The plan.

So the plan for this week is to post the stragglers and get all our reviews up onto the site. Then they will be collated into show posts for the mudfest site. Then we shall all be left with a very pretty archive and artist rescource for Mudfest 2011 and into the future!

x Lils

Review: iQuest: The Musical

Paul Keating and Shane Warne have musicals. So does marijuana, genetics, and Elle Woods. In an age where no taboo is musically untouched, you might ask where else the musical could possibly go? 'iQuest' answers that question with a ripe sense of the ridiculous: videogame and nerd culture.

Weedy, nerdy Larry sits alone in his basement playing World of Warcraft. His mother worries that he doesn't get out enough, but before this can turn into a serious study of cyber addiction, Larry disappears into cyberspace, meets his dominatrix guide Amy, and is transformed into his hunky avatar Cassius. Through a series of levels he must complete the Ultimate Quest and fight the evil siblings Dr. Z and Mr A and their USB of Doom (which will somehow trigger the formation of a supercontinent and the US taking over the world. Go figure). Along the way he picks up PJizzle (a 90s rapper), Ash (as in Pokemon) and Captain Planet who will aide him in quest.

Half the references sadly went straight over my head. But the ones I did get were well-placed and funny. The first act's Pokemon Battle, and the second's opening with a gone-to-seed Captain Planet are a hoot. 'iQuest' is like a comic-con, ranging from social networking to the vampire craze to Dungeons and Dragons. There's a message in there somewhere about growing up and facing real life, but for iQuest I was happy to indulge in sweet nostalgia for a more naive and innocent time.

There's some solid writing behind iQuest; plenty of good gags (although some overwritten) and a good story arc, told through well-thought and potentially great songs. The production lacked in places, particularly the balance, and there were some awkward timing issues, but this is a rock musical with potential. The finale showed the strength of the talent behind the show, congratulations to the cast and crew for developing this musical from scratch.

'iQuest' is an affectionate homage of nerdy goodness, with a surprising amount of heart.

'iQuest: The Musical' continues today at Union Theatre.

Muddy Flicks

On Wednesday night the Rowden White Library undertook a transformation, it was still the same relaxed, cosy place it always has been, but those kicking back with a comic book, or blatantly ignoring the request to 'please do not study' were absent. The lights were dim and deep within the labyrinth of shelves, screens were flickering to life. And so began Muddy Flicks.

Featuring over 30 short films, screened over the course of three hours, Muddy Flicks invited visitors to move between screens and spaces, to view a series of different films at their own pace. It is perhaps not practical to mention every film in this review, and as it happened, I regrettably wasn't able to see them all.

My night started with a cosy armchair in the screening room, with a set of headphones that were a touch too big. Almost as soon as I had sat down, the film began. Opening with a violently red, yellow and orange landscape, we slowly focus on the pale face of a young boy. He looks lost, frightened, hopeless in a desolate world that burns behind him. The film that followed was a beautifully realised story of one man, perhaps the last on earth, living out his days in Bunker 14 after a massive nuclear explosion. It was, I think a good film to start with. The films I watched after snuggled in an equally cosy armchair in front of the projector followed similar themes. The filmmakers of Muddy Flicks explored the horrors and quieter moments of war, of grief, of frightening worlds where women are scarce and valuable commodities. Difference was pondered and celebrated, sometimes with humour and sometimes with poignancy. We travel the country with a young boy who learns that a well rounded education does not come from a tape, learn the adverse affects of smoking from a young sunflower, who once found her Dad's cigarette butt in her noodles. But by the end, like the man in Bunker 14, we find there is the possibility of a world with hope.

Muddy Flicks certainly celebrated the talent of some amazing filmmakers, talent that one day we shall hopefully see on the big screen.

Review: Tastings

Mudfest's 'Tastings', curated by Justin Nott, offered a seven course degustation of delicious morsels.

Hayley Jach in 'Dream Time' starts with a girl in a blonde wig and fairy wings telling a childhood monologue until... woops she's forgotten the words and she's actually drunk and accosting the audience. It's a disarming and unnerving beginning that paves the way for more treats.

Domini Marshall's 'Right Beside You' starts with 'He loves me, He loves me not, She loves me, She Loves me not." A couple spend a typical evening arguing over holidays and intimacy. It's a mundane tale with a refreshing twist. Small details take on larger meanings, such as that eternal question, pizza or thai?

