I was excited to sit down and chat with a newcomer to the 2023 Melbourne Magic Festival – Ryan Goh – and discover more about his show “Wonders”. I always try to make an effort to see magic shows from performers that are new to the magic festival, especially ones that don’t call Melbourne home / that are based abroad and hopefully you will too.
1. Describe your show in 3 words: Wonder, imagination, perspective.
2. Tell us about yourself and your magical background. I’m currently an international student at the University of Melbourne and I started doing magic when I was 16. It was a stressful period for me due to the GCE ‘O’ Level examinations and I picked up magic as a form of escapism. I have since done shows in Singapore but this will be my first show here in Melbourne.
3. Why should audiences come and see your show at the Melbourne Magic Festival this year? This show is catered to families and it’s about magic that we can all relate to, the magic of wonder. It is the reason I started magic and the reason I do magic: To inspire wonder. It’s a thought provoking show that inspires and changes your perspective to regain the childlike sense of wonder that we tend to lose after growing up. I’ve taken a more theatrical approach with this show to include a variety of magic, from objects coming to life and shadows dancing, to create a show filled with fun and mischief. It’s a guaranteed fun night for everyone!
4. Do you have a favourite magician / someone you look up to in magic (if so, who is it)? David Blaine has been my favourite magician for a long time because watching his TV specials made me question reality.
5. What are you most looking forward to at the 2023 Melbourne Magic Festival? I’m looking forward to performing and meeting everyone the most!
If you’re seeking a simply WONDERful evening, then check out Ryan’s show! Tickets and more information available here.
Liam Jumpertz (LJ) is no stranger to performing on the streets / in fun venues around Melbourne or in the Melbourne Magic Festival for that matter! He’s a self confessed close up magic tragic, so let’s learn more about him.
Tell us more about your show title…what makes you a close up tragic? There are two possible answers for the meaning behind the title for you new show. I’ve faced a lot of adversity to get to my new show this year, and I thought it was a lovely little play on the phrase ‘close up magic’.
You’ve previously performed at many past Melbourne Magic Festivals. Why should audiences come and see your show this year? This show is filled with brand new magic that I haven’t performed in previous shows, plus all of the wit and charm I can muster! This is the perfect show to enjoy with friends or family.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2023 Melbourne Magic Festival? As you may remember I caught Covid last year the day of my first show. So this year I’m most looking forward to actually being able to participate in the festival and be around the performers and audiences alike.
Do you have a favourite card? If so, what is it? Probably the joker. Mostly due to the unpredictability factor of the card.
Who is your favourite close up magician (and why)? Hard choice but probably I’d go more local than worldwide famous, Nick Kay is one of the absolute best close up magicians I’ve ever seen live and the amount of time and effort he puts in to the craft is astounding.
If you haven’t had the chance to see LJ perform, don’t miss out on his show this year. It’ll be a tragedy if you miss out! Tickets to Close Up Magic Tragic are available here
Jo Clyne is a woman of many talents, among them: a teacher, holder of a doctorate and is ALSO a magician! In fact, Jo is performing in three different shows at the Melbourne Magic Festival this year (yes, you read that right – THREE SHOWS!) I sat down with this intriguing and multi faceted performer to learn more about her approach to magic and the three shows she’s involved in.
Describe your show/s in three words
As I have three shows playing at the festival this year, it is only fair that I allocate one word to each. The trick is to work out which show each applies to… Pirate-Fairy (hyphenated words count as one). I haven’t met a kid year who doesn’t like either pirates or fairies. Whimsical with a splattering of comedy (Sorry, I’m finding this one-word thing REALLY hard) Chocolate laxative (I know that it is two words, but so much intrigue…)
2. You’ve previously had a show within the Melbourne Magic Festival aimed at adults / families, Unusual Objects, which you’re also performing at this festival for two shows only. Why should audiences / families and young people come and see your shows this year? This year I am doing three shows with very different audiences in mind.
