Presented by That’s My Hat
Reviewed Saturday 26 February 2011
http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au
http://www.directorshotel.com.au
Venue: Directors Hotel, 247 Gouger Street, Adelaide
Season: 11 Mar at 2pm, 10-12 Mar at 7.30pm
Tickets: $15.00/$8.00
Duration: 60 mins
Bookings: FringeTix 1300 FRINGE (374 643) or http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au
Superheroes are people too and, like our sporting heroes, their income derives from sponsorship opportunities that rely on a squeaky clean image. So goes the premise for Miller and Moore Presents…, named after the fictional super-foods sponsor of Alpha Man, a hunky, stereotyped hero that has bowed to the commercialisation of his image.
His former partner and now nemesis, Venus Flytrap, fights for the same side but with extreme methods that forgo the red tape of bureaucracy, sometimes at the expense of lives.
Caught between their war is James Olsen, husband to Venus and best friend to Alpha. Olsen is a good Samaritan without any powers of his own. Likewise, Alpha’s aged father, once known as Admiral Courage, is now a powerless aged hero living out his life with dated views and memories of his glory days.
The comical and sometimes poignant script was developed over a year by the cast: Tom Cornwell (Courage), Ben Crawford (Olsen), Sara Lange (Venus) and Hjálmar Svenna (Alpha). It’s well realised, offering witty social commentary, a unique twist to an old genre, and just enough pathos to give the characters real depth without diminishing the funny side.
Under director Jordan Fraser-Trumble, the performances are all top notch, from the hammy poses of Alpha Man to the saddening angst of Captain Courage. The upstairs function room of the delightful Director’s Hotel proves to be the ideal space for this show, with its L-Shape being well utilised for two sets.
Louis Maddiford’s video footage of cheesy Miller and More commercials add to the chuckles. Jenn Havelberg’s great costumes were based on designs by James Nicholson.
Sadly, the name of this show doesn’t do it justice and may cause many to overlook the play, particularly given its out-of-the-way location. It’s one of the sleepers for this Fringe however, and is a delightful little comedy that is well worth considering.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis, Performing Arts Critic, Glam Adelaide.
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