Tag: Comedy

[Victoria Fringe Festival ’14] The Rise of Basement Boy as a Hero? A Review

When two buddies are seen playing Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game, before even the show starts, some people may well wonder what will transpire in The Rise of Basement Boy?

The Rise of Basement Boy PosterPresented by ShaneBob Productions
Directed by Shane Campbell and Markus Spodzieja

In homage to many a geek or nerd who can relate, a free slice of a cheese pizza is going to be offered at every performance of The Rise of Basement Boy. When two buddies are seen playing Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game, before even the show starts, some people may well wonder what will transpire in this comedy musical? If they read the synopsis, Archibald Clarkson (Markus Spodzieja) has to brave leaving the basement in order to be with his first true love or face losing her forever. When he spends most of his time sheltered away from reality along with Clarence, his Grandpa, (Francis Melling), who also struggles with his own demons, the only person they share a camaraderie with is with Bart (Jenson Kerr), a buddy who comes over to play with them.

But when Archie answers the door in order to receive their daily influx of pizza that’ll make the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hungry, just who he meets is not their regular delivery person. Instead of the guy who has been ripping them off for years, he meets Candy (Hayley McCurdy), who happens to be the girl of his dreams. To see Clarkson flabbergasted is not without some chuckles and to witness Bart act jealous gets the plot in motion.

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[Victoria Fringe Festival ’14] Finding Mask Over Matter, A Review

In order to fully understand their work will require a crash course in absurdism.

fringe poster1Presented by Lightning Theatre

Mask over Matter is one of those plays with a name that conjures forth visages of wonderment and intrigue. Instead, the show offers a mix of pantomime and improv where the performers are wearing a mask in order to play archetypical characters from many a narrative. In what they represent are not necessarily that of comedy and tragedy that Greek theatre made famous. The style hails from Italy where it’s more commonly known as Commedia dell’arte. Deception is used to create its humour, and it’s a different type of improv that many may not be familiar with, much less get.

At least for this young comedy group, they are certainly learning the ropes fast. With a few members of the cast schooled by the Dave Morris’ Improv Class, at least they are being trained by the best. Andrew Brimmell and Shahin Mohamadi are two such individuals. Together, with Daniel Belkin, Robin Valerie and Kevin Koch, they play a diverse cast of characters from various social standings. They are caricatures of various occupations and a night’s show can be a discourse in social studies. As with many a performance, Brighella (Shahin Mohamadi) Arlecchino (Kevin Koch) and Columbina (Robin Valerie) introduce what this type of comedy is about and audiences are essentially being taken for a ride of slapstick after a few audience members provide a few ideas and direction to help move the night’s performance along.

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[Victoria Fringe Festival ’14] ] The Search for Paleoncology, A Review

Paleoncology

Presented by Moon Dinosaur Theatre
Directed by Andrew Young

You wouldn’t think that a play about a woman in a dinosaur onesie could make you cry, but give Paleoncology one hour and you may shed a tear too. Written and performed by UVic alumni Kira Hall, she plays Lea, a young woman dealing with the knowledge that her brother Daniel has untreatable cancer by turning to her childhood love of dinosaurs. Lea’s struggle to deal with something emotionally devastating has affected her on all levels, including her job. Her move back to her parents’ home isn’t met with warmth. They expect more out of life from their daughter — even more so now that their eldest child is terminally ill.

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The Penguins of Madagascar gets an Adorably Cute Second Trailer

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

penguinsofmadagascar1

More cute details are being unveiled in this new second trailer for DreamWork’s Penguins of Madagascar. Not only do fans get to see Skipper, Rico, Kowalski, and Private as adorable little chicks in a segment revealing their humble beginnings, but also this tease may no doubt be a set up for more squeals of delight to come. Perhaps new merchandise will arise for children who want an adorable stuffed doll of their favourite penguin. If Happy Feet did not succeed in getting children to seek out those dancing toy novelties, this film will certainly do a better job at creating a marketing bonanza with its vast cast of Arctic and aquatic oddities.

Although approximately half of the trailer shows new material, the rest is recycled to help round out what the movie is about. Dave, a mad octopus, is on the rampage and he is intent on destroying the Penguins’ reputation. The trailer suggests that what they will do is going to cement them as legends in the spy world.

Two more trailers may get released when Thanksgiving Day in the States nears. Perhaps its best that the only thing served during this holiday weekend is Dave’s thirst for revenge.

The Night at the Museum 3 Gets a Trailer and Title!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Night_at_the_Museum_poster

The third Night at the Museum movie is definitely going to explain the origins of the golden tablet that animates the exhibits and wrap up this series at the same time. Titled Secrets of the Tomb, this film might include some Indiana Jones moments too.

The fun is in reuniting the ol’ gang and taking them to London to find the means of re-energizing the said item so life everlasting will not stop. The trailer is an amusing watch, and for Egyptian enthusiasts like me, this is the movie I’ve been waiting for! It seems a part of what I’ve conjectured may well come true if the cast listing for this film and the trailer is any indication.

As for how much of the ancient world will prevail throughout the movie, perhaps only 15-20 minutes will be spent revealing what the tablet is meant for and how it came into possession of Ahkmenrah.

But as for how much of the humour is being rehashed, yes a few jokes are looking like it can run thin with Dexter the monkey up to his usual tricks and a new dinosaur chasing the team around needing to be tamed. That will not stop fans of this movie trilogy from going to see this film come Christmas week, when this film is set to screen Dec 19.

Hiding Out from Life’s Little Problems with And So It Goes, a Movie Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

and_so_it_goes_poster

Joni Mitchell’s folksy “Both Sides Now” makes for a great bookend song for Rob Reiner’s film, And So It Goes, a romantic comedy about self-discovery and strengthening family bonds. In the themes typically found in her music, the feeling of romantic longing and disillusionment that the main two characters carry in their selves is definitely noticeable. But for people wondering if there’s any relationship to Billy Joel’s own tune, most likely not.

This movie is made for an older generation to enjoy a well made character drama moreso than for younger crowds on the hunt for slapstick. But for anyone who likes to see the talented Michael Douglas play an ol’ codger amped up on many nasty levels, this film is recommended. Fans familiar with him playing Jack T. Colton, an adventurer in Romancing the Stone or Grady Tripp in Wonder Boys will find a very different character in this film. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the curious will be interested in seeing how he will fare as Hank Pym in Ant-Man. The newswire Reuters quoted him to say that he wants to have some fun in the role of Pym. He certainly had fun in And So It Goes by playing Oren Little, a mean spirited and grumpy real estate agent.

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