Excuse my tardiness in reporting back about my excellent adventure with Squire Bedak. Saturday was spent more than somewhat hungover. Starting with lunch at Pearl Cafe (a pefectly cooked, prosciutto wrapped half chicken on organic veggies) I managed to get thru a bottle of prosecco, another of pinot grigio, a bottle of rather cheap champagne we found at the back of my beer fridge, about nine beers and half a dozen whiskeys.
We did a bit of walking between the various drinking establishments and the final venue at the Arts Theatre, a practice I always think helps with the metabolising of the drinks and the re-establishing of the thirst. The theatre’s a great little joint up on Petrie Terrace, overlooking the city. It features a funny little beer garden thingy in the foyer, or at least that’s what it felt like with a couple of beers in hand. Perhaps it was just a foyer with lotsa pot plants or something.
Beeso turned up with a few friends and we talked cheese making. He bought me a beer and I was so pissed I believe I may have forgotten to shout back. So Beeso, I owes you one. Possibly two.
Patricia arrived after some gentle chivvying to get her out of the West End ghetto. NatV turned up from her secret mountain top lair. Mandy Curties, one of the original story contributors from Felafel put in an appearance. And Mr Bedak swanned about, enjoying the role of auteur and generally luxuriating in not having to hand feed four hundred cattle.
The stage play rocked. It seemed like an entirely new production with the Squire’s updated script and Miss Girlclumsy’s inspired direction. I particularly enjoyed the 2001 Space Odyssey opening and all of the Cheeseburger in joke shout outs.
Some of the actors did some of the best work I’ve seen in that show. Ever. I believe I may have wet my pants a little bit laughing so much. My only regret is that we couldn’t have the entire Burger ensemble there. It would be a great, great night out.
I’ll give everyone fair warning now that I’ll be blogging it up at Blunty on Tuesday, so that I can spruik the shit out of the gig. So think up some share house stories for then, or something.
I grinned inanely for lots of photos. Beeso has a few nice ones. But I’m waiting on Girlclumsy to gather the money shots. She has a lovely wrap of the opener at her blog.
Are you sure you’re sobered enough up to drive this blog? I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble. After Nat’s pic – I sorta didn’t expect you to surface till Monday.
Mr Bedak was the bees knees. I also don’t think you forgot to shout anyone JB. I kinda had the feeling the beers just kept coming from nowhere. Everytime I turned around someone was putting one in your hand, or mine, or Beeso’s or Bedak’s or the absolutely stunning English girl with the peaches and cream complexion.
I am inspired to finish my one act play “The Night the Brain From Planet Aros Spent in Jail.” Beers coming from nowhere and stunning English girls with peaches and cream complexions? I’ve been wasting my time trying to make it as a rock star.
Photos! I must find some photos!
So glad you enjoyed the show, John – I know the cast was stoked to have you and Simon there, and laughing so much.
It was lovely to see all the Burgers out in force too – I’m sorry I missed Mandy, it would’ve been great to have a chat.
Big, big thank yous from me for everything.
I’ve got a few of those grinning photos up on the lantanaland.blogspot.com. I’m pretty sure you bought me a beer first JB, but who’s counting.
Simon took a peek at the photo’s.
JB – you seem to have that benign look in every pic of seen so far. Oh yeah – the boy was motoring along happily.
Glad it gets the stamp of approval. The bloke playing JB is a good mate and I am flying up for closing night.
sounds like a great night, still very pissed off I couldn’t be there..
I must have missed the memo…
Waaaaa (again!)
I would have been there too had i known about it!!
Damn, sounds like a fine time was had by all.
There had better of been a Rhino line, damnit.
R.
Is it normal for parents in Australia to spend so much time with hang-overs?
J.
Jane – Are you implying that Australians are not good parents? I suggest you compare American crime and voting statistics with those of Australia as a possible indicator of which culture parents better.
Albanians, on the other hand, are notorious drunkards and bad parents.
Jane .AU parents are not always on the piss. it was a special night. JB was the designated drinker (it is his wayward baby) and Bedak (he spawned the bastard offspring), GC was the cheer squad that kicked that got the whole thing going
Once you get to one of these gigs, given the subject matter, it is contagious, the drinks flow with a bunch of talnted an entertaining people.
Jane
Oooooh you political vixen you. I almost bought that, i very nearly did. Yes it is normal for parents to spend as much time with children as possible hung over from drug or alcohol use.
We like to start the kids young you know. Make sure their edumah-cated on the good stuff, it avoids unpleasantrys later. It also alows us to ensure that the next generation of pissheads and bad parents are just around the corner. And thats important to our national identity.
Birmo
Its got to be wierd to see the play up there, words you wrote in someone elses mouth, things you thought of built by anothers hand. I imagine it would be cool, but… wierd.
It is a little weird, although my ‘authorship’ of the play is a very indirect thing. Lines from the book appear, but the script is the work of Squire Bedak, Steve Le Marqand and Michael Neylon, with contributions from dozens of actors over the years. For me, the weird thing is seeing situations replay themselves, sometimes decades after they happened.
As for Jane, yes, she is a comedy genius.
I am gratified that I am not the only one who realizes that about Jane.
Jane: how else do you think Australian parents wind UP with children?
4.33am.
the teenage daughter was still asleep and the sarcarm/irony detector was not activated.
