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The Butterfly Club Announces Their May Events
By: Gabrielle Sierra Apr. 13, 2010
Housed in an old Victorian shop and dwelling, this doll-house sized Windsor Castle of camp kitsch and good times has to be experienced to be believed. A swanky labyrinth of intrigue and delight awaits you. Cocktails are mixed, drinks are served. Gossip is exchanged and repartee is encouraged.
May at The Butterfly Club
We know this will come as a shock to a lot of Melburnians who get their laughs for four weeks a year and then hibernate in self-inflicted misery, but we need to get this off our chest (wings?).
"Comedy does not stop once the Comedy Festival ends."
There, we said it. And to prove our point, this month we're featuring none other than the return of Tim Ferguson to the stage after a ten-year hiatus. Tim will combine forces with another of Australia's sharpest minds, Fiona Scott-Norman, in a World Premiere of indiscernible proportions. Dates: Tuesday 11 to Sunday 16 May.
Cabaret cocktail of the month:
The Slinky Suade is our tribute to the smooth, silky and rich sounds of Australia's best a cappella group, performing with us on Thursday 29 April.
Looking ahead:
The enfant terrible of the New York cabaret scene, Kim Smith, is coming home to where his journey to international acclaim began (Sat 26 and Sun 27 June).
The Butterfly Club
204 Bank Street, South Melbourne
Tel 9690 2000
Tuesday through Sunday from 5.00 pm til late
Celebrating more than ten years as Melbourne's best alternative night out
>> make a secure booking: www.thebutterflyclub.com
>> follow us: www.twitter.com/butterflyclub
>> become a facebook fan: http://tinyurl.com/thebutterflyclub
Headline show
SUADE: VOCAL SHENANIGANS WITH AUSTRALIA'S FAVOURITE ‘MAN BAND'
Suade is a bit of an a cappella oddity. When people first see these five rowdy Australian blokes, they tend to assume they're venue security, lost sports fans or some kind of male modelling troupe. But when they step up to the microphones, expectations are quickly shattered with one of the most lively, cheeky and downright fun vocal shows in the world. Teetering on The Edge of good taste, these natural born performers can raise the roof with a crowd-pleaser in one breath and then send chills down every spine in the room with a heartfelt love song the next.
Date / time: Thurs 29 April at 9pm
Ticket price: $27 full / $22 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
DEBUT
Six nights. 15 fabulous up and coming singers.
The singing students of Sally Bourne (Shane Warne the Musical) and Melissa Langton (We Will Rock You) present Debut.
These students have been training in voice for more than three years and it's time for them to come out and show you what they've got. With music ranging from Broadway to folk to rock to soul and some original songs too, Debut promises to be a night of exciting new talent and great songs.
Come along and see the next big things!
Dates: Tues 27 April to Sun 2 May
Times: Tue / Wed at 8pm; Thurs / Fri / Sat at 7pm; Sun at 6pm
Ticket price: $22 full / $17 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
Tues: Zuleika Khan / Rebekah Davis / Brittni Giles / Claire Bowman / Ellen Sutton
Wed: Alana Tranter / Simon Abrahams / Keyane Dalton / Phoebe Coupe / Chantal Bui Viet
Thurs: Michelle Brazier / Zoe McDonald,/ Louise McCrae / Casey Dolcetta / Danika Alt
Fri: Zulieka Khan / Rebekah Davis / Brittni Giles / Claire Bowman / Ellen Sutton
Sat: Alana Tranter / Simon Abrahams / Keyane Dalton / Phoebe Coupe / Chantal Bui Viet / Michelle Brazier
Sun: Rose Sejean / Stephanie Evison-Williams / Louise McCrae / Casey Dolcetta / Danika Alt
Headline show
Jon Jackson in
WALK ON THE WILDSIDE
WALK ON THE WILDSIDE revisits favourite musical moments from the eclectic career of one of Australia's best vocal performers. A career which saw him triumph as a soloist with the St Petersburg State Symphony one week and singing to drunks in a Fitzroy pub the next.
From opera favourites to jazz, music theatre and even to country music, Jon delivers them all with his unique style and humour. WALK ON THE WILDSIDE brings him back to what he does best - entertaining audiences with his amazing voice.
