Lynn Belvedere

SHORT AND SWEET TOP 80 WEEK 5

A different kind of triple threat- Mark Fowler writes, directs and performs his solo piece, FIRST WORLD PROBLEM. Pic Sylvi Soe
A different kind of triple threat- Mark Fowler writes, directs and performs his solo piece, FIRST WORLD PROBLEM. Pic Sylvi Soe

TOP 80 Week 5 of Short+Sweet Sydney 2014 – a most excellent adventure in theatre this week with eleven plays, each less than ten minutes.

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS was written, directed and performed by Mark Fowler. Outsourcing comedy at it worst, but Mark did manage to tame that annoying and loud heckler, or was that a stooge?

INDIGNITAS written by UK’s Jonathan Skinner and directed by Rosemary Ghazi. Vountary Euthanasia with 2 for 1 discount offered was very reminiscent of Soylent Green, with your death allowing your children to receive free education, until the next government.

I DO by Peter Bloem, which Terry Meller is directing. Finalist from Short+Sweet Melbourne 2013. Great comedy with superstitious dad constantly delaying his daughter’s wedding, with three years of wedding rehearsals so far. Will she get married today?

BETWEEN WATER AND AIR written by Alanah Guiry. CAST: Eben Rojter and Benjamin Timms. Finalist from Short+Sweet Melbourne 2013, drama with philosophical discussion between a dying goldfish and a cheeky parrot.

THE LOOP by Short+Sweet veteran Craig Delahoy and directed by Brett Joachim. CAST: Renee Heys and Jeremy Bridie. Drama where life still manages to keep repeating itself.

IS IT BECAUSE I’M AN INDIAN is written, directed and performed by Melbournian, Rajendra Moodley who appears as Raj “The Curry Muncher” and asks everyone “Is Australia racist?” and this amazingly detailed comedy was one of the many audience pleasers this evening.

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES by Bridgette Burton. Brenden Hooke directs. CAST: Sarah Chadwick and Mark Nagle. Yes our Mosmanites are keeping up appearance during our very own Zombie Apocalypse and Mosmanites certainly know how to survive in style, with great comic wit on display.

THATCHER VS GOD a wonderful comedy by Genevieve Mortiss with Debbie Smith directing. CAST: James Belfrage as God and Sandra Bass as Margaret Thatcher who has to answer to God in only ten minutes of questions concerning “all her good deeds”. With a completely unexpected twist for her final incarceration, surprised and delighted the audience.

PLUS OR MINUS 40 WEEKS by Suzy Wilds and Cheryl Butler directs. CAST: Jacqueline McFarlane, Angela Gibson, Gretchen Mach and writer Suzy Wilds. Four talented strong women, and their entertaining pregnancy stories.

LAST DRINKS by Greg Gould and directed by Maggie Allen. Featuring Caroline Simone O’Brien as Mel and Jett Black as Ben. A hit from Short+Sweets Canberra and Melbourne. People’s Choice Winner of S+S Canberra 2013. The Black Widow is cursed as a bride, as every bridegroom dies during this comedy, until Ms. Widowmaker meets Mr. Indestructible at his attempted suicide.

WILD FLOWERS was co-written by Rebeccka Harrington, Mindy Fyfe and Alexandra Hines and also directed by Alexandra Hines. Winner of Short+Sweet Brisbane 2013. Staring writer/director Alex, Lauren O’Rourke and Alice de Groot. 1950’s afternoon tea party takes a physically violent comedic turn for the worse, and turns into an excellent comedy with dire consequences, when someone eats the last cucumber sandwich. This play easily won over its audience.

Recommended, Week 5 ends this Sunday.

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -