Skip to main content

‘Spooky Dog’ // Tugun Theatre Company

 Are you ready for a thrilling night at Tugun Theatre’s grand finale for the year? Brace yourself for this amusing production that wraps up their 2023 playbill with a bang.

Picture this: an adults-only spoof of your favourite Saturday morning cartoons. This half-scripted, half-improvised play takes you on a hilarious journey as a pop culture icon (chosen by the audience each night) goes missing at the creepola county county fair. The only hope for locating them lies in the hands of a very familiar gang of teen sleuths: Thelma, Tiffany, Scraggly, Ted, and the mysterious Spooky Dog. Get ready for a campy and comical quest filled with a terrifying phantom, a not-so-psychic fortune teller, and a questionable couple running the fairgrounds. But that’s not all—this gang will also confront their own burgeoning sexual desires, indulge in tasty dog treats with unexpected side effects, and even discover a surprise talent for busting a move. Say goodbye to innocent Saturday morning cartoons, because this one will leave you seeing them in a whole new light.

Nathan Schulz’s direction kept things simple and natural, allowing each character to reveal multiple layers. The minimalist set design by Director Schulz, along with artwork by Kate Paraskevos and Sophie Lawson, featured moveable trucks adorned with painted cards showcasing classic fair items. This approach placed the story and characters in the forefront of the production. Noah Johnson’s sound design, featuring live guitar on stage, added a cartoonish vibe rarely seen in stage productions.

Director Shulz’s lighting design, with wide stage washes, brought a Brechtian/Epic Theatre angle to the production, However the multiple black outs for set changes could have been investigated further as to not disrupt the flow and energy of the production.

The fantastic costumes by Millie Talbot, Shaquira Summerville, Chantelle Miller, and Sonia Rakovska paid a brilliant tribute to the production’s theme. Each costume was meticulously crafted and flawlessly executed. Director Schulz’s smart choice of 2D cardboard cutouts for props, depicting drinks, hot dogs, phones, and more, reinforced the cartoon aesthetic of the production.

Jay-Louise Clark stole the spotlight as Thelma, showcasing impeccable comedic timing and facial expressions. Chantelle Eileen Miller as the sultry Tiffany delivered a hilarious portrayal of the stereotypical blonde, while Mikey Real embodied the stoner character Scraggly with amusing precision. Dan Pohlmann as Ted not only portrayed the jock type character but also dazzled with impressive dance moves. Mikayla Maree Melo as the titular Spooky Dog brought hilarity to the stage, effortlessly portraying both human and animal characteristics. Kudos to Melo for turning that evening’s mishaps into comedic gold. Cecile Campbell and Paul Oehlmann rounded out the cast with versatile performances, seamlessly transitioning between multiple roles in the production.

‘Spooky Dog and the Teen-Age Gang Mysteries’ promises a night of laughter for adults on the Gold Coast’s Southern End. Don’t miss the chance to revel in this comedic spectacle!

Original Article

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Freshblood Festival - Vena Cava

Written By Thor Morrison Upcoming creatives need a place to experiment, to prosper, to explore, and even to sometimes miss the mark. It is essential that spaces that allow this to happen exist, especially in a world obsessed with perfectionism. The Freshblood Festival is an annual event run by QUT Student Theatre Company Vena Cava, focused on young writers and performers, and it does just that. It provides a space for the new and upcoming creatives of Brisbane and surrounds to experiment, have fun, and create really exciting performances. Held at BackDock Arts in Fortitude Valley, and running over two consecutive weekends, it is a massive endeavour Vena Cava have given themselves. 14 independent shows, two play readings, and 8 music acts ensure that Freshblood has something for everyone to enjoy, and shows the variety and scale of the Festival itself. Drama Dispatch was able to attend most of the second weekend, seeing a total of seven shows and a play reading, and was greatly impresse...
Post a Comment
Read more

‘PASHUN’ // TheatrePunk Co.

  What happens when masculine, feminine, and a touch of envy energy are amplified in modern society? You get ‘PASHUN’ by TheatrePunk Co.! ‘PASHUN’ is a comedic theatrical exploration of gender and relationships, infused with fantastic absurdist techniques. Written by Harrison Mills, it offers a unique night out that delves into the intersection of queer identity and the “straight minority.” Harrison Mills has skilfully interwoven absurdist techniques into the fabric of queer and heterosexual love, resulting in a profoundly thought-provoking experience. Throughout ‘PASHUN’, they masterfully employ stereotypes, drawing our attention to their nuances. From the hyper-masculine, reminiscent of an Andrew Tate figure, Sigma, to the unmistakable Starbucks-loving pink aficionado, Tiff, Mills has ingeniously crafted characters that evoke both love and disdain throughout the production. Under the direction of Joshua Price, the piece is minimalist but effective. The utilisation of packing boxe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Picnic at Hanging Rock - Javeenbah Theatre Company

Written by Mark Rickell “The infamous picnic has become a faux Australian history that has haunted the Australian psyche for almost fifty years.” - Hunter Wall, Director This is the backdrop on which the story takes place, not that of the period in history, but in the present. In the effect of this story and what it means to Australians. Children study the text in schools, the name, and the mystery, is synonymous with Australian literature.  “Whether Picnic at Hanging Rock is fact or fiction, my readers must decide for themselves. As the fateful picnic took place in the year nineteen hundred, and all the characters who appear in this book are long since dead, it hardly seems important.” - Joan Lindsay, Author This adaptation of the text is extremely true to the original material, and serves as an excellent example of the power of theatre as a way of bringing stories to life. This adaptation, expertly staged at Javeenbah Theatre, is a triumph of storytelling. It is clear that dire...
Post a Comment
Read more