Poet Darren Parker, seen previously on the Mudfest stage in 'Poetry Double Bill', gives a more restrained performance devoted to his grandmother Dulcie in 'Me Mum's Mum'. The tone ranges from childish sweetness to bitter adolescence, and reveals the quieter side of Darren's performance.

Hannah White's 'Dinner' provides a good ol' family meal but the characters who come to the table are far from meat and three veg. With a Hi-5 obsessed daughter, a son who thinks he's a vampire thanks to "that show all the kids are watching...'Truly Bloody'", and a mother hitting the bottle after a stressful day at work, it can only end in chaos. It's ridiculous and hilarious, with a whole heap of heart.

Hayley Bracken's 'Lovers' seems at first like the dessert that has come too early, with its sickly sweet romance. But like a trendy salted-caramel macaroon, this play within a play within a play quickly reveals its bite, and then leaves a genuinely sweet aftertaste.

Tilly Lunken and Dione Joseph offer the richest tasting of the night in 'Curtain Call'. It's Thursday wash-day at the nursing home. Gracie, an aging playwright suffering from dementia struggles to remember, and forget, her past. As the play of Gracie's life unfolds (the laundry becomes a stage, the nurses actresses, the clothes costumes), the women share their disappointments too. The plot is intricately layered and many-toned, from joyous to heartbreaking, brought to life by some very talented actresses. It's a play to be savoured.

As with Samantha Law's 'Just Peachy', a warm monologue from a shy girl that offers piercing observations and... a peach. Samantha has brilliant comic timing and manages to reach the heights of despair and humour in the same line. She has the audience hanging off every word, and wiping away tears of joy at the conclusion.

The shorts benefitted from work-shopping by industry professionals, and it shows. They were sharp, professional, and surprising in all the right ways, leaving a very satisfied audience at the end.

Review: A Fairy Tale in Miniature

Helen Nodding's Mudfest installation is a tiny world with a grand story, if you can find it.

I'd never really been inside the Architecture Building. On first entering, all that design work is intimidatingly practical. Except for the paper-chain-mailed staircase, which is perhaps Melbourne Uni's answer to RMIT's green blob.

The library, thankfully, is like all other libraries, with a notable absence of a gender/cultural/political studies section. I had to ask the librarian where the installation was. He led me down the bookshelves. Here it was, "Sandwiching the learning".

Helen Nodding's works are bookends. Her first creation supports 693.54 COLE, "Carpentry and Joinery". It is a steep mossy incline, a hut at the base, and a pebbly trail winding through a bare forest. At the top, a figure faces a red door into the hillside. It appears to be nothing, but on closer inspection, the figure is revealed to an elderly lady, less than half a centimetre high, hunched over her miniature walking stick.

The second bookend is up against 709.47 KIRI "Post-soviet Art and Architecture" (I'm learning my way around the architecture section). Perhaps appropriately, it depicts a city in ruins, a falling down highway, and a tower overgrown with moss. On the cliffside, a younger woman stands tall (perhaps seven millimetres), and gazes out.

I'd forgotten I was in a library. At first glance you might dismiss Nodding's organic creations, but spend a moment, seeing, and her Lilliputian world will come to life. Her creations are whimsical, and more than a little poignant.

A Fairy Tale in Miniature will be on display in the Architecture Library (4th Floor) until 28 August.

Review: The Zoo Story

Jerry has been to the zoo, but before he tells Peter why it will be on the news tonight, he wants to have a proper conversation.

I also went to the zoo on Sunday. The animals were fascinating, but as I followed the endless queues of strollers, some disturbing aspects became apparent. The orangutan gazed through the glass with a little too much recognition. The tiger paced relentlessly back and forth; perhaps lonely, perhaps hungry, perhaps for no reason whatsoever.

Melbourne City Dionysia's production of 'The Zoo Story', presented as part of Mudfest 2011, will take you to the zoo as well, but it's not a family weekend.

Peter (Henry Shaw), a "truly enviable innocent" or perhaps a "vegetable," is a New York publicist with a wife, two daughters, and two parakeets. Jerry (James Jackson) is a transient in a rooming house, with a coloured queen in a kimono next door. One afternoon they meet in a park and Peter's tidy world is turned upside down.

