Young Adelaide entrepreneur, Benjamin Maio Mackay, is usually busy enough as it is tackling one project after another. But this Fringe season sees his production company, Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage, presenting two shows at almost the same time – Great Detectives 2 and #bunnypastards – Hardly Trivial Trivia.
Glam managed to catch up for a chat with Benjamin about the shows and what audiences can expect.
B.G.: Tell us a little bit about Great Detectives 2 B.M.M.: Great Detectives 2! is a sequel to Great Detectives, which toured around Australia over a number of years to critical and audience acclaim. The shows recreates the experience of attending a 1950s radio recording using fan favourite characters, Candy Matson & Johnny Dollar.
Working on 2 new hilarious scripts with these wonderful actors is an absolute joy and I can’t wait for audiences to see the new show! So come along & join us for a night of new mysteries, comedy & intrigue!
B.G.: What made you decide to do basically a ‘sequel’?
B.M.M.: The audience and critical response to the first show was far beyond anything I ever anticipated and we’d sold out a number of Fringe seasons with the first show, so I definitely wanted to continue working on the project in some way. I also knew, however, that after 4 Adelaide seasons of the show, audiences weren’t going to see the same scripts year in and year out – so I started to look for new material, featuring the same lead characters audiences loved.
I found a couple of stories I really liked, then started adapting them to suit our style and as soon as we did a cast read I knew I had to produce the sequel.
B.G.: Why pick the two scripts that you have?
B.M.M.: They felt the most authentic to the blend of comedy/mystery Great Detectives is notable for. When creating these shows I take original stories from 1950s radio, then heavily adapt and rewrite the scripts. I needed stories with interesting and versatile characters, to give the actors a range of voices to play with and of course a compelling mystery. These new Candy Matson and Johnny Dollar stories felt perfect for the show and I think audiences will love them just as much, if not more!
B.G.: Will we see the same cast as in the previous Great Detectives?
B.M.M.: You will see Eden Trebilco, Jennifer Barry and myself return, but we have a new cast member, Emma Bargery portraying private eye, Candy Matson.
Julia Sciacca, who did the original shows recently relocated overseas, so couldn’t be with us. In the recasting it was important to me to cast someone who approaches the role differently and Emma is doing an incredible job bringing her own spin to Candy. Emma’s been someone I’ve wanted to work with for a long time and she’s a veteran of the stage and screen. Audiences are absolutely going to love her!
B.G.: Tell us all about #bunnypastards – Hardly Trivial Trivia. Is it a Quiz Night?
B.M.M.: #BunnyPastards – Hardly Trivial Trivia is a black comedy show, created by Ben Sorensen and I. It’s not a quiz night – it definitely has audience interaction and, as the title suggest there is definitely an amount of trivia we will impart on audiences. It has a game show vibe, but it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen….
B.G.: In this one you are working with Ben Sorensen. How did you come to team up with him?
B.M.M.: Ben and I worked on a number of events across last year as MCs and we found we had an enjoyable on-stage chemistry that audiences respond to. Mid last year we sat down to look at some potential ways to work together and we came up with the idea of this show.
B.G.: Due to circumstances totally beyond your control, you have had to change venues at the last minute. Could you tell us what and where the new ones are? B.M.M.: It was unfortunate we had to relocate, kudos to the incredible Emma Knights (who’s curating venues for both shows), as she’s found us some great new locations that are so much more central for audiences. Hopefully we’re now at venues more convenient for everyone!
Great Detectives 2! is on at various locations, dependent on the day:Cafe Outside the Square (22 Feb, 3 March – 7.30pm) Goodwood Institute Main Theatre (23 Feb – 7.30pm) Studio 166, Goodwood Institute (24 Feb – 2pm & 7.30pm) Union Hall (1 & 2 March – 7.30pm) The Cabinet Room at Treasury 1860 (3 March – 2pm)
#BunnyPastards – Hardly Trivial Trivia is on March 14 & 15, 8pm at Studio 166 (Goodwood Institute).
B.G.: Not only are you incredibly busy producing and appearing in your own Fringe shows, but you’re also involved in others. Could you tell us, very quickly, about them?
B.M.M.: I’ve certainly got a busy Fringe – I’m doing one performance of the improvised kid’s show, Tales of Adventure in Mt Barker on Feb 23. Then I’m in Sex & The Musical (an adaptation of Sex & The City), playing Carrie’s best friend Stanford. The show is tremendous fun to do and working with the incredible cast, especially Stefanie Rossi as Carrie is a joy. That’s on at Treasury 1860 from Feb 23-March 10. Tickets to both of those are available through FringeTix. I’ve also just been asked to partake in a late night game show direct from the UK at Gluttony – so keep your eyes pealed for me over Fringe, you never know where I might appear!
B.G.: Is there anything else you want to cover that I may not have thought of?
B.M.M.: I just want to quickly add that Great Detectives 2! is a show that everyone will love, regardless of if you saw the first one or not. Obviously there are certain returning characters, but the stories are completely stand alone. We also love seeing people of all ages attend Great Detectives 2!
#BunnyPastards – Hardly Trivial Trivia is recommended for ages 15+, due to some of the comedic content. My advice if you’re not willing to partake in audience interaction – sit towards the back!
Interview by Brian Godfrey
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