Hugging Comedians

Hugging Comedians' 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Awards & Wrap Up

4/24/2017

The 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) has come to a close! For those not aware, 2017 was Hugging Comedians’ first year formally ‘reviewing’ the MICF. I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who invited me to their shows, and to those who sat down with me to chat about comedy over a coffee.

I only saw a fraction of the shows available during the 2017 MICF but hope to see many more in 2018. For the shows I did get to see, and that did not win the Barry or any of those “official” awards, below are the inaugural Hugging Comedians Awards for the 2017 MICF.

‘The Best Hug’: the most prestigious (and aptly named) Hugging Comedians award, given to the best hug of the MICF.
Awarded to: Jess Perkins

‘The Thinker’: given to the most insightful interview of the festival.
Awarded to: Alice Fraser

‘The Stopwatch’: given to the longest interview of the festival.
Awarded to: Eve Ellenbogen (1 hour and 56 minutes)

‘The Projector’: given to the best use of multimedia in a show.
Awarded to: Ben Knight - ‘The Parent/Teacher Interview’

‘The Alter Ego’: given to the comedian who performed the most outstanding character-based comedy.
Awarded to: Zoe Coombs Marr as ‘Dave’ - ‘Trigger Warning’

‘The House’: given to the show with the venue that suited it best.
Awarded to: Soothplayers – ‘Completely Improvised Shakespeare’ at Trades Hall, Old Council Chambers

‘The Next Level’: given to the stand-up comedian who is ready to take their comedy to the next level.
Awarded to: Sam Taunton - ‘Taunts Down For What’; Jess Perkins and Naomi Higgins – ‘Twins’

‘The Hidden Gem’: given to the comedian who put on a unique or memorable show.
Awarded to: Claire Sullivan – ‘I Wish I Owned A Hotel For Dogs’

‘The Showstopper’ award: given my favourite show of the festival.
Awarded to: ‘Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Nite Night’

Special mentions: Barnie Duncan’s left arm in ‘Weekend at Barnie’s’; and, Melissa Tracina’s performance in ‘An Evening of Total BS’.

Thanks again and congratulations to everyone who made it through the 2017 MICF! Hugging Comedians is Melbourne-based so I will hopefully see you round the stand-up circuit! If you want to promote a particular project or just want to sit down and talk about comedy, contact Hugging Comedians on Facebook, Twitter or through the website.

Interview with Soothplayers & D.A. members Melissa McGlensey & Matthew Jackson, 3 April 2017

4/3/2017

On 3 April 2017, I met with Soothplayers and D.A. members Melissa McGlensey (Soothplayers & D.A) and Matthew Jackson (D.A) to discuss the 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows ‘Completely Improvised Shakespeare’ and ‘Completely Improvised Potter’! Melissa (Mel) and Matthew (Matt) both appear passionate about improvisation (improv) but also have slightly different experiences and views on what makes improv shows great to watch. As a novice to the world of improv, I wanted to better appreciate their craft and what kind of shows the teams have developed. One thing I did learn is that sometimes with improv, you must be in the room for the joke to have meaning. So as ‘tip of the cap’ to this…. GERONIMO!
Hugs achieved: x2

“People think it’s too highbrow…but it’s not” says Melissa McGlensey (Mel) as she discusses the Soothplayers production ‘Completely Improvised Shakespeare’. “They don’t have to be a Shakespeare scholar to enjoy Soothplayers” either. Whether you you’re a Shakespeare fan or not, Mel attests there is an element you will like, “at the end of the day, it’s good improv”! Mel and Matthew Jackson (Matt) are also both performers in D.A.’s ‘Completely Improvised Potter’, a show the tells a new Harry Potter story each night. “I would do Improvised Potter even if there weren’t the shows…we get uniforms… we get houses… you get to cast spells”, says Matt. If you are aware of the “tropes” and “the story archetypes” of Shakespeare or the “universe” of Harry Potter, each show offers an immersive world in which to see improv.

It appears the performers in both productions have a wide range of backgrounds and experience. The Slytherin Matt, began his comedy career in the United Kingdom, first in stand-up then improv. After seeing a quality improv show, Matt describes “seeing the improvisers having so much fun” and thinking “I want to be doing that”. Matt studied his craft in London before moving to Australia less than a year ago to get amongst the Melbourne scene. “Completely Improvised Potter is one of the best things I have worked on creatively”! The loyal Ravenclaw Mel, is originally from California but “lived in New York for several years doing improv and stand-up”. Mel has worked with most of the improv centres in Melbourne in her year here but is about to leave for Chicago to study and continue her improv journey.

There are a vast range of skills amongst the two productions, including trained actors, internationally trained improvisers and even an academic studying Shakespeare, whose “language is really beautiful”, says Mel. Both Mel and Matt note the importance of a good director as well as training in improv. Their training focuses on certain skill sets like “how to listen, how to recognise patterns, how to serve your scene and the narrative as a whole”. They praise director Andrew Strano for his efforts, particularly for his guidance in rehearsals, as they hone their practiced skills.

“The stakes are so much higher… that’s what I love about improv, you’re taking bigger risks but you have the potential for massive rewards”, says Mel as we discuss why audiences will enjoy improv. “Good improv is like when you have an in-joke with your friends, but you have it on stage”, Matt adds, and that an in-joke is often just between the audience of the night, “you can’t film improv… that feeling you get, is locked in that room with that audience”.

There is a bit of “magic” in ‘Completely Improvised Shakespeare’ and ‘Completely Improvised Potter’, “when you see people on stage who inhabit a whole new world”, says Mel. “One of the beautiful things we get to do is honour the genre… but at the same time mercilessly roast it” continues Mel, “we love Shakespeare… but we also get to tear it apart and poke fun at it”. In respect to the world of Harry Potter, Matt comments, “when you’re in there, it feels safe and warm… everyone here loves that world… we’d stay there… going to Hogwarts”! It takes a lot of “skill and energy” to put these shows together so come along, immerse yourself in the world, and see both shows for some “absolute joy”!

For an evening of Shakespearean fun, check out ‘Completely Improvised Shakespeare’ from 30 March to 23 April 2017 [no Wednesdays] at Trades Hall. For more information and to book tickets, click here!

And if the world of Harry Potter is more your thing, then check out ‘Completely Improvised Potter’ from 30 March to 23 April 2017 [no Wednesdays] at Trades Hall. For more information and to book tickets, click here!

If you have a Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) show you want reviewed, contact Hugging Comedians on Facebook, Twitter or through the website.

now.. onto the comedy

Hugging Comedians' 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Awards & Wrap Up

Interview with Soothplayers & D.A. members Melissa McGlensey & Matthew Jackson, 3 April 2017

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