Edward Albee's 'The Zoo Story', directed by Shannon Loughnane and Clancy Moore, is a story of connection between humans (and animals). Their direction is subtle, allowing the creeping horror and tension to build. The set is two park benches that come to represent the vast distance (or perhaps not so vast) between Peter and Jerry. The play is structured around the conversation that they have. A highlight is an extended speech in which Jerry describes the flamboyant menagerie of characters in his rooming house. James Jackson and Henry Shaw bring all the nuances of Albee's play to life; the humour, the horror, and the connection. Their chemistry is spot on. What could have been a vicious satire of conservative values is a story of two men, searching for conversation and companionship, in the zoo that is the city they live in.

'The Zoo Story' continues Wednesday 24th, Thursday 25th, and Friday 26th at Union Theatre

Room for an Interview?!

[Artist Ben Volchok gets some entertainment out of responding to our terribly straightly bowled questions!!]

Company name: I didn't even know whe had to have a company. And no, that's not the name.

Show/artwork: A Room with Revue

Dates: 19/8/11, 21/8/11, 24/8/11.

What was your initial motivation for joining the Mudfest Kaliedoscope in 2011?
Ambition/foolishness. That hasn't changed.

Is this your first mudfest show?
Participating, no. Being in charge of, yes.

Are their future plans for this show?
Are their future plans for this show what? And whose plans?

[Why yes, clearly writing questions for interviews at 2am is a bad idea when it comes to correct spelling and grammar, ahem!]

Who is involved?
I am, and so are some other people. Their names are Silvi Vann-Wall and Sam Rankin.

What is the most appropriate adjective about the show?
"Painful".

How do you think audiences will react?
Painfully.

[We actually loved it and laughed a lot. Please see under reviews section for not one but TWO reviews of Room with a Revue so far...]

Website/ blog?
Not that I know of.

Any info on the theatre company.
I haven't got one.

Anything else of interest?
Ozone smells faintly of geraniums.

[Yes, indeed we watch QI as well!]

Review: Waiting for Eurovision

It sounds like the kind of absurdist nothings of Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot', but Tilly Lunken's 'Waiting for Eurovision' goes where that play didn't dare: europop. And that's exactly what Beckett's play needs, more three-minute song and dance numbers. The minimal set of this hilarious Mudfest short is the stage for an existential crisis that I endure every year, the agonising wait for Europe's night of nights. Cal Sampson and Corey Reynolds pull off profound lyrics such as 'If you're singing this out loud/then you're hungry/hungry for love'. The musical numbers, with slick choreography and music production, are an absolute hoot. With its short length, 'Waiting for Eurovision' left me hungry, hungry for more.

Catch Waiting for Eurovision (with bonus discoball) on Saturday 27 August at Guild Theatre.

Photo by Amy Dyke

Review: Poetry Double Bill

Bronwyn Lovell and Darren Parker make for a fascinating double bill of poetic delights. Both hailing from the suburbs of Western Sydney, they each present personal works that show a range of language, story and humour.

Bronwyn Lovell begins, "I want to give you a word," and this gift is a recurring theme in her audio-visual performance as she charts a narrative through loss, love and growing up. She begins in multicultural Fairfield, Western Sydney, then progresses through the loss of her nanna, moving overseas, and relationships. Her imagery is rich: a hot air balloon is a fleeting lover, the language of maths describes a relationship ("no emotions but square roots"); and her language delightful. The poems are supported by animation and sound that draw you in to the poems' whimsical universe. Bronwyn, in her performance, strikes all the right notes between pathos and irony - able to laugh at her impulsive loves, and in the next line evoke the grief of losing a relative.

Darren 'Peter' Parker (his mum was a spiderman fan) grew up in 'Cabra', Western Sydney and his poetry is grungy and political. Darren opens by introducing himself as 'part Aboriginal, part Irish, I'm a lepra-coon' which sets the tone for a anarchic series of poetic attacks on everything Darren sees wrong with Australia. Half-stand up, half soapbox, Darren's poems grow out of anecdotes and rants, the language is hard and unrestrained. Darren's pet hate is racism, but nothing is sacred, from religion and politics to exes and tattoos. Attacking non-smokers he asks, "are smokers being forced to live longer so they can consume longer?" It's dark, it's cynical, and it's hilarious in all sorts of wrong ways.

