Tay Around Town

Hello readers, just wanted to open with a little thank you to those regular readers / those who pop by to read my posts and also a quick welcome to any new readers *waves* . From time to time here, you may see some slightly different content on this blog:
– the occasional personal piece / observation or life update
– some continued performer interviews (which appear to remain popular / are continually requested by producers and performers)

I’m excited to announce that in addition to the above, from time to time a “family focus” piece may appear here…that is, a review of a show or experience that may be toddler / child focused. Rest assured, the greater balance of reviews will still be skewed towards adult / 15+ shows with a keen eye on magic (of course!). If you don’t have special youngsters in your life (or can’t pass the relevant show review past a parent or caregiver) then feel free to breeze past those particular reviews. Around Melbourne Magic Festival time, I do have the opportunity to see more ‘family friendly’ shows, however this note specifically relates to child focused shows / experiences / classes happening outside of festivals. At this stage, I do not intend to create a separate review entity or blog for family focused content.

I also thought I’d take a moment to mention a current delay with reviews in March, which should be resolved by the end of the month! My attention this month has been taken up with some heavy family obligations within my wider family, plus a slew of ongoing dental work – yay!*

I thank everyone for their patience – both in terms of review posts and lags in correspondence times – and look forward to writing more for you all soon. Cheers, Tay.

*This point is only partially sarcastic: I have some truly wonderful dental professionals who help me take care of my teeth, and I have no fear of the dentist / generally enjoy my visits however I’ll admit that the most recent round of work I’ve had done has been especially painful (for both my mouth and hip pocket). *cue sad face*

In the typically bustling Docklands / District Docklands precinct on a sunny Sunday afternoon, a friend and I met up the top of an escalator outside a mysterious door marked only as ‘Hansel & Gretel’….now I’m sure you’re all familiar with the old fairytale of Hansel & Gretel and the witch within a candy house, well this experience made this fairytale concept REAL within a modern day metropolitan space. For beyond the big black doors, we said goodbye to the cheery weather and hello to the dark forest and the witch’s gingerbread house (note: house itself sadly not edible!)

The guides / hosts for your adventure that awaits are Hansel & Gretel themselves, and it was lovely to be welcomed into their ‘family’ and meet other ‘brothers and sisters’ (other friendly people on our table). This experience was billed as a cocktail experience with treats and escape room elements / riddles, and on most of these points the experience did not disappoint! We were given a fruity welcome drink and 2 other cocktails were also provided. I’m very pleased to report that these were full strength / full cup cocktails and not samples / watered down drinks. The cocktails were very enjoyable and my friend and I had fun guessing the components of each cocktail (this was not a mandatory task – we just did that for pure fun and curiosity).

Now to the ‘escape room’ elements of this experience – there were riddles to solve and some of them were challenging, however the setup of the event and the number of people (the room of people) undertaking the challenge at once made this portion rather chaotic, and it became obvious what the solutions were based on where people were gathered. I can’t complain too much as I’m sure my riddle solving becomes diminished after some drinks (haha!) but if this is a selling point for you then the experience falls a little short in this area. It also depends on how challenging you like your riddles / challenges to be – keeping in mind this experience can also be a family event at certain times of the day.

The treats portion of the event, well, the setup was like something out of Willy Wonka! It was great to delight in my inner child and go moderately wild and eat all kinds of sweets – we even had a doughnut each which was fresh and delicious. The only wish we had here is that they had given us cups / small bags to load our treats in. It was very easy for hands to become sticky and we were told not to be too greedy (so there were treats left for other groups) and I feel that attendees perhaps took less treats / were more strict on quantity due to that. It would have been much easier to police and enjoy if we each had a cup to fill. We were given time to wander around and ample time for photos, which we appreciated. The actors (and other guests) were happy to help with photos which was lovely too. Everyone at the (family friendly) session we went to were lovely, adding to the afternoon of treats we all shared. The family friendly nature of the event did not diminish the drinks on offer – it simply slightly altered the actors’ scripts.

