Posts Tagged ‘tim minchin’

First of all if you are unfamiliar with the Roald Dahl story that provides the inspiration for this new musical then shame on you! Surely you must at least be aware of the 1996 film adaptation directed by Danny deVito? No? Well you’re missing out on one of Dahl’s best-loved stories but don’t fret too much because Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly have teamed up to breathe new life into the tale and I was lucky enough to catch a performance in The Cambridge Theatre while in London recently.

The story revolves around a young girl, Matilda, incredibly bright and passionate about stories she is unfortunate enough to be born into a family who only see her and her favourite pastime (reading) as a nuisance. The role of Matilda is shared by 5 children and on the night I was there Isobelle Molloy took to the stage as the plucky heroine.

Sweet, charismatic and courageous Matilda is a character children of all ages will relate to; she never allows her unhappy home life to get her down and finds solace in her daily escapes to the local library where she regales the quirky librarian Mrs Phelps with exciting stories. She is thrilled when she is finally allowed to go to school, until she discovers it is not the happy home of knowledge and fun she hopes it will be…

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Feel like heading to a festival a bit further afield this summer? Well The Latitude festival comes to Hemham Park, Southwold, Sunrise Coast, Suffolk from July 12th – 15th. This year is it’s 7th year. Among the extensive line up including theatre, cabaret, poetry and film and music, there is of course a comedy arena!

The Comedy Tent (photo by Jennifer Roberts)

Over the weekend, some notable comedians entertaining the crowds at Latitude include Tim Minchin, David O’Doherty, Jack Dee. Doc Brown, Phil Jupitus, Reginal D Hunter, Josh Widdicombe and Tony Law and many others.

The Latitude festival is fun for all the family with Pandora’s playground and the Children’s Arena catering for the little ones and the Inbetweener Teen area catering for the teenagers in the family. Pretty much everyone sorted then!

For more information and to book tickets visit their website here, or head on over to their Facebook Page or Twitter

Ooooh, I’m a very excited bunny right now! Just booked tickets to see Matilda the musical in London next week! Based on the novel by Roald Dahl this award-winning musical has been dreamt up by writer Dennis Kelly and musical comedian extraordinare, Tim Minchin.  If I’m honest, as much as I love Roald Dahl (more on that another time) it’s the fact that Mr Minchin is responsible for the music and lyrics that has me so eager to see the production for myself. I suspect I may have mentioned before that Tim Minchin is a genius with a piano, whose witty lyrics and comic timing have cemented him in my heart as one of my favourite musical comedy acts? But I think he’s so amazing he deserves a proper post all to himself! Clever and quirky he’s the man who managed to wow the Late Late Show’s audience with his ’3 Minute Song’…

but also has penned such hilarious ditties as ‘Inflatable You’…

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Ursula Burns - photo courtesy of Joanne Ham Photography

We, at thecomedyscoop have been excitedly following the progress of the inaugural Irish Musical Comedy Awards since their conception and it was with great pleasure that I got together with their eventual winner, Ursula Burns for a little chat.

I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did!

Ursula, I have to start off by saying congratulations on winning the IMCA’s last month! Tell me, how does it feel to be in the history books as the winner of the first ever Irish Musical Comedy Awards?

Ursula

I never usually win anything. I always wonder why I never win the hamper , or the holiday, or the car. I suspect if I had won a bus trip to Newry in a school raffle, I would have been delighted.  Therefore can you imagine how good I feel to be the first ever WINNER of the IMCA awards!  I love songs! I have been writing songs all my life – I started at age 3 with a song for my parents entitled ” I have been long enough with you”. Nothing is more important to me than writing songs ( except my son). To get an award for my songs makes me so deeply deeply happy.

Wow! You started writing songs at 3 but this is your first time winning a competition, it’s great to hear you’ve finally gotten the recognition you deserve! There were a lot of great musical acts competing in the finals with you, what do you think was the secret to your success on the night?

 Well, what I am doing is Unusual – Unusual Ursula to be exact! My mother is a harpist and traditional folk musician, my dad likes to party and sing funny songs. What won me the award is being 50% of my mum and 50% of my dad all rolled up into one strange me! As for the voices… I have no idea where they come from and have no-one to blame that on. The harp’s image needs roughed up a bit, I am breaking it out of its box. It’s not what people expect of the harp. That gives me an advantage. It is unique and rare. I am experienced at performing so I managed to get the crowd on my side after a long night of listening, I think that stood in my favour.

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It’s Friday afternoon again, which can only mean one thing… it’s Randomania time here at the comedy scoop!

Since we’ve been musical comedy mad this week it seems only fitting to share a hilarious video from Tim Minchin. You gotta love him! And let’s not forget Bill Bailey too

Twitter has been its usual funny self this week, some of our favourite tweets were:

 Was Mel C endorsing Viagra when she said ‘Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough’?

Sean Hegarty ‏ @Sean_Hegarty

 

“Egrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few Tim Minchin.” – Sinatra admits to affairs with river birds to @timminchin

David O’Doherty ‏ @phlaimeaux

Facebook hasn’t let the side down either, we’re still giggling over these pics!

 Frank Sanazi

Ze Final word on a Titanic Remembrance Month ‘Lettuce Abandon Ship’

Wall Photos   –   Iceberg ahead                                    by: Bobby Cole

BigChief RandomChaos shared Lewd, Crude and Socially Unacceptable‘s photo.

This article on Cracked.com is both hilarious and informative (if you happen to be a comedian or someone who likes to dabbling in some heckling!) so we’re sure you’ll enjoy it just as much as we did!

The 10 Most Satisfying Cases of Hecklers Getting Destroyed

Finally we just had to share some videos of comedians we got to see this week:

First up we have the hilarious Steve Cummins and the slightly shouty but funny Josh Howie and just for good measure the rising star Rory O’Hanlon

enjoy!