Jon is classically trained blessed with an enormous vocal range - from bass-baritone to soprano and all stops in between. He hits the high notes of an operatic diva, purrs like Peggy Lee, growls like Eartha Kitt, and wallows in the depths like Johnny Cash.
As the flamboyant front man for comic trio Great Big Opera Company Jon performed all around Australia and overseas from 1988 until the group's final season at Singapore's Raffle's Hotel in 1998. This was followed by several solo shows and a career as a singer and librettist with Opera Australia.
Accompanied by Tomi Kalinski on piano.
Dates: Friday 30 April to Sun 2 May
Times: Fri & Sat at 9pm; Sun at 8pm
Ticket price: $27 full / $22 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
Headline show
Strange Bedfellow Productions presents
I HEART FRANKSTON THE MUSICAL
Frankston is dead. An extremist local Mayor has been voted in, banning musical theatre. What was once a happy-go-lucky outer-suburban ghetto by the sea, where musical-theatre gangs serenaded teenage mums in the mall, has been transformed into a world where the sun doesn't shine and it's no longer legal for straight men to act gay.
But when two young musical men with a passion for football and jazz ballet stage a protest show, there are fireworks in the Centrelink queue. Can these musical rebels convince the townsfolk to reconsider?
Featuring: Gerard Lane, Adrian Portell & Laura Burzacott.
Directed by Bryce Ives
The Age preview: http://tinyurl.com/yfmewcn
Dates: Thu 8 to Sun 11 April; then Thu 15 to Sun 18 April
Times: All Thurs to Sat at 7.00pm; all Sunday shows at 6.00pm
EXTRA SHOWS: Fri 23, Sat 24, Fri 30 April & Sat 1 May, all at 10.30 pm
Ticket price: $25 full / $20 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
Become a Facebook fan: http://tinyurl.com/frankston
‘I Heart Frankston is a great piece...adored by those who will never tire of jokes about Frankston' - ArtsHub
Winner Most Popular Award 2009 Short+Sweet Cabaret
Keane Fletcher and Andrew Kroenert in
QUARTER LIFE CRISIS
A show about finally getting to 25, and not knowing what comes next.
Featuring intimate acoustic performances by Andrew Kroenert (Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Virgins) and Keane Fletcher (Buddy, Altar Boyz) as they existentialise what it means to be Gen-Y and approaching a ‘Quarter Life Crisis'.
Date / time: Tues 4 May at 8.00 pm
Ticket price: $22 full / $17 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
THE WAY TO CABARET (2010)
The Way to Cabaret is a season of exposure that offers a select number of performers the chance to create a performance that highlights what they do best and the way they do it!
Over 8 exciting shows, 13 talented performers will be presenting their very own brand new 20 minute cabarets! With performances showcasing the talents of Amy Clarke, Cameron Thomas, Chanelle Sheehan, Christie Cula-Reid, David Morris, Eira Joy Aringay, Elena Baum, Ezra May Aringay, Hayley Fox, Jacqui Walker, Jean-Paul D'Aubbonnett, Matthew Sheahan and Nicole Alicastro, you will be in for a great night out every time!
Dates: Thurs 6 Tues 27 April to Sun 2 May
Times: Tue / Wed at 8pm; Thurs / Fri / Sat at 7pm; Sun at 6pm
Ticket price: $25
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
Mother's day special
Kate Boston-Smith in
ABSOLUTELY GABULOUS
A mother's day tribute to, not just Kate's mum Gabrielle, but to all mothers throughout the land.
A middle child of five and a daughter of life, Kate reveals secrets and hilarities of life lived in the midst a large modern family. She shares stories of her own childhood, observations as an adult-child and her musings on motherhood. These include the idealized fantasy of ‘when I grow up I'm going to be a mum' ie. adored, in-charge and always right, to the camouflaged-realities of sacrifice, learning-as-you-parenting and dealing with loud-mouth children.
Kate explores and exposes the ‘method behind madness' approach to parenting she has come to know and love.
Dates / time: Sun 9 May at 8.00 pm
Ticket price: $22 full / $17 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
Headline show
EMMA DEAN (...meets Dr Dream)
Have you ever wondered if you were going mad? Emma Dean has.
For one night only, Emma is the subject of a lecture given by world renowned psychiatrist, Dr Dream. The topic is ... ‘The 10 Symptoms Of Insanity'. What will the diagnosis be?