Another highlight was the witty banter with the actors – many laughs were had, especially with the witch. As for the witch, be assured that in the family friendly version she won’t be out to haunt anyone’s dreams – I have seen scarier witch Halloween decorations – however I do hear she has a great recipe for cooking children….handy for an alternative to meat free Monday / to ease those food budget blues in the current economic landscape! 😉

VERDICT: It depends on what you’re seeking with this adventure…seekers of cocktails and treats will rejoice, as will those seeking a fun escape from the mundane. Those keen on riddles may be left wanting more of a challenge, though personally after a few drinks I’m certainly not up for particularly challenging riddles! It’s a fun twist on a old story and makes for a sweet escape or an afternoon treat.

Tickets and further info can be found here.

On a gloomy evening, I ventured to the stately ‘Moonlight Manor’ (part of the Wyreena Community Arts Centre in Croydon) dressed in my Slytherin finery for an evening of “Magic and Alchemy”. Curious classes and interesting characters within a fun evening awaited all!

Upon arrival, the larger group of attendees were split into two smaller groups and let to separate classrooms. We then all met a very wise fairy queen and were led into Miss Mossy’s herbacious Herbology room. Miss Mossy is ever the gracious and knowledgeable host, offering us plenty of adult drinks (cocktails) with us (her students) learning some nature facts during our stay in her classroom. Miss Mossy had some fun games to play with her students and some other surprises which I very much enjoyed. I was genuinely sad when I had to leave her class – I would have happily spent all evening there.

After a brief pause, the groups switched rooms and we began our curious adventure into Divination class with Professor Weatherwax. This was hosted in the dimly lit potions room. We each sat at a desk with a cauldron in front of us, which felt very authentic! This portion of the evening featured different methods of divination, featuring tea leaves and other methods. Professor Weatherwax carefully explained that this sort of magic wasn’t stage magic or a showy presentation but the methods she was presenting were seriously conducted by people in the present day. This wasn’t said to dampen any spirits, rather, it was mentioned so that we could take extra care and thought as Divination is strongly open to both intuition and personal interpretation. Like in Herbology class, Professor Weatherwax also had a delicious cocktail to share with her students….which was heartily enjoyed by all.

I feel it’s important to mention here that the full enjoyment of this evening could be reached without being a Harry Potter fan. While the theming is reminiscent of Harry Potter themes / classrooms, out of the group / class I was in I was the only one dressed in Harry Potter house colours. No Harry Potter content was covered during the event, so no research or effort is required to attend an event like this one. Many of the attendees were with friends, however everyone was so welcoming that there are no issues if you attend an event like this alone. I attended alone and had a wonderful time meeting new people. I also loved the characters we meet during the evening. It really felt like I was a world away from my normal life as soon as I stepped into Moonlight Manor. The teachers felt very authentic and it was clear that they were enjoying the evening as much as we were.

VERDICT: If you’re looking for a fun cocktail evening with some magical twists, then I highly recommend “Magic and Alchemy”. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you’ll truly feel transported into another world. Performers and characters are fun and engaging, an easily enjoyable evening of magic and merriment.

“Magic and Alchemy” is just one of the public events run by Curious Events Co. Other public events run at the same venue include Paint and Sip evenings. Check out the website and socials for all the details.

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Nestled within the heart of Melbourne is ultra kitsch (and very well known) performance venue / bar The Butterfly Club. Those who have been to this venue will be aware that it is like stepping into another world and another era – a perfect setting for the latest magical production from well known local magician Lachlan Wilde – “World of Wonders”. In a time where many of us are starved for a vacation *cough*me*cough* I was extremely excited to attend “World of Wonders” and have a pseudo escape from Melbourne for a while!

As soon as “World of Wonders” commenced, Lachlan spared no time transporting his audience to a new destination and wowing his audience at the same time with sleek magic that often happened in a split second. Lachlan’s storytelling is equally as captivating as his magic. Within his show, Lachlan takes the audience on a journey with him as he revisits some of his favourite destinations across the globe. Fascinating personal stories and astonishing magic accompany each destination that the audience “visits” with Lachlan. Audience volunteers were selected to assist in the magic throughout the show, many gasping in amazement as the magic unfolded up close. I liked the array of props used in this show – some of which were very surprising. I hesitate to reveal too much, however my personal favourite moment from the show had a strong historical context which I enjoyed greatly. Aside from the travel theme, other messages were mentioned like the nature of chaos and order, and also how magic transcends travel (magic will still manage to find you, even when you are away from home!)

Be assured that this show is NOT like the time your relative went to Europe and you had to sit through a Powerpoint presentation of 200 slides of images….nor is it a bragging session of Lachlan’s list of places he’s visited! You can’t help to get swept up in all of the moments in this show, and there are many moments that are set to wow and impress you. If you think you’ve seen it all in magic then think again!

VERDICT: Stow away your tray table and ensure your seat is in the upright position as “World of Wonders” magically takes you to some exciting destinations. Captivating storytelling and entrancing magic are on your itinerary for this impressive show. Don’t miss out on this wonderfully magical adventure – book your tickets now!

“World of Wonders” runs at The Butterfly Club (5 Carson Place, Melbourne) from Dec 5th – 10th at 8:30pm. Tickets and further information is available here

*Disclaimer: I attended this performance as a guest.

Melbourne comedic improv duo The Fry Kids (Holly Bohmer and Katie Currie) are back in 2022 to take audiences on a delightfully kooky spooky nostalgic romp with their show THE NIGHTLIGHT ZONE. In case you missed my interview with The Fry Kids, check that out in a separate post here.

THE NIGHTLIGHT ZONE started with a surprising setup which had the audience cackling. Over the course of 50 minutes, The Fry Kids portrayed a varied array of character capers ranging from the quirky to the ridiculous. If sci fi / horror isn’t your genre then don’t fret – much of the content featured parodies of other popular television genres / shows from crime to lifestyle shows. It’s easy to enjoy this lighthearted show, and the wide variety of content is sure to appeal to most tastes. Personal show highlights were an elaborate comedy setup that had call backs throughout the show plus the addition of the ‘special guests’ – many of which garnered the greatest laughs (from myself and the wider audience, many of whom were snorting with laughter). The Fry Kids’ dedication to their craft is impressive, with many costume changes, props and characters portrayed over the course of the show. While the costume changes were quick, the character portrayals remained true and didn’t blend into one another.

THE NIGHTLIGHT ZONE runs at a cracking pace, so do keep your eyes peeled in order to catch all the action, and ensure you don’t miss seeing some of the ‘special guests’ that The Fry Kids have in store for you!

VERDICT: a fun, lighthearted adventure with plenty of characters to meet and enjoy. An added bonus if you are interested in / enjoy improv. THE NIGHTLIGHT ZONE is delightfully kooky, a little spooky and is filled with laughs. While you may think of some of the characters post show, they will not haunt your dreams*

THE NIGHTLIGHT ZONE is running at 7pm on Oct 13th and 14th at The Improv Conspiracy (lvl 1, 19 Meyers Place, Melbourne). Don’t delay – book your tickets here.

Disclaimer: I attended this show as a guest of the producer.

_*maybe

2022 brings very exciting times for the Melbourne Fringe Festival as it celebrates 40 years! After a COVID related break, Melbourne Fringe is back and better than ever with a fantastic variety of shows to see.

Recently, I was lucky enough to sit down with hilarious and intriguing duo The Fry Kids (Holly Bohmer and Katie Currie) to have a chat and a laugh about their new 2022 show “THE NIGHTLIGHT ZONE”

Describe THE NIGHTLIGHT ZONE in three words: Grotty, Spooky, Characterganzaextravaganza

I see THE NIGHTLIGHT ZONE is a play on words of a popular sci fi / horror series. Are there
any other series or movies from that genre that you take inspiration from?
Holly: Oh god, so many
Katie: yeah, and some from outside the genre too
H: Staying in scifi/horror, I’d say Ozploitation flicks like Long Weekend and Razorback. Also things like Round the Twist and Children of the Damned—
K: Hitchcock’s works, Mars Attacks, The Blob–
H: However, I’d also say we took a lot of inspiration from 40s/50s cinema