Bronwyn and Darren will appear again in Poetry Double Bill on Wed 24th August 8:30pm.

Photo by Amy Dyke

Mudfest Meets August Performance Targets

As befits a festival of Melbourne, my opening night experience of Mudfest 2011 was dictated by the vagaries of public transport. As sometimes occurs, I got on the wrong tram. Waiting for the first Mudfest performance tram from VCA to Parkville, we were instructed to look for "the number 63 tram, route 67" or perhaps "the number 67 tram, route 63". In any case, instead of the short play we were expecting, we found ourselves amongst a wayward game of Bingo. I have often wondered how best to endure the city tram route. Now, thanks to Mudfest, I know. While the rowdy Mudfest patrons took to the game like ladies in a nursing home, the regular passengers generously looked on with bemused expressions. Thankfully they didn't have us expelled.

On our arrival at Parkville we were received by Grolsch bicycles, whimsically decorated in fairy lights and those lovely bottles of beer. We were guided along the boulevard by creations of light, a very late rabbit, a delightful jazz band, and two homeless guys having an existential debate on the subject of death. Finally we arrived at the elusive Mudclub (Second floor, Union House), a tasteful indoor venue complete with beer garden. We were served Muddy Pots of punch in gumboots, with a Re-boot available if desired. With the delights of opening night behind me, I can't wait to dive head first into the muddy potpourri of Mudfest 2011!

From the Archives!

Muddy leaks blogging

The thing with blogging is you need the time to blog. At the moment with Mudfest stuff involving every non-working (and for me non-packing) minute time is hard to come by. But in some ways this is of course really, really good as this festival is going to be INCREDIBLE. Caps Lock Totally Warrented. 

So as it happens I am on the train coming into rehearsals and seizing this opportunity to tap a few updates.

Firstly, have you seen how incredible the tramstops are looking? Especially the one at Melbourne University. Such colour! Such a kaleidoscope. Very, very, very pretty. Congratulations to everyone involved in the set up and especially to Erin who has co-ordinated the plan as well as sewing endless patchwork-y marvels to bring some life to the Melbourne University tramstop.

The Tastings Masterclass happened and apparently went well. With the mentors providing good feedback for the performers it was great to see how much the work is developing. Even a short rehearsal period produces truly marvellous stuff in the theatre

The first Creative Writing Workshop has been moved due to outside factors so the lovely and talented Lally Katz will be leading the event from 1.30pm in the Guild Theatre (I think?) this Thursday 18^th August. Think of it as an aperitif to the opening night. Bring your pens and your paper and a will to write. For only $5 you will be kicking yourself at missing the opportunity!

Tickets are selling bit by bit. Remember it is always a good idea to book ahead for events that you are wanting to see. We here at Muddy Leaks have learnt the hard way with that. It looks as if Wait has completely sold out without a reviewer booked in – we need to sort this asap but the message is – do not let this be you! Book now ____.

Remember also that because of the way Mudfest is structured some evenings you can catch two or three shows in a row in the same venue – or switch it around a bit too. There is no end to all the combinations that you can create as part of your Mudfest experience! Why not come to Is This Too Framed? A Directed Reading and then stick around (with a quick drink in between) for the grand opening of Zoo Story. Or perhaps it is worth noting that if you arrive half an hour before the show in the Open Stage you can catch Absence before hand in the foyer.

There is always something exciting and happening in the Mudclub and also there are many things occurring during the day. It’s lunch time and suddenly the recycling bin you are popping your paper waste into starts growling – what is going on? EVERYTHING SPEAKS! Or when waiting do be sure to discover all the installations and visual art that is part of the festival

So busy this didn't even get posted until AFTER festival has opened. Lovely opening night everyone. Totally exicted about this thing! x Lilly

Poetic Delights Interview.

Poetic Delights
******************
Artist name: Bronwyn Lovell (poems and drawings) with the talents of Alex Scott (animator) and Meena Shamaly (sound designer)

Show/artwork: Poetic Delights --  a poetry reading with a unique difference – itfeatures a projected backdrop of animated images.