I miss the old Falafel at the Bridge Hotel. it was always a great night out, Steve did a great lizard king.
Congrats to all, especially GC for getting it together and the Squire for updating the script.
National tour! National tour! Well, at least to the old Bridge Hotel.
Good to hear that Mandy was there- how is she going? Wish I could have been there…
So when does Bedak adapt Without Warning – and can we get Havock to play the part of Rhino?
Orin, AND wouldn’t I bring some Culture to the part….
It certainly would be like Hannibal from the A-Team being fused with Howling Mad Murdoch by some sort of odd Star Trek like transporter accident.
Orin im such a nerd i kept thinking of Tuvix when i read that last post.
Janeway killed Tuvix! A more interesting character than Tuvock (who for some reason when he was cut bled red blood instead of green) and much less annoying than Neelix.
Burgers!!!!
I know you guys love a call to arms, so if I may…
The ABC kindly sent a home reviewer along to ‘Felafel’ on Saturday night. I knew we were in for a rough trot when I called him, and he said he’d never heard of Birmo’s book.
He gave us 5/10, and also described it as “A Show You Wouldn’t Take Your Wife To”.
?!?!
Now I’m certainly not upset at the home reviewer, or the ABC – all publicity is good publicity, and the ABC has been very good to the Brisbane Arts Theatre.
But I’m hoping some of you with a few minutes spare – particularly those of you who’ve seen the show or are planning to see it – might be able to shoot over to the ABC’s site and perhaps leave an appropriate comment, Burger-style. Some of Havock’s TRADEMARK CAPITALISATION WORK, perhaps. ;)
http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/03/home-review-he.html#comments?program=612_breakfast
Hope Birmo doesn’t mind me putting the call out over here!
Thanks guys – I owe you a beer.
Done. I lied through my teeth.
Tuvix was the single redeming episode of Star Trek Voyager, all the rest was total and utter dross. Feminazi-dross. I hated it.
Tuvix is the only episode also where janeway is a believable character.
Thanks, Burgers! I loves yous guys. <3
I have a feeling Greg isn’t going to approve my comment.
In reading JB’s pining for a Burgerwide, shall we say, “cocktail party” instead of drunkfest, I was thinking why not film it and post a video on Youtube for the farflung burgers to share?
And then I realized that filming and posting such a drunken affair would draw comparisons to porn’s “Ladies Night Out” group sex parties, and once that connection is made, off goes the audience–over to Youporn for some fulfillment.
I guess the burgers around the world will just have to make do with your textual renderings of debauchery, er, I mean, your great night out.
Congrats on having your work reach the stage again. Sounds like it might achieve a “Beach Blanket Babylon” life of its own.
Robert, if we can’t be there, we at least want to see some of it. Vids would be great. Worring about comparisons is counter-productive.
What the hell people … I can’t get there to see this so there had better be some video.
And a Rhino comment. Damnit, I’m a narcissist and must have my moment.
ABC – there’s the dig. Funnier than mine…
J
Sorry JB and Burgers – but I don’t know where to ask but figure someone will have the answer.
Where can I find a “primer” on Australia’s bikie gangs? Angels, Finks, Coffincheaters, etc. Who’s who, where do they come from, how are they different from each other, etc?
Rhino, one of the funniest (IMHO) moments of the play involves a character called Rhino, who is… how shall I put this?…. beckoned away, never to return again.
If Simon is OK with it, I can film the show and perhaps put bits up on YouTube – like the aforementioned. But I won’t do it unless given the OK by the boys – and until after the run. After all, who’s gonna buy the cow if I’m giving away free milk? :)
Now I understand why my wife gets upset when I say “why buy milk when you have a cow at home?” I never realized until now that my version of the saying isn’t quite right.
Girl Clumsy – yes, of course Simon and the boys will consent to you filming it and putting it on Youtube. Sheesh. Just do it. Have pitty on we others, so far away, that want to live your lives vicariously.
JDR its a pretty complex situation re the bikies, but this article has a go at explaining it:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25253656-5018886,00.html
GirlClumsy, reckon you might run a bit of the JB/Rhino encounter up until the big BB beckoning exit is completed. That’s my fave moment.
Well, next to the five chicks swinging dildos in anger.
Orin, I’m happy to adapt WW if it’d be all right with JB. I haven’t asked him though. But to keep my hand in, I knocked off the first scene as an exercise before JB gave it a name and particularly enjoyed finding ways of delivering prose information soley through verbal comment, sans background, prose & minimal prop devices.
Clumsy also suggested adapting WW today offhandedly when I spoke to her on the phone thanking her for her great show and kind hospitality.
Must say, I haven’t been this excited about writing or doing any theatre for a dozen years.
My muse must have forgiven me.
My magic powers have returned.
Don’t forget “Dopeland”!!! ;)
I’ll set to work on some filming…
OK, I need to hear more about this Rhino thingy … someone email me rross74 (at) gmail.com.
Do it now.
Say, if GirlClumsy is going to film, edit and produce the video for posting to YouTube, then I will only too happily venture into my local liquor store to select a single-malt suitably aged (the older the better to honor JB).
And, with Nintendo working a deal with YouTube to allow even better playback of YouTube vids through the Wii, I shall reserve my seat in front of the plasma and join you Burger-brethren in a virtual night out.