Your duo is called The Fry Kids. Tell us more about this intriguing name and its origins!
K: Do you know about the McDonald’s mascots?
H: They had a whole range of characters, like Grimace, The Hamburglar, and Bertie, along with these weird puffballs with legs called the fry kids.
K: We were a little obsessed with them growing up, and you could get a free VHS from
McDonald’s with your happy meal. I collected all the tapes.
H: Anyway, the fry kids are now defunct, and a lot of people don’t even remember them as characters. They just kinda…disappeared
K: When Holly and I were thinking of a name for ourselves as a duo, we somehow came upon
the subject of the McDonalds movies (specifically “Scared Silly”) and we both exclaimed THE
FRY KIDS! It made us laugh, so we kept it.

Melbourne Fringe turns 40 this year, which is a great achievement and milestone – what
are you most looking forward to during the Fringe?
H: Seeing as many shows as I can! I love character comedy and sketch.
K: I’m just excited to see live art again. I’ve missed going to shows, and the online fringe last
year, though accessible, lacked a bit of the energy and vibrancy of preforming arts.

What movie or tv show scared you as a child, prompting you to leave your nightlight on?
H: E.T the extra terrestrial! That tiny little alien was so terrifying to me. Imagine seeing that face
staring at you through the window one night or those long twisted fingers stroking your cheek.
Also, the way you could see his heart through his chest… haunting. My sister had a jigsaw puzzle of his face and my mum had to hide it under the house because I would cry if I saw it.
K: I was an odd child because I didn’t get scared very easily. My older brother wasn’t allowed to watch certain things because he would have night terrors, meanwhile, 5yo me is sat up, watching Predator at 9pm and sleeping like a rock afterwards. Though there was one particular episode of Beyond Belief: Fact Or Fiction where a kid went missing in his closet, and I’ve never slept with my closet ajar since.

I’d have to say that this was one of the most entertaining interviews that I’ve had! So much nostalgia for me too, as I remember The Fry Kids (plus Mayor McCheese?!) and some of the other McDonalds characters plus E.T the Extra Terrestrial was also a popular film of my youth – though thankfully he doesn not occupy my subconscious!

THE NIGHTLIGHT ZONE is running at 7pm on Oct 9th, 13th and 14th at The Improv Conspiracy (lvl 1, 19 Meyers Place, Melbourne). Don’t delay – book your tickets here.

September brings Theatrical’s Victorian premiere of Freaky Friday: The Musical, with all the action happening at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran. I was lucky to attend opening night and I can’t wait to tell you all about the most wonderful time I had at this energetic and uplifting production!

For those not familiar with Freaky Friday it is based on the beloved 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films (including the 2003 film starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis – which is the one I recall!) Freaky Friday takes a modern spin on the original book, whereby a mother and daughter magically swap bodies for a day and experience a day in the life of each other. Naturally, chaos ensures – especially when each character hasn’t thought about the challenges and social conventions that each take part in over the course of their daily lives.

In the Theatrical production of Freaky Friday, Lyla Digrazia plays Ellie (the daughter) and Stephanie Powell plays Katherine (the mother). Both Lyla and Stephanie were amazing leads – everything from their dancing, staging and interactions with each other (and other characters in each other’s world) had me under their spell. Their vocal talents shone throughout the entire show, and the energetic musical numbers in general were a highlight of the show for me. It’s easy to enjoy (and be swept up in) this musical – so many of the musical numbers had many in the audience tapping their feet, or humming tunes after the show had finished. Combining this with clever set design and exciting choreography makes Freaky Friday simply unmissable.

Director Bronte Regos Thiele has staged this production in the present day, and this was demonstrated largely via the school scenes with Ellie (or featuring Katherine pretending to be Ellie). These reminded me so much of my own school days (especially the trials of gym class!) All the school cliques were there – the geeks, the popular girls, the sporty guys and the dependable friends. Now that I am a (new) mother, I can start to appreciate how much Katherine (the mother) does for her own family and how challenging it is to keep all the tasks going and her family on track. This fun musical approaches situations from both the mother and daughter point of view, from school grades / conduct, interactions with peers / people to impress right through to feelings regarding the death of Katherine’s husband / Ellie’s dad.