Joined by prodigious physical-theatre performer and actor Dale Thorburn (as Dr Dream and Emma's imaginary friends) and Ben Stewart (sound-design and co-songwriter), Emma delves in to the magical world where live pop music meets theatre. Enter the imaginarium in 2010 when Emma Dean meets Dr Dream ...
Dates / time: Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 May, all shows at 9.00 pm
Ticket price: $22 full / $17 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
More info: www.emmadean.com
Headline show
Fiona Scott-Norman and Tim Ferguson in
CHANNELLING
Significance is anywhere you look for it; in a plastic bag wafting metaphorically on the breeze, the $20 note you find in a forgotten pocket, or Foxtel. Two of Australia's sharpest minds collide to squeeze the meaning of life from a year's television viewing. Channelling has everything; news, views, polemic, quizzes, games, sex, music, philosophy and a man in a dress.
Fiona Scott-Norman and Tim Ferguson, the ascerbic authors of Two Sides of Smoking and The Cheeky Monkey combine forces in a World Premiere of indiscernible proportions. (You may also remember Tim from such shows as Don't Forget Your Toothbrush).
They promise to transform the Bingle/Clarke Story into an actual story.
A once-in-a-lifetime experience, Channelling puts the ‘sex' into ‘Pontiff'.
Fiona and Tim are so tongue-in-cheek it's hard to understand what they're saying.
‘So good we didn't review it.' The London Times
‘Cats is spectacular!' New York Times
WARNING: ‘White-Face' makeup may offend.
Dates: Tuesday 11 to Sun 16 May
Times: Tue / Wed at 8pm; Thurs / Fri / Sat at 9pm; Sun at 8pm
Ticket price: $27 full / $22 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
Headline show
Dave Graney
MC BITS
Songs that destroyed.
Dave Graney accompanied by Mark Fitzgibbon on piano and Clare Moore on bass vibes.
A few words from Dave:
‘I was a nice kid - then I got into music and everything got fucked up.
I got all these MC bits and strung ‘em together. Nobody told me they were alive! Turned on me and started to eat into me! Now I'M MC BITS!'
Dates / time: Friday 14 and Saturday 15 May, both shows at 10.30 pm
Ticket price: $22 full / $17 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
Face to the Sun - the songs of Phil Enchelmaier
If you want ‘live musical theatre at its intimate best' (Artshub), welcome to the vibrant and virtuosic world of Phil Enchelmaier.
Following the successful run of singing-chef show The Perfect Dish in 2009, Phil returns to The Butterfly Club with his latest songs, including excerpts from the highly-anticipated adaptation of that war novel he doesn't have the rights to yet.
With shades of everything from Rufus to Jeff to Ravel to Sondheim, Phil offers ‘more than a few surprises - a little bit of everything in a very digestible form' (Australian Stage Online).
Featuring Phil Enchelmaier and special guests Gerard Lane, Brigid DeNeefe and Dave Barclay.
Dates: Thurs 20 to Sun 23 May
Times: Thurs to Sat at 7pm, Sun at 6pm
Ticket price: $22 full / $17 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
Headline show
Sally Bourne and Susan-Ann Walker are
YUMMY
Kids ... career ... dishes ... these gals have it all.
But like many women they crave glamour and a social life, so they bring you YUMMY - a triumph of illusion. Two forty something women doing the juggle whilst wearing insanely high heels, a smattering of gorgeous jewels and those terrific special undies. Through fabulous songs, witty characters and a bit of whinge about men and kids, they purge and save themselves - and their lucky audiences - many years of therapy!
Sally Bourne (Shane Warne the Musical, Jerry Springer the Opera) and Susan-Ann Walker (Menopause the Musical, The Secret Garden) join forces to create this sassy, shameless, brand new cabaret.
Between them, they have appeared in over 30 musicals, performed in cabaret in Australia, Dubai, Sweden, New York and London and produced two children each ... (yes, perhaps they should be having a nap rather than writing a new show!)
Dates: Thurs 20 to Sun 23 May
Times: Thu - Sat at 9.00 pm; Sun at 8.00 pm
Ticket price: $27 full / $22 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
‘Sally Bourne has a voice useful in case of fire' - review of Annie cast album (1978).