Dates: Aug 19, 7pm and Aug 24 8.30pm

What was your initial motivation for joining the Mudfest Kaliedoscope in 2011?
 I wanted to challenge myself and put my work out into the world. A big part of myself thought, 'Are you crazy? How are you going to pull this off?' Because when I pitched the idea I had no idea how I was going to make it happen. Heck, I wasn't even sure if could I draw, let alone work out some way to get those drawings to move! But that's often how I move forward with my work. I agree to things and then there's a deadline looming that terrifies me and somehow that usually inspires a last-ditch effort and I manage to pull through right at the last minute.

Is this your first mudfest show?
Yes. And first festival show ever.

Are their future plans for this show?
 Yes, it will be evolving into a Fringe Show later this year and hopefully I will tour with it to other cities, and also send an altered version of it out into the world as an exhibition piece. I have already had expressions of interest for it to be showcased as a slideshow in Sydney.

Who is involved?
 Bronwyn Lovell (poet) with Alex Scott (animator) and Meena Shamaly (sound designer)

What is the most exciting thing about the show and the creative process?
The most exciting aspect of the show has been working with Alex and Meena, and handing my work over to them to get creative with and not known what they are going to do with it. When you see the final product it's odd, because it's still your work, but now it's their work too, and the art takes on more than one personality and dimension. It's an amazing feeling.

How do you think audiences will react?
 I've never done anything like it. So it's all new to me and I have no idea how audiences will react. I hope they will love it and ideally find it enchanting and maybe even a little hypnotic.

Website/ blog?
 http://www.bronwynlovell.com/ (see link on our blogroll as well)

About Bronwyn Lovell :

Bronwynis an emerging poet and spoken word performer. Her poetry has beenfeatured on RRR, SYN FM, 3CR Community Radio, and MelbourneCommunity Television Channel 31. Her work has been accepted for publication inSwamp, Antipodes, ZineWest, Positive Words Magazine, and Paradise Anthology. Bronwyn has a writing residency at Kinfolk Cafe as part of Australian Poetry's national Cafe Poets Program and she is a workshop facilitator forthe Centre for Poetics and Justice. She was the first Australian to compete inthe Women of the World Poetry Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, in March2011. Bronwyn has a Masters in Creative Writing, and a Bachelor in Englishand Film Studies from the University of Sydney. She is currentlycompleting Honours in Cinema and Creative Writing at the University ofMelbourne. Besides poetry and film, her interests include storytelling,comics and linguistics. http://www.bronwynlovell.com/

About Alex Scott:
Alex has had many years involvementwith both the Melbourne Poetry and Film communities, and has recently beenfinding opportunities to bring the two streams together. In 2010, he wascommissioned to produce a large 'animated photographic collage' for the liveperformance: 'Melbourne Poetry Map' in association with the Overload PoetryFestival.  In 2011, Alex was commissionedby Randall $tephens, a Melbourne performance poet to produce a 'kinetic textanimation' to accompany one of his performance pieces. This animation has sincebeen screened publicly and released online to very positive responses.
http://www.alexscotteditor.com/

About Meena Shamaly:
Meena is an emerging composer whoscores TV, film and video game projects as comfortably as he works incontemporary production and songwriting projects in a diverse range of genres.He has had his chamber and choral work performed all around Melbourne. Hiscreativity extends to spoken word poetry, which he has performed at the SydneyOpera House among other venues. He is constantly looking for new ways to combinethe worlds of music and poetry. Meena is currently completing a Bachelor ofMusic at Monash University, where he was recently awarded the Peter TahoudinMemorial Prize for composition.
http://www.facebook.com/meenashamalymusic?sk=app_19507961798

Anything else of interest?
Poetic Delights is an innovative example of poetry in the multimedia age. According to Bronwyn, the main objectives of the project were to explore the inter-artpossibilities of poetry, comics, and new multimedia technology; to collaboratewith other artists; to develop her own art in new directions; and to presentpoetry in an unusual way in order to engage a new audience. Poetic Delights combines poet Bronwyn Lovell’s passion for words, the moving image andstorytelling – all in the one show. “Ever since I was a little girl,” says Bronwyn Lovell, “I wanted to write stories and illustrate them as well. Thisshow has given me a chance to revisit my childhood. We’ve created a verypersonal performance, with the feel of a living storybook”.
Poetic Delights has been generously supported by funding from the Arts Departmentand the University of Melbourne StudentUnion. Poetic Delights forms part of the Poetry Double Bill event with fellow poet Darren Parker.