The Pirate-Fairy-Dinosaur-Rainbow Magic Show has been designed specifically for young audiences aged between 3 and 7 years. It is playing at the MC Showroom in Prahran right near a car parking station (for ease of transporting small people) and is 40 minutes in length, which I think is the optimal attention span for children in that age bracket. It’s also VERY interactive.
Unusual Objects is for fans of close-up magic, which is my absolute favourite type of illusion. It’s playing at the Laneway Theatre in Northcote, which is like stumbling into a Victorian era parlour. It’s not a kids show, but could be enjoyed by audiences aged 12+.
The Quack and the Charlatan is for history buffs, people who like weird facts and stories about the history of medicine. Think ‘Horrible Histories’, but with magic, and no singing…or dancing. It’s pitched at upper teens to adult audiences. Previous audiences have included a lot of retired pharmacists…
3. Do you have a favourite card? If so, what is it? Every magician has a favourite card. But we generally don’t tell anybody what it is because it’s the one that appears most often in our effects. However, I can reveal that I am the Queen of Diamonds in the VERY special, VERY exclusive 2023 Melbourne Magic Festival deck of cards. There may be a few decks left if you still want to get one. Diamonds is my favourite suit, mostly because the red coordinates with my magic jacket.
4. What are you most looking forward to at the 2023 Melbourne Magic Festival? The Melbourne Magic Festival is like the comedy festival for magicians. It’s a crazy two weeks with no sleep, featuring exciting magic-related emergencies such as what DO you do if your extremely secret magic prop accidentally corrodes your microphone receiver? (True story). It’s a way to show everyone what we do and why we love it.
5. Without giving too much away, are there any special guests we should keep an eye out for at your show? My close-up show Unusual Objects features a weird purple creature that belonged to my friend’s child. She gave it me on the proviso that she never had to see it again.
In The Pirate-Fairy-Dinosaur-Rainbow Magic Show I am encouraging everybody to come dressed as something that features in the title (not limited to younger audience members). Bonus points if your costume includes EVERYTHING in the title. I will be getting quite a few smaller audience members up on stage to help me out with the magic.
In The Quack and the Charlatan, I am collaborating again with Dr David Waldron, historian extraordinaire, as we concoct a history/magic show where truth is stranger than fiction.
Sounds like Jo has something for everyone to enjoy spread across her three shows – surely there will be a show to take your interest! See below for ticketing details:
For more information / tickets for Unusual Objects, click here If The Pirate-Fairy-Dinosaur-Rainbow Magic Show is more your style, click here For a magical delve into history with The Quack and the Charlatan, click here
This year, I’m very privileged to sit down and chat with a character that is well known all across the world! As we all know, the mad hatter is very, mad BUT he is also very magical too. This year, the mad hatter (performed by none other than well known Melbourne magician and magic festival creator Tim Ellis) will be paying a very special visit to the Melbourne Magic Festival to show off all his magical madness during “The Mad Hatter’s Magical Tea Party”! Let’s learn more about this magical mad hatter.
What can you tell us about your show / what can audiences expect? I am planning a WONDERFUL Tea Party and I expect EVERYONE from Wonderland to attend! So I hope everyone who buys a ticket will dress as The Cheshire Cat, The White Rabbit, Tweedle Dum, Tweedle Dee… maybe even Alice herself! Then you might even be invited to join me ON STAGE at the Tea Party or maybe even get to FLOAT IN MID AIR!!!
You’ve previously visited the Melbourne Magic Festival with one of your exciting magic shows. Why should audiences / young people come and see your show this year? Because The Mad Hatter is THE BEST at doing magic! I have been practising for over 35 years since the Magic Festival last year and I’ve invented some crazy new tricks that will drive you MAD! I’ve even got better at MATH too! They call me THE MATH HATTER! Oh it’s going to be SO MUCH FUN!!!
Do you have a favourite card? If so, what is it? Well it’s certainly NOT the Queen of Hearts!!!!