‘Susan-Ann Walker ... big, beautiful and mad as a meat axe' - review of Confessions of a Sex Kitten
Headline show
Karin Muiznieks in
FIRST AGAINST THE WALL
What's wrong with society? Everything! It's time we started a brand spankin' new one. We've just gotta overthrow a couple of governments, liberate some people and solve a few pressing global concerns like war, famine, greed and Charlie Sheen.
From the creator of World War Wonderful, winner of the Groggy Squirrel 'Readers Choice Award' for Most Popular Show in the 2009 Melbourne Comedy Festival.
‘The next woman to take over the cabaret comedy scene - and quickly' - ArtsHub
‘Fiercely intelligent, laugh-out-loud funny' - The Groggy Squirrel
Dates: Thurs 27 to Sun 30 May
Times: Thu - Sat at 9.00 pm; Sun at 8.00 pm
Ticket price: $27 full / $22 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
‘Karin Muiznieks is a talented, witty, intelligent and clever woman, but a twisted one just the same' - Theatrepeople.com
CANVAS TOWN
1880. It is the opening of the Emerald Hill Town Hall. Across the way, upstairs at 23 Bank Street, excitement and anticipation flourish as Miss Fanny Audley is feather dressing for the Town Hall Ball. Meanwhile, downstairs, it is 1860. We meet Mr Edwin and Mrs Frances Exon, the superintendent and matron of the orphanage which previously stood on the land. Through their eyes, we look into the life of Fanny growing up in the orphanage. Using drama, comedy and music, Canvas Town recounts the joys and sorrows of the touching story of how a single hill - surrounded by swamps - develops into a thriving community.
Dates / time: Thurs 27 to Sun 30 May, all shows at 6.30 pm
Ticket price: $22 full / $17 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Duration: 60 minutes approx
Performed by Rebecca Barnard, Fred Rowan and Hayley Butcher.
Written and directed by Wes Snelling.
Graphic design by Germaine Chan.
Produced by The Butterfly Club with support from the City of Port Phillip through the Cultural Development Fund and by local businesses through the South Melbourne Business Association
REGULAR NIGHTS
THE BUTTERFLY GLEE CLUB
TUESDAYS and WEDNESDAYS
Forget yoga. Forget All-Bran. Forget colonic irrigation. If you really want to do something that makes you feel good inside - just SING. And what better place to sing out than at THE BUTTERFLY GLEE CLUB, the hippest sing-along choir in town. Come along and sing as loudly or softly as you like - there are no solos, no microphones and no commitment to come every week.
THE BUTTERFLY GLEE CLUB is conducted by the gorgeous and talented Vicky Jacobs (MulTi Green Room Award Nominee for Musical Direction). Tuesday nights is hosted by international cabaret and music theatre star Chelsea Plumley.
Dates / times:
Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 6.15 pm
Tickets: $10
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com or just turn up
More info: www.gleeclubsinging.com
Duration: one hour approx
"An inspired group sing-a-long" - Beat Magazine
"A rad singalong choir" - The Pun
Our approaching to programming shows
In a typical week, our performance programming runs like this:
Tuesday 6.15pm Glee Club 8.00 pm Preview Show OR Headline Show
Wednesday 6.15pm Glee Club 8.00 pm Preview Show OR Headline Show
Thursday 7.00pm Preview Show 9.00pm
Headline Show
Friday 7.00pm Preview Show 9.00pm
Headline Show
10.30pm
House Show
Saturday 7.00pm Preview Show 9.00pm
Headline Show
10.30pm
House Show
Sunday 6.00pm Preview Show 8.00pm
Headline Show
Headline Shows: Seasoned performers; proven high quality shows, either four or six night season
Preview Shows: New shows by seasoned performers or newcomers, either four or six night season
House Shows: Popular shows tailored for a late night audience
Typically, Preview and Headline Shows each run for four or six nights, then change weekly. The late night House Shows may run for weeks or months.
This approach means we host well over 100 different shows each year, most of them new works, making us one of Australia's leading presentation venues.
While we welcome all forms of cabaret, we favour those that reflect the style of performance for which cabaret was originally created - shows that satirise or reflect contemporary life and enlighten audiences, presented in an intimate environment.
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