Meg Petrie in Close to You
Close to You is a story of darkness, dysfunction, and disillusion set to the music of Karen Carpenter.
Close to You takes place in two houses: Meg’s suburban childhood home and her adult, cat-infested share house. The quirky characters in these houses include:
* a nanna who feels sorry for Schapelle Corby
* a nightdress wearing father
* a perpetually vacuum cleaning mother,
* and an agoraphobic woman waiting for a UFO to beam her up.
A ukulele, drum kit, and home videos help bring Meg’s off-beat characters to life.
Karen Carpenter’s mother scrubbed keyholes. Meg’s mother vacuumed a bird cage non-stop with Karen Carpenter singing in the background. Karen died in a closet. Meg has a skeleton in her closet.
Meg isn’t shy to indulge in the odd gag, pun, word-play, singing, and slapstick. There is a chunk of heart in this show and a whole lot of dark ridiculousness.
Joining Meg is percussionist Dan Violato. Her presence adds depth and poignancy to the connection with Karen Carpenter who was herself a skilled drummer.
Meg Petrie in Close to You was mentored by Felicity Ward and performed to sold-out houses during 2011 Melbourne Fringe Festival. Meg has also performed in Papa Don’t Preach at 2010 Midsumma, and Hot Caz and The Runaway Muff at 2009 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
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Close to You
Northcote Townhall, Studio 2
189 High St, Northcote
8:30pm – 9:30pm
April 12th-15th, 19th-21st
Tickets
Full: $15
Concession/Preview/Group: $10
YouTube: http://youtu.be/VW31NL7v4CI
Web: http://www.megpee.com/
Pretending Things are a Cock (Still cocking after all this year)
After critically acclaimed performances to sell out audiences in festivals around the world, AND over 12000 Facebook fans – Jon Bennett brings his Just for Laughs – Best Comedy Award nominated show of over 200 pretend cocks back to Melbourne!
A unique stand-up experience, ‘Pretending Things Are A Cock’ is part photographic exhibition, part pot-holed journey into the idiosyncratic world of Jon Bennett.
This is a show unlike any other in the festival. It takes the form of an exhibition opening, with a gallery tour, live stories accompanied by live classical cellist, and cock shaped hors d’oeuvres. And of course Cocktails (Some supplied by our sponsor; Tequila Tromba). “Every picture tells a story”, thus does every pretend cock and these cocks come from all over the world.
“A worldwide phenomenon!”
“Could possibly be the most ambitious project of the festival”
“Delightful and enthralling” – Australian Comedy Review
“Bennett will have you completely engrossed” – Montreal Mirror
LISTING INFORMATION
Venue: Tuxedo Cat and Bertha Brown
Dates: April 14th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 23rd at Bertha Brown
Tickets: $18.00 Full, $14 Conc, $10 Tightarse Tuesdays
Times: 9:00pm – Bertha Brown
Who’s going to be the greatest unknown Daredevil of Funny?
The Evel Knievel of the mic?
RAW Comedy is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s annual hunt for Australia’s as yet undiscovered wit – it’s the country’s biggest, largest, fattest, most prestigious open mic competition. It gets under way for 2010 in January, with heats held across the nation.
There will be razzle-dazzle displays of blatant idiocy cloaked in heroicism as contestants willing and able to make the bravest of comedy leaps get to battle it out for the crown of 2010 RAW Comedy Winner at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in April.
Anyone who has earned less than $500 from performing comedy is eligible to try their luck. Five minutes of new, original comedy material is all it takes – stand-up, sketch, double and triple acts, musical comedy are all welcome. Would be comic geniuses wishing to swap the bread-line for a punch-line can register at: www.rawcomedy.com.au
Those who want to witness the witticism of contestants with crash-proof nerves of steel as they take part in RAW Comedy heats, can find venues and dates on the website.
Heats will be held in Melbourne, Sydney, Darwin, Hobart, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Newcastle, Canberra, Geelong, Wollongong and Byron Bay.