What are you most looking forward to at the 2023 Melbourne Magic Festival? I am looking forward to EVERYTHING! I never look back. If you look back when time is marching forward you’ll inevitably trip over any obstacles in your way.
Are there any special guests we should keep an eye out for at your show? If you see anyone don’t be afraid to call out and let me know as I want to meet them too!
Sounds like The Mad Hatter’s Magical Tea Party will be a fun even for the whole family – you’ll be mad to miss it! Tickets are available here
Those who know me well (or who have been reading along on this blog) will know that my favourite art form to watch / be entertained by is MAGIC and Melbourne is lucky enough to have its own Melbourne Magic Festival! This annual festival runs during the Winter school holidays (running from June 26th until July 8th this year) and once again I’ll be hopping along to review a few shows where I can.
I’m also very excited to announce that I’ll be posting a series of performer interviews on this blog very soon! If you’re thinking of attending the festival, but you’re not sure which show suits you / your family, then these performer interviews will help you get to know the magical performers a little more (and will hopefully make a show decision that bit easier for you!)
If this introduction already has you wanting to know more, then the full festival schedule (plus the ability to buy tickets) is available now at the Melbourne Magic Festival website so be sure to check it out! We are so lucky to have this one of a kind festival happening every year in Melbourne, so be sure to check it out, support the local arts and even perhaps discover some performers you haven’t seen before.
As the evenings become colder and darker, a dreary week calls for a bright spot of creativity and entertainment – this is where paint and sip comes in! Housed within the beautiful Moonlight Manor in Croydon (part of the Wyreena Community Arts Centre) by Curious Events Co. The regular paint and sip evenings happen in a well lit and nicely decorated room and come with their own super creative painting host / instructor. The evening I attended with a good friend had us painting sunflowers and our host / instructor Tania was witty and clever, always armed with a fun comment, joke or helpful hint.
What I loved most about the whole experience is that there was no pressure – I felt that with Tania’s guidance we could do no wrong, that we were all going to turn out some wonderful sunflower paintings (and we did!) It was nice to have that confidence for an evening, as my creative background is more papercraft based. I often thinking of painting as super messy (so I don’t tend to do that art style so much at home). To have everything provided and not have to wear a smock over my regular clothing was a total win! It’s also an evening of treats, as, even though you BYO drinks they are served to you by staff members and little plates of cheeses and other treats are also provided. It was also to be a night featuring a couple of other surprises, so you’ll just have to come and see (and paint and sip!)
All of the participants were seated together around one long table which was nice as it meant we had the chance to meet some other people. It’s easy to strike up a conversation with someone new by commenting on their paintings / techniques and sharing some jokes. I also enjoyed how individual each person’s paintings were. Sure, we all painted sunflowers but some people’s sunflowers had a different angle or shape, the leaves and the collars of the sunflowers were different, as was the blending techniques used in the background of each person’s work of art. Paint and sip is a welcome break for the monotony of a working / parenting week, and we all had our paintings to take home at the end of the night (and proudly show to our loved ones which I sure did!). With the weather making indoor events all the more welcoming, be sure to give Paint and Sip by Curious Events Co. at Moonlight Manor a try! They have a series of paint and sip events lined up, so if sunflowers aren’t your thing check out the website for all kinds of curious painting subjects coming up in future.
Hayley and I with our lovely sunflower paintings!
VERDICT: suitable for adults of any / all crafting and painting skills, paint and sip is sure to bring some colour and creativity to your week. No need to worry about messy, costly supplies or no guidance – let Curious Events Co take care of all of that for you. Just BYO drinks and plenty of creative cheer. Highly enjoyable and recommended
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.
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.
The beautiful entrance of ‘The fairy house’ (as I call it!)
For those unaware, in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne lies a very magical hub / house of classes and activities run by True Fairies. Among the many fairy parties (and other magical creatures like mermaids and wizards) hosted on the weekends (and midweek for the smallest of fairies), True Fairies have captured the attention of many families in the area by offering classes / experiences in all kinds of fairy activities and other early learning activities. Think music, yoga, dance, nature play, craft time and even fairy tea (my inner child is totally jealous!) Most of these experiences are aimed at 2-5 year olds, however some (like the music class) accept up to 6 year olds / have a wider age range.
