With numerous festivals happening throughout the state simultaniously, it's not suprise the locals refer to it as "Mad March." The Adelaide Festival, The Clipsal 500, Various music festivals such as Future Music Festival and Womadelaide as well as numerous food and wine weekends and pop up bars and cafe have once again brought vivid life to the Adelaide City Streets.
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Artist bar; Pru, Nat, Official Fringe Ambassador
Paul McDermott and Ran! |
Some would argue that the main event of course is
The Adelaide Fringe. Often compared with the world famous
Edinburgh Fringe and Comedy Festival. Showcasing some of the finest comedy, dance, art and theatre that Australia, - and many other countries, - have to offer, the Adelaide Fringe is quirky, eclectic and ever entertaining.
"Unlike a curated festival, the open-access nature of Adelaide Fringe means that anyone with a show, exhibition or cultural event is able to register and be part of Australia’s largest arts event. The result is one of the most diverse arts festivals in the world, renowned for fresh ideas, spontaneity and fun.
Artists from around Australia and across the globe participate alongside home-grown talent, in art forms spanning cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, film, theatre, puppetry, music, visual art and design."
Once of the main venues of the Adelaide Fringe is located at the east end of the city - The Garden of Unearthly delights; affectionately known by locals as "The Garden."
An outdoor stage, various market stalls and enough food stalls to feed a small village come together to create the garden as well as fair ground rides and games and of course the many stages for the many fringe shows.
Fortunate was I to get along to Sammy J's show "Potentially" - which was held within the Garden of Unearthly Delights at the Umbrella Stage. Sammy J is more commonly known for his musical routines in which he duets with a purple puppet called Randy (his best friend from University) however in this show Sammy J was refreshingly performing alone, allowing the audience to get to know him on a more personal level.
Sharing a combination of captivating stories and cheeky songs Sammy J was both charming and hilarious. Although the show wrapped perfectly we were all left wanting more. As many comedians do, Sammy J met with the audience afterwards assuring no face was left not smiling.
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Sammy J was charming and hilarious
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It has to be said that one of the fantastic things about the Adelaide fringe is how all the participating artists are often floating around and more than happy to chat to fans and fringe goers everywhere. Especially perhaps those aspiring themselves to be artists, comedians or actors.
Newcomer to the Adelaide comedy scene Patrick Meynell has been performing at various gigs as part of the Adelaide Fringe. Last week Patrick took some time out to chat to Ran Type Music about his experiences so far.
RTM: You're relatively new to the Adelaide Stand-Up Comedy scene in Adelaide - how would you describe the comedy community here in South Aus?
PM: It's amazing. It's very close knit so everybody knows each other and we're all good friends. About two years ago one of Adelaide's funniest comedians, Michael Bowley, established Monday night open mic competitions at Rhino room so the scene has exploded since then because it was one of the first times there was an outlet for up and coming comedians to have a crack in front of a real comedy audience. A lot of them will be well known individuals in the coming years, I have no doubt. The talent here is crazy.
RTM: How did you get involved with performing at the Adelaide Fringe?
PM: There are a number of variety shows and showcases on around town that i was lucky enough to be offered a spot in. They are basically a compilation of young comedians who all get to do a 5 or 10 minute set. Some of them run throughout the year also so they are a great opportunity to hone your jokes. Somehow I was also selected to perform in the Raw Comedy state final in late Feb in front of 450 people at the Arts Theatre which was absolutely the most fun I've ever had in my life. The winner of the night, Demi Lardner, has a fringe show on at the moment with another state finalist (Bryn Adams) called 'No?' which I can't wait to see. They are both hilarious. Good people too.
RTM: Have you managed to see any other Fringe performances?
PM: I've spent pretty much every waking minute at Rhino since Fringe started and they've just finished the first half of the festival, so this week is where the changeover happens and the new acts begin performing. In the first few weeks I got to see a bunch of Adelaide's favourites (Dave Campbell, Angus Hodge, Fabien Clark, Georgie Carrol) and other interstate and international acts. I saw Dayne Rathbone last week and he floored me. There are some amazing acts coming up too that I can't wait to see.
RTM: You've said that 9 months into your comedy career you have "met people you have been watching on TV for years" - who have you met? have they given you any words of wisdom?
PM: It's been mad. I met Arj Barker the other night. I was pretty drunk but I remember him being pretty freaking cool. Greg Fleet has just finished his run at Rhino (his show was maybe my favourite of the festival so far) and has been hanging out there pretty much every night. I was lucky enough to meet him earlier in the year and he is legitimately one of the nicest people I've ever met. And he just doesn't know hot to not be funny. His show was really honest and sad, dealing with some of his major addiction struggles and problems over the years, but it never stopped being hilarious either. He does the type of comedy that I would love to be doing one day. He gave me some advice when I first met him that I haven't forgotten and I've used every time I've written a set since: "Put your second best joke first and finish with your strongest bit". It seems like simple advice, but it opened up so many new ideas for me when I was writing. He also hosted a night that I performed in a few weeks ago and when I had finished he told the crowd that he "knew [me] when I was less good". I'm taking it as a compliment. Although, he did a 3 minute intro for me describing how I used to be a hired killer, so I don't know whether to believe him or not.
RTM: What would you say the best part of the Adelaide Fringe has been?
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Newcomer to the scene, Patrick Meynell
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PM: Apart from all the great shows I've seen, just the atmosphere. Particularly at Rhino. Once the performers are off stage, they just become one of the crew, hanging around and drinking. Hannah Gadsby was tending bar on Friday night for who knows what reason. it's just such a great scene to be a part of.
RTM: Tell us a bit about your routines - who do you think would enjoy your shows?
PM: I really have no idea how to answer that. I just try to write things that amuse me. What i really like in a comedian is honesty. The truth is often sad and depressing and to me, that is hilarious. So I have a lot of material about things that hurt me in some way. A good bit of heartbreak is worth hours of material. You do need to remember to put jokes in though. Otherwise it just sounds like you're reading from your suicide note.
RTM: What would you say to anyone considering giving stand up comedy a go?
PM: The concerned asshole in me would tell you to fuck off. We don't need the competition. There's already way too many funny people. The nice guy in me that I try to silence would say that if you think you're funny, go for it. You'll find out pretty quickly if you are or not.
RTM: Finally, any upcoming gigs?
PM: I'm performing in a variety show Wed 13th at The Ed Castle. That's officially my last set during Fringe, but I seem to pick up random sets here and there. I did a bit on Sunday during a friends Fringe show cos it was her final night and she was doing an 'anything goes' kind of thing. That was fun so hopefully I'll get a chance like that again. After Fringe it's back to hitting up Rhino every Monday night and doing spots around town whenever people are nice enough to book me. My goal is to have a show next Fringe with a friend of mine. He started about 2 months after me and we make each other laugh constantly with our sets. Also, he's a lot funnier than me so I'm going to ride on his coat tails.
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| Pat in action |
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