Theatrical’s production goes beyond its headline characters to create a vivid storyline that captivates. Adam the school crush (played by Thomas Martin) had some fantastic scenes, and I loved the whimsical nature of Ellie’s younger brother Fletcher (played by Nathaniel Calleja) who added a sprinkling of extra comedy to all his scenes. Not to mention Katherine’s very busy business assistant Torrey (played by Tach Sutton) who hurriedly tries to keep Katherine (and her business) from falling over. I simply loved all the characters and their portrayal in this production!

VERDICT: Freaky Friday is an upbeat, energetic musical featuring relatable content that is easy to enjoy. Come out to the theatre and enjoy this production by Theatrical – you won’t regret it!

Freaky Friday runs at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran until September 18th. Tickets are available here.

Disclaimer: I attended this production as a guest

Extra note: as if this show couldn’t be any more awesome, I wanted to mention that Theatrical is a not for profit and registered charity from Executive Producer Andrew Gyopar. It is an independent musical theatre company with a mission to provide opportunities for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups who might not otherwise have access to participate in musical theatre. Granting access to musical theatre and musical theatre experiences is a way to improve social bonds and mental health (both important topics in the current landscape we all live in).

This final spotlight is for a show, rather than a performer (or performers). The show is “Headliners” and it stars three legendary, well known magicians who have all been on TV – Simon Coronel, Dom Chambers and Dr. Vyom Sharma! “Headliners” is a highly anticipated magic show, which is sure to be full of jaw dropping moments and world class magic. I sat down with the stars of “Headliners” to learn more.

Describe the show in 3 words: Loose, yet tight. 

Each of the performers in ‘headliners’ are internationally known – what makes this combo of performers ‘work’?
Big line-up shows like The Illusionists have as many as seven stars in them. That’s a lot! We only have three, but I think the experienced chemistry within our cast will really carry the show. 

Will the stage be big enough for you all / for all your magical talents?
It’s approximately 7x larger than necessary. 

What are you looking forward to the most with ‘headliners’?
Two of our team are competing at FISM (think the international olympics but for magicians) in a few weeks, and will be doing their final rehearsals and act development as part of this show. The big stakes are definitely adding some exciting tension. 

I know this isn’t your first time performing at the Melbourne Magic Festival – tell us about your favourite Melbourne Magic Festival memory.
Dave Lee: It’s About Time. Still the greatest show ever to exist. Also the only one in MMF history to provide its own entire room full of custom chairs to create raked seating on a flat floor. 

Talk about dedication to the magical arts (and performing arts)! Definitely sounds like this show includes some truly special content, so don’t miss out on seeing it! In the past I have seen acts at the MMF that have included FISM rehearsals and it’s always been highly memorable, mind blowing stuff so run for these tickets – grab them here while you can!

“Headliners” runs from July 5th – 9th (8:45pm each night) at The Houdini Theatre – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston St, Melbourne. Tickets are available here.

This week, I was lucky enough to sit down with talented local magician Chi Han Yeo. Equally adept and astounding with his card manipulation as he is with his rich storytelling, I settled in for a riveting interview as we discussed Chi Han’s new show “Warning against games of chance”.

Describe your show in 3 words
This is really a tough one.  The show twists and turns depending on the whims of the audience, but if I had to pick three based on what I’m hoping it is…tongue in cheek!

Why should audiences come and see your show?
A great question.  Well this is something with a bit of a theatrical blend.  If you’re looking to see great magic, but also something with more of a storyline, where you also get to interact without being put in the spotlight, and have a unique live experience, this is the one for you!

What’s your favourite card game / game of chance?
Funnily enough I don’t gamble!  I’m a sucker for board games though, currently enjoying a game called Destinies most right now.  It’s an automated role playing game, so effectively a game where story is paramount, you’re in an interesting world, and you get to experience magical things hmmmm…I wonder if there are any parallels with that and my show….

What are you looking forward to at this year’s Melbourne Magic Festival?
Always seeing great magic.  The Melbourne Magic Festival is a truly special event.  Not many places in the entire world have a festival dedicated to magic.  If I have to single out one it would have to be MagicSports.  I’ve never been able to see it as it always clashes with my own show, but this year we’re doing it super late, so yay!!!

Do you have a favourite card? If so, what is it?|
Six of diamonds.  I received it from a former card cheat who I learned a variety of gambling techniques from.  Oddly enough I never met the person face to face, but that’s a story for another time.

Sounds like audiences are in for another treat this year with Chi Han’s show- it sounds fascinating! “Warning Against Games of Chance” runs from July 5th – 9th (8pm each night) at The Close Up Gallery – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston Street, Melbourne. Don’t miss out – get your tickets here while they are still available.

WARNING: The show on Wednesday July 6 2022 will NOT be a performance of ‘Warning Against Games of Chance’, but will instead be a showcase night of the students of the Magic School of Confidence.

Well, they say the The Melbourne Magic Festival attracts all different kinds of performers…..and in 2022 there’s a performer with a particularly Australian flair that is keen (as mustard!) to meet everyone – and his name is Davo. Armed with a beer can in one hand, and an Aussie flag in the other, I caught up with Davo for a yarn at the local pub.

Describe your show in 3 words: Magical bogan theatre

Tell us a little about yourself. Can bogans really do magic (or are they too lazy / distracted)?!
I’ve been on or near the magic my whole life. My sadly departed granddad was the local magician when I was a kid, the ‘Wizard of Woy Woy’ they called him. He taught me magic and how to spin a yarn, though he did tend to go on a bit when he’d had a beer or three. Also my Nan’s family had the Gypsy magic in them and that’s passed on to me. I’ll tell you a bit about it all in the show and why it’s been so important to the way I turned out.

I was gonna go pro when I was a young bloke but got distracted by the bright lights of Woy Woy (you know how it is)…it all went down the gurgler when the love of my life left. She seemed to think I was a bit of a dipstick after a couple of BS incidents. First I lost my job at KFC which totally wasn’t my fault, but she really turned when I was about to propose and the ring went for a bit of a wander. I found it again later but it was too late. So, I’m getting me life back on track and putting on the show. I’ve been doing the hard yakka getting it together in grandad’s shed which is chock-a-block with magic stuff, and I’ll be doing a routine Grandad taught me that won a trophy at the 1979 Central Coast Junior Magic Olympics. It’s gonna rock!

What is your goal?
I defo want to make my Grandad proud of me, but of course he’s dead so it will have to be post-humourously. I’m hoping my ex Rochelle-Chantelle will come see the show and maybe I can impress her enough to win her back. She loved it when I did the magic. I’m lost without her, she was my gardening angel. If I can get her back then everything will be sweet as! Baby if you are reading this come check out my show!

Who inspires you and why?
Grandad. He was an amazing magician. No gig was too small for him. He’d be doing kids parties in the morning, christenings in the afternoon and half time at the bingo in the evening. He never stopped working. Also I’m heaps into music, especially rock. I’ll be singing a song or two including one I was inspired to write for Rochelle-Chantelle about her work in the adult film industry.  

Why should audiences come and see your show?
You like magic, right? Well my show is deadset not like any magic show you’ve seen before, it’s full of laughs and thrills. There’ll be depth defying tricks and some dangerous looking stuff, inventions of me own and classics of magic. There’ll be gnarly rock and roll and a chance for a singalong. I’ll tell you my story about love, family and hope. We’ll have a ton of fun and with any luck you might end up witnessing the greatest love story of all time. Or I might have a bit of a cry. Either way it’s gonna be a 100% fun time – everyone says so (well, all my mates at the pub do at least!)

Davo seems like a good bloke at heart, so he definitely deserves some home grown support! Get off the couch for a night and come to the big city and see a magic show like no other. There’s never been a bogan magic show at The Melbourne Magic Festival before! Come see Davo before he disappears back to Woy Woy (or the pub around the corner, who knows?!!) Catch “Life of Davo” from July 5th – 9th (9:15pm each night) at The Cardini Cabaret – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston Street, Melbourne. Get your tickets here!

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