Results tagged “vortextheatre”

Review: <em>Murder Ballad Murder Mystery</em> at the Vortex Theatre

Remember that part in Jurassic Park when Ian What's-His-Fuck says something along the lines of, "They were so busy thinking about whether they could. No one stopped to think whether or not they should"? Murder Ballad Murder Mystery is like Jurassic Park sans dinosaurs and coherent narrative (right down to the theme of dead things being resurrected). Oh, it's visually stunning, resourceful, raucous, and joyous theatre-making, but there are clearly ill-conceived aspects to the whole affair. While fresh, the piece is unripe and therefore minimally nutritious.

Ethos’ production of Pink Sun at the Vortex, the characters jerk and jolt around the stage simulating eye-gouging and sexing and warring and birthing all while singing the words to some sort of creation myth performance rock opera. And they do it wearing all pink. Melissa Vogt-Patterson has an impressive wail that swirls well with Chad Salvata’s dead pan Ziggy Stardust, and the entire composition sounds like a mix of the Eurythmics’ metallic 1984 soundtrack and Goth night at the Elysium. Guitarist Sergio R. Samayoa offers the show’s strongest moments, picking sparse but full guitar riffs that sound like an underwater score.

With Beirut’s ads proclaiming, “Nudity. Sexually Explicit Material. Adults Only,” audiences might think they'll be seeing a titillating show. While there is plenty of nudity, it isn’t of the arousing sort. In this hour-long saga of love, lust and sexual deprivation, the actors (and real-life newlyweds) Patterson and Vogt-Patterson go at each other with a clawing intensity and emotional rawness that pulls you into their dark tale of doomed love.

An Austin staple, the Capital City Men's Chorus, is putting on their fourth annual Midnight Cabaret this weekend. The Chorus' Artistic Director, Jeffrey Jones-Ragona, explained to us the impetus for starting an annual cabaret: the Chorus wanted to sing some music that they didn't feel comfortable performing in their typical venues (churches), so they set this up a few years ago at the Vortex. He describes it as "Twisted but not dangerous; tasteless but not icky; mature but not "adult;" and mostly naughty but not nasty." In other words, good, bawdy fun.

FRIDAY [5] [music] The Paul Green SCHOOL OF ROCK Presents "A Tribute to the Ramones" -at Redrum ($10, 7pm, also Saturday at 6pm) (info) [music] Mute Math, Love Drug, and Radiant at Stubb's (info) [music] Eisley with Simon Dawes, Brighten at La Zona Rosa (8pm) (info) [music] Sonya Kitchell at Waterloo Records (Free, 5pm) (info) [music] Zom Zoms CD release at End of an Ear (Free, 6pm) (info) [music] Ugly Beats, Bad Rackets, The Remainder...

Those theatrical ruffians over at Salvage Vanguard, after 12 years of sowing their wild oats all over Austin's performance scene, are finally settling down with just one theatre. Only hours ago they signed an 8 year lease on 2308 Manor Rd -- a few blocks east of the already well known Vortex Theatre. The new 100 seat performance spaced will be flanked by a 1600 sq ft rehearsal studio, administrative offices, and 12 small...

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