Muddy Month!

It’s the first week of August and the intensity in the Mudfest office is increasing along with a corresponding frenetic creativity. When you put creative types to work – boy can they get the job done, in record time.

Our wonderful Visual Arts Producer has been busy sewing gorgeously colourful quilts for our Mudfest Tramstop Installation. With not much help (yet! contact info.mudfest[at]gmail.com with your wishes to assist) she has been whipping up these warming additions to both the main Melbourne Uni tramstop and the VCA tramstop. This of course is tied together with our sponsorship from the lovely people at Yarra Trams

The festival directors have been busy (as usual). They have had a photo shoot for publicity and have brought us the 10-Day-Party – on tonight! Deals have been finalised with the Mudclub and the centralised production team are all manically sorting out everything that gets emailed their way.

It’s a busy time as we count down to Opening Night, steps are taken to start finalising the Special Curatorial Event; costumes are being sourced for shows; the Arts Lab is bustling with the Operations team painting venue signs; banners are being painted. [Deep Breath!]
Publicity has sent out the Festival Press Release and advertisements have been published in print media as well as facebook events popping up all over the place for Mudfest shows. It is clear not only from our very pretty website that we HAVE A FESTIVAL!

Rehearsals have started for Tastings productions; mentors have been met, cast have been cast and creative teams selected. We know that many shows are well into production and rehearsal and are ticking along nicely as we hit the last two weeks before the festival opening. A few branches have snapped (my own included) for a moment or two but overall the tenacity of this team will be testament in just how amazing this festival will be.

Here meetings have been occurring like mad and we have on board an official Muddy Leaks photographer! Who is incredibly talented and is eager to document the process. Whilst there have been some teething issues in terms of connecting to the Mudfest Main site we are getting to be all set. And at least this is happening two weeks out rather than the night before.

Oh and the 24 Hr Musical Team are after Cast and Creative Team to produce – maximum commitment for minimal time!

Onwards and Upwards Muddy Friends

Love, Lilly

Geurrillas in the Mud.

Check out the awesomness that is the Publicity team and the tactics they are starting to advertise MUDFEST!

Two videos in a row on here but hey, this one is way more relevant and way more creative (Jedward-Pedward) and... here you go!

A Muddy Meeting

A meeting of mighty minds commences! The reviewers of the modern age.
The Players are in place, their pens are poised!!!
What will the reviews hold? Nobody knows!!

Stay tuned for Reviews of the wonderful, fruity, didactic, engaging shows of Mudfest!!!

10 Day PARTY!

Another week and another Party, this time a 10 (working day) Party - it is literally that close to Mudfest that we can taste the kaliedoscope of what is on offer. JOIN US in celebrating the amazingness that is Mudfest 2011 and what is to come!

More details to be found on facebook!!

Muddy Mondays and Massive Developments!

Well, today was a busy one for everyone involved in Mudfest. It has been a MAJOR day as well for everyone associated with the festival. So today

THE MUDFEST WEBSITE IS LIVE

and also dear patrons of the arts

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE.

It doesn't get more real than that!

Did you know?

Did you know that if you accidently type Mudd Leaks (instead of Muddy Leaks) into Google all that comes up are lists of references to Rudd Leaks!

Mudfest? Make that RUDFEST!

HALF-WAY THERE!

We have had a fabulous response from would-be reviewers for Muddy Leaks and Mudfest! We are however still looking for more. With such a jam-packed and AWESOME line-up in the program this year we need at least 10 reviewers, and other documentary crew to get out, get involved and totally blog the life of the festival. Not only will this rescource be great for your own writing/reviewing experience but you will be helping both the artists and the organisers of the festival and future festivals. Woo! For prosterity!

So in light of all this, there was a further call-out for more lovely interested people to go into followspot this week. But where is Followspot this week? Hmmmmm.... Not sure. Anyway, please send your interest to muddyleaks@gmail.com and we will be in touch.

New Design.

In line with our ever-evolving relationship with the main Mudfest festival Muddy Leaks has had a bit of a makeover. We hope you love the new colour scheme. We think we have capitalised very nicely on the lovely design that is comping out of Mudfest 2011 proper! It's very pretty isn't it?