Courtney Crisfield – image supplied

Courtney Crisfield is passionate about cult classic films…so passionate that her MICF show “Cult Classic” presents like a very entertaining TedTalk on cult classic cinema. Get settled in a comfy seat and (metaphorically) grab a popcorn as Courtney introduces you to her favourite cult classic films (many of which hail from the glorious time known as the 90’s), some well known cult classic films from history and a deep dive into what exactly makes a film a cult classic. Courtney herself is your super friendly, fashionable and very knowledgeable host for this fun foray into cavalcade of cinema cult classics.

Sharing tine between hosting her short films / film trailers on a screen and performing comedy in front of the crowd with various props and quite frankly awesome dance moves, Courtney Crisfield is simply a delight to watch. “Cult Classic” pays homage to not only cult cinema classics but also the nature of the film industry and also some popular cinematic themes (like suspense). “Cult Classic” did progress along at a cracking pace, with Courtney striving to include fun content right up to the last second of show time. My only wish is that this show was feature length as I thoroughly enjoyed every moment – I suspect Courtney would have plenty of material to make a feature length show, for it is clear that her cinematic passion runs deep.

Honestly there is so much to love about this show. Courtney knows how to entertain an audience, win them over / keep them engaged and leave them impressed with a little extra (popcorn) kernel of knowledge too. What more could an audience member want?

VERDICT: Come for the comedy and sprinkling of surprises and stay for the bespoke short films that Courtney has produced for you – “Cult Classic” by Courtney Crisfield won’t be appearing on DVD ** so don’t miss it. Who knows, Courtney Crisfield and her show may become an MICF cult classic of their very own. Five stars *****

“Cult Classic” has one more showing on April 18th at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre. Don’t miss it! Get your tickets here

* Disclaimer: I attended this show as a guest of the producer
**probably not but who knows in this crazy world?!

***** Those who know me well are aware I do not use star ratings on this review blog HOWEVER this being a show about cinema cult classics I feel the need to put on my ‘cinema reviewer hat’ and award a five star rating for this show.

Returning Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) performer Callum Straford is back with his boldly titled show “Callum Straford Nails Everything” Don’t be fooled by the title, Callum is NOT here to lead a Ted Talk on how to be the most perfect mistake free human ever…though he does share some hot travel safety tips and party success tips too. Those who have seen Callum perform previously will know that he is an entertaining, affable lad trying to ‘make it’ in the big bad world out there.

Callum is so friendly and treats his audience with such warmth that I’m going to continue referencing him as Callum through this review (even though I don’t personally know him). Callum includes musical numbers in his shows, and this show is no different – his musical talents and snappy on trend lyrics are a treat. “Callum Straford Nails Everything” includes some nostalgic content which was a highlight for me – whether it is the mundane requirements of P.E class or echoes of parties in the past, this show is easy to enjoy. Despite some lofty goals, Callum knows when it is time to ‘bring it in’ (so to speak) and leaves his audience with some valuable life mantras.

VERDICT: “Callum Straford Nails Everything” NAILS IT! It’s a show with witty moments, fun audience interactions and spry observations Enjoyable, energetic, and engaging- you can’t go wrong with Callum’s style of comedy or with this show.

Callum’s MICF 2023 show run has now concluded, however keep a lookout for any future shows that may be on the radar. Callum is one to watch!

*Disclaimer: I attended this performance as a guest of the performer.

image supplied

In the super trendy inner city suburb of Prahran lies an equally trendy little theatre – The MC Showroom – tucked away yet ready for eager crowds, hosts ‘Stinking Hot Trash’.

Produced by independent production company ‘A Small, Strange Company’ – the brainchild of Isabelle Carney (“Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell”, ABC) and Bronte Locke (“Bad Behaviour”, Stan) – ‘Stinking Hot Trash’ stars Isabelle Carney and is an amusing dumpster dive (if you’ll excuse the pun!) into facets of her life…perhaps current life and definitely previous life! Throughout this somewhat fast paced sketch show, props and mixed media (video screen / video use) are used to add further context / enhance callbacks which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Isabelle Carney is not afraid to throw herself into her scenes and is dedicated to the characters she portrays, despite props that don’t always play along. Carney is unafraid to be vulnerable at times through the show content, which can be a rare trait in this PC / “woke” world. Without saying too much, my favourite scenes in this show centred around meetings and detectives – any scene with a meeting and or detective in it had me laughing doubly as much! I hesitate to get too descriptive at this point, as there’s a lot to like about this show and I don’t want to delve into spoilers.

Always witty and sometimes gritty, ‘Stinking Hot Trash‘ approaches topics through a modern lens / with plenty of modern references and clever metaphors along with some choice nostalgic moments. Akin to the annual hard rubbish, ‘Stinking Hot Trash‘ contains surprises and gems – you just need to know where to look and remember to try and notice EVERYTHING otherwise you may just miss out on a nugget of gold.

VERDICT: Unleash your inner trash panda and delight in ‘Stinking Hot Trash‘! A fun show full of amusing characters and clever scenes, tied together with some poignant metaphors. Shows like this don’t come around often – don’t miss it!

‘Stinking Hot Trash’ runs until April 8th (no show on Mondays) at The MC Showroom in Prahran. Tickets are available here.

*disclaimer: I attended this performance as a guest of the producer.