The lovely and happy Miss Green, in front of the activity table in the fairy house (the music class takes place on the floor in front of this table in the same room)
My toddler, A, turns 2 in June and we did experience a music for babies session at the same venue when she was under one. I know my little one enjoys music so for Term 1 this year I decided to enrol A into Miss Green’s music class, which runs on Wednesday and/or Friday mornings. Miss Green herself always takes time at the start of the class to greet each of her little students, often kneeling down to their level. She also ensures that her hair looks the same (and is a magnificent shade of green) so that all her little students will come to know her over time / so it is less confusing for them. Miss Green has a welcoming presence, a gentle personality and a calm, happy nature. Miss Green takes time to interact with the class, and comments on students’ activity levels. With quieter students, Miss Green often sends them shy smiles and thanks them for helping to pack away musical items. Each student is able to participate as much or as little as they want to during the class, and each departs the class with a smile and a special memento from Miss Green.
While A doesn’t exactly launch herself into the room each week, she has come to know why we visit that room (and Miss Green) and by the end of the class she’s often on her feet and smiling / looking relaxed and happy. With most of term 1 now finished, I’ll definitely be enrolling A for term 2 of Miss Green’s music class.
There are many things that A and I enjoy about this class, but the standout benefits / highlights are:
– there’s no pressure to participate! Little ones are encouraged to participate as little or as much as they feel. Musical items are handed out for little ones to enjoy, however there’s no pressure to stand and dance or do actions during a song. Often, A will sit in my lap and shake a shaker or occasionally move her tambourine. At other times, I’ll be madly shaking the tambourine for her.
– The class sizes are small and capped at 10 participants. Most weeks, there are an average of 8 children in the class (each accompanied by a caregiver of course) which is a perfect amount of people for the room the class is held in. It doesn’t feel crowded / like too many people are crammed in the one space.
– While A isn’t currently in daycare it’s a great outlet for her to interact with and see her peers. Many of the attendees appear to be between 1.5 and 4 years old in our class, though the average age of class attendees will vary per class. For children not in structured daycare, this class is a fantastic opportunity for children to interact with their peers and enjoy an activity together. Also gets caregivers out of the house too!
For those in daycare, this is a good outing to break up a day at home / an opportunity to hone in on an activity that daycare may not cover / may not have time for.
– It’s cost effective at $15 per class as a casual attendee or a term of 10 classes for $100. I’m sure everyone is currently feeling the pinch of the economy, between soaring interest rates and our dollar providing way less value at supermarkets (not to mention the current price of nappies and baby supplies!!) Prior to commencing this class, I researched other local music based offerings and many of the classes had an average cost at $20 to $25 per class with some requesting that caregivers purchase an instrument set to use in the class (or even a t-shirt / class outfit etc). So if you’d after a cost effective local activity in the East, then True Fairies have you covered. In fact, many of True Fairies’ toddler classes are priced around $15 per class / $150 a term which is great value for our family outing budget.
In addition to all of the above, the True Fairies’ house (Moonlight Manor) is set in the Wyreena Community Arts Centre, which also includes a playground and a cafe. Having a place for coffee nearby is a must for me, and A simply won’t let us leave the area after music class with a quick (or not so quick) visit to the playground.
For further information (and a full calendar of children’s class offerings) check out the True Fairies website. With term 2 commencing in late April (after Easter), if you’re thinking about a new activity for your little one next term now’s the time to start considering your options. I wouldn’t hesitate to book A in for next term’s music class (or any other class run by True Fairies that may take her interest in the coming years)
True Fairies also offer School Holiday activities for primary school aged children (aged 5 – 13 years), especially catering to those who’d love to be a wizard / witch and attend wizarding school! How exciting! Check out all the details here.
Tay Around Town 