard have managed to put together an unhinged and hysterical hour of observational humour.
The topics range from misconceptions about gay men to handy tips to keep people from sitting next to you on the tube or train. Gripping the person next to you is the only way to prevent yourself from falling forwards with laughter. Don’t watch the show alone. (Simone Baird)
a 02. dot. comedy (Fringe) Observer Assembly (Venue 3) 226 2428, until 5 Sep, various times, if 9/f8 (£8/f 7).
COMEDY REVIEW Kool Eddy's Secret Cabaret
‘97s,“
Eddy's not too cool, and the secret of the cabaret is there ain't none. Essentially this is a stand-up comedy show that fails to stand up. Had they fallen over, that might have at least raised a wry chuckle.
The low point is a particularly tasteless rip-off of a Derek And Clive routine, but for the most part this is
Maverick Theatre: devilishly bad
theatre . dance . comedy
1ODm—Late
COMEDY REVlEW
Jeff Green «at s-
leff Green seems to be a man with a few unresolved personal difficulties. A large portion of his set was based upon his relationship with his father who was, by all accounts, a violent and abusive man.
Tales of child abuse aren’t everyone's bag, particularly when they are told with such underlying bitterness. Attempting to triviafise something which is evidently still painful seems to be a mistake - there are some demons inside that man's head. and he would do well to let them out all the way rather than skimming over them as if they were inconsequential.
Soft-spoken and unassuming, Jeff does not have the vitriol of Denis Leary or Bill Hicks to make this kind of cathartic comedy work. His show did contain more light- hearted material as well, which followed traditional lines such as the differences between men and women. and peculiar quirks of human nature which he attributed to 'God's little iokes‘. An undeniably affable man, he nevertheless lacks the qualities which make a truly funny comedian. (Kirsty Knaggs)
% Jeff Green (Fringe) Observer Assembly (Venue 3) 226 2428, until 30 Aug, rapm, f10/£9(£9/£8).
Jeff Green: heady stuff
run-of-the-mill, self- effacing student comedy that daren’t even come to the front of the stage.
A specral guest appears every lll'llil and an honourable rnentron goes to the highly talented guest American poet, who by himself would have garnered four stars. (Ross Holloway, a Kool Eddy’s Secret Cabaret (Fringe) P/easance (Venue 33) 556 6550, until 37 Aug, 77.25pm, F7 50/[6 50 (£6.50/f550).
COMEDY REVIEW Sean Meo: Catch 23 e a is:
Sean Meo Is the anti-Ben Elton whose gimmick is forcing the audience to face up to its nastier side -- the side that laughs at beggars, SUICldQ helplines and charity appeals to aid the starVIng in Africa. He’s a confident, fluent performer wrth a natural wrt that is undeniably as sharp as a knife, and his observations often hit home forcing the audience into a rapturous response
But the liberal-minded may leave feeling queaSy. You w0uldn't want to be his friend knowing that he'd talk about you behind your back, leaVing everyone else in stitches. (Hannah MrCiiII) a Sean Meo: Catch 23 (Fringe) Sean Meo, P/easance (Venue 33) 556 6550, unti/3I Aug, 70. 75pm, £8.50/f750 (£7. 50/f6. 50).
; COIiIEtii’ REJiEi‘l Channel Zero
\‘i'lia? star-is Nix Vil‘. :Il—rorItered - ariapratir-ri : ‘ lft‘lllll‘tl‘Js/(ly’SA Farewell f lit/tints 'on "i'l-nurnher dates, [Dostoevsky nets the treatment) eventually turr‘s unto a solrd 'iai A .‘ai-too-purple version entered Into, In an atter'ir‘t 'o Wrrlr re 'ts (omrc rxissrhriztrws while annultaneously titre fart Ital nature Of
tlierstrr'al
(rl ll’t‘.'yl h')lli\
sr‘vtt'rizr .Ir? the
(f/I.i:IrIr=l z’t‘lt: As iil‘.‘ ‘L‘u'th a; for In the company
Inrsses‘ his ue, those on stage launch Into ll‘-( Irmis‘rr‘ri‘y desperate ' Irripro'xrsatw n, then andursh building tr: a (Li: torifrontation With the late <llll‘.'lll{l artor/adapter, who :aiirerits ’you'se tlirawn Hemingway over the table anrl fur ked him up the arse' A clever piece, brief enough not to outstay its it'elmme. (Steve Cramer) ESE (:llrlllllf)/ z’r’lti (Fri/i(}(?l /l(7(7r)(? Productions, Sr‘utlisitle Courtyard ; (Venue 16) (567 2212, tint/(37 Aug, lip/n, [5' (f4)
tart"
I STAR RATINGS
I *tttt mmmee l ittt Vr'ry rtririrl
l tit wonIi xvi-iiiii
’il-ltiw .l‘.""l.l‘lt'
** i 1,. Yllll".’(‘lll't‘ll t'rillllf‘ll
2/ Aug it) Set) 1998 THE ”ST"