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Mel Malarkey Gets The Bum’s Rush

 

Review


Mel Malarkey Gets The Bum's Rush is a nightmarish, vaudevillian, fever dream of a show. The performance begins with Mel Malarkey (or who we assume to be Mel) singing a song while playing the hand saw. Yes, the saw. After, we learn that her theatre is being shut down and a whirlwind of performances take the stage while Mel or Victor (it's verrry unclear) unleashes a monologue of randomness. The only funny moment comes from a salesman's pitch of an "elixir for all gentleman," that obviously tastes horrid. The rest of the performances are farcical, and not in a good way. Stringed together—by a very loose string—the rest of the act watches like you dropped the wrong tab of acid and you're stuck in a delirious maelstrom. Ever seen Across The Universe? Remember when "For Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite," comes on and nobody knows what the fuck is going on? That's what this is. – Stephan Boissonneault
EdmontonFringe.ca
 
 
 
 
 


 
Journal
 
 
 
 
 


 
Gig City


 
Global


 
Total Score
 
 
 
 
 
1.5/ 5


Reader Rating
25 total ratings

 

Overview
 

Venue:
 
Genre: ,
 
Company:
 
Audience:
 
Dates / Times:
  • 5:30 pm - 2018/08/17
  • 7:15 pm - 2018/08/18
  • 5:30 pm - 2018/08/19
  • 9:00 pm - 2018/08/21
  • 7:15 pm - 2018/08/22
  • 5:30 pm - 2018/08/23
  • 9:00 pm - 2018/08/24
  • 7:15 pm - 2018/08/25
  • 9:00 pm - 2018/08/26



3
Posted 2018/08/17 by


EdmontonFringe.ca

 


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3 Reviews

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  1.  
    John Parker Oughton
    2018/08/19 at 8:01 pm

    A tribute to vaudeville, Mel Malarkey Gets the Bum’s Rush is a gender-and-genre-bending delight, showing Charlie Petch’s range as a performer. Alternately outrageous, wistful, and funny, Petch’s character teeters on the edge of tragedy as the stage is pulled out from underneath the act. There is baggy-pants comedy, musical saw playing, direct appeal to the audience, and good music throughout. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you may even get offered a beer.

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  2.  
    Monika
    2018/08/19 at 9:10 pm

    Mel Melarkey Gets The Bum’s Rush is a bitter-sweet tale of a performer having to say goodbye and a love letter to Vaudeville. While it appealed to me as a fellow actor, I believe anyone can sympathize with that feeling of having to leave a place where you’ve made so many memories. Oh, and also there’s a lot of comedic parts too. And a music saw! A one-of-a-kind show, I’m glad I got to experience.

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  3.  
    America Bearanovsky
    2018/08/20 at 2:10 am

    in a word, this show is tender
    Petch started off cold and nervous before a stone-faced audience, but once warm, the performance was
    just all right, actually
    delivery too monotone for my liking, never quite breaking free of all the nerves that come with a cold crowd
    maybe if we all were drunk*, our favour would have been won and it everything would have been fine
    the show sways between oddball Vaudeville performances and tender reminiscences on the era, the latter being stronger, if a little harder to follow
    this show is lively and tender, but not juicy
    it needed a pinch more consideration towards a bunch of things to get it over the wall of “mmm. ah.”
    pour one out* for Petch, for the venue didn’t allow outside drinks
    3/5
    Watch it? a warm yes, especially if you’re the sentimental type or tipsy*

    * The Edmonton International Fringe Festival and Roots on Whyte reserve the right to incapacitate and immolate intoxicated patrons.

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