Shaolin Punk » OBE

The break between Festivals

Benjamin — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:29:42 +0000

Well, Comedy Festival is over, and the Melbourne Fringe is still months away, so it’s time for a little rest for Shaolin Punk. Well – a rest where performance is concerned. Ben McKenzie is currently working on some new ideas for projects for 2008, so watch this space for details. And of course you can catch both Ben and A Record or an OBE co-star Rob Lloyd at Impro Sundae, the fortnightly improvised comedy show from The Crew.

But we’d also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who saw A Record or an OBE in Adelaide or Melbourne, and all those who attended the Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour. While OBE may not return – certainly not in Melbourne – there will be more tours, both here and in other cities. Again, watch this space for details!

Festival Week 2

Benjamin — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:34:26 +0000

Week one of the Comedy Festival is over – but A Record or an OBE continues at Trades Hall until April 13! Remember that this week and next, there are no performances on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, as star Ben McKenzie will be conducting the Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour.

You may have also heard of Ben’s other exploits at Comedy @ Trades – yes, it’s true, he won not only the first So You Drink? You Can Dance! competition on Friday night, but also the first round of the Inaugural Tennis Tournament of Skill and Glory! But don’t worry, he hasn’t given up geekery for sport – it was Wii Tennis.

Both of these achievements were part of Free @ Trades, the programme of free events happening at Comedy @ Trades throughout the festival, and they were both tremendous fun! It’s just another reason why Trades Hall is the place to be at the Comedy Festival.

The Age reviews A Record or an OBE

Benjamin — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:29:04 +0000

Helen Razer in today’s Age gave A Record or an OBE three stars, describing it as “goody, goody fun” and “a must” for Goodies fans, as well as a “pacey and perfect evening”. Fellow Comedy @ Trades performer Simon Palomares also scored three stars.

A few pages earlier in the same paper (and at The Age online), you can find one of “moddish geek” (thanks Helen Razer!) Ben McKenzie‘s dinosaur jokes from the Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour in the article “A man walks into a bar…ouch!” which collects 50 one-liners from across the Festival.

First Comedy Festival review

Benjamin — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:07:59 +0000

The opening night of Comedy @ Trades was a great success, and the packed audience attending A Record or an OBE was in fine form! And, in perhaps the first review posted for the Comedy Festival (not counting those based on previews), we already have a review from Australian Stage Online, who described OBE as “inspired Goodies silliness”.

talkfringe talks OBE

Benjamin — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:02:24 +0000

If you’re looking for audience feedback for A Record or an OBE, look no further than the talkfringe.com page for the show. As well as a few written reviews from audience members, there are video interviews with people coming out of the show and even one with writer/producer/performer Ben McKenzie. So check it out!