MUMMY

By Mick Devine

Nominated for The Fringe World Theatre Award.

Mummy, a bittersweet tale of laughter in the afterlife, starring Claire Munday, opened Perth's Fringe World Festival, 2015. Teatro 2. The Pleasure Gardens, Russell Square, Northbridge. January 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 at 7.30pm

ABC news report 2013: "In February last year, the body of an elderly lady was found in a flat in Melbourne. She’d been dead for six years. During that time, she’d often been seen standing at her window. A neighbour told the Coroner's Court: 'We looked up and there was someone at the top window. It looked like the old lady. She saw us, stepped back and moved away.' ”

Dead for six years and left to rot, she’s part of the furniture now. “Do you know how much I paid for this armchair? Look, it's ruined! Scotchguard my arse... Perhaps I should have done!” Well, you'd be angry too. “What did I do to deserve this?” Good question Alice, and I think you know very well what you did. And isn't that him outside?

Warning: Mummy contains foul language. And small bones.

"Fringe World opens with a death but don't worry - it's funny." The Sydney Morning Herald

"An inspired performance by Munday, who coaxes every drop of humanity and life out of her grisly character." The West Australian

"Devine has brought this apparition to dramatic life... considerable quality." David Zampatti. The West Australian

"... don’t you worry! Mummy may look a bit scary but it is also incredibly thought provoking." Perth Festival Review Critic’s Choice: recommended

"Genuinly moving. Decidedly weird." Fringe World.

THE LUCKY COUNTRY

A show for schools (years 5-9) by Mick Devine.

The history of Australian immigration. Tours Perth and Sydney throughout the year. Booking now.

Watch a preview of Eliane Morel in the Sydney production here

Written to appeal to those in years 5 to 9, The Lucky Country is the 45 minute, Secondary School version of the highly successful Suitcase Stories. The show takes a humorous, often moving look at those historical events that have affected the migrant experience including the break-up of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo conflict, the influx of Chineseand Japanese fishermen to Broome, the White Australia policy, the Vietnam War, Indian independence and the events of 9/11. We meet Beth Barry and her husband, Ten Pound Poms from the early 60s, Afifa the modern-day footballing Lebanese legend, andVittoria,the Italian nurse from the 50s with a great heaving bosomful of ice-cream, tears and motherly love. Pearl The Girl introduces us to a family history of intermarriage between the Chinese and Aboriginal pearl fishers of Broome, Ivana is determined to bury the horrors of Kosovo and Anisha tells us about her sooo embarrassing Indian grandfather.The humour and the ever-changing cast enable us to discover the legacy of those who have gone before, to savour the flavoursof those who have just arrived and to relish the fact that we're all very lucky to be here. So... shall we get on

"Terrific. So good... I really did 'laugh and cry'!" Audience member, Joondalup Library.

"Thanks for your fantastic performance...a huge success and very much enjoyed by all." Lyn Murtha, teacher, Cannington Community College.

"...performed with an exuberant positivity and the transformation that she exacted from within each character was remarkable." Gabrielle Everall, Maritime Museum.

"Wonderful...staff and students alike were abuzz yesterday.Totally engaging, inspiring and so relevant to the broader education of our staff and students." Teacher, Barker College.

“...extremely useful for students learning about this important aspect of our history to visualise and experience what it may have been like for migrants coming to Australia." Mr Stuckey, Year 5/6 Teacher, Bondi Public School.

Bookings:The Lucky Country costs $600 for audiences of up to 120. Add $5 per child for larger audiences. Email: perthartscompany@yahoo.com.au

THE BIG BOOK SHOW

A schools show by Mick Devine for those in years 2-7. Featuring Kathleen Alloway.

A ripper of a trip to the kids' lit' Oscars to promote literacy and the love of reading. Tours Perth throughout the year.

The hilarious and informative Big Book Show was written especially for Children’s Book Week and promotes the enjoyment of, not just books, but of stories in general. The show appeals to those in years 2-7 and comes complete with copious teacher’s notes: we’ve included a précis of each featured book and suggestions as to how to use them to introduce the ideas of narrative, theme, persuasive writing, descriptive writing, assonance, alliteration, synonyms, issues, being imaginative, setting, dialogue, similes and metaphors. The audience finds itself at The Big Book Awards, the kids’ lit’ equivalent of the Oscars. Our presenter Claudia is either a world famous actress or the school cleaning lady with delusions of grandeur. As the show progresses she acts out scenes from those books nominated for an award...

"Dharlinks, let's look at each of our nominees... Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Moby Dick, Alice in Wonderland, The Time Machine, Suckathumb, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, Peter Pan, Lockie Leonard The Human Torpedo, Black Beauty and Born to Run. And the winner is…”

Strangely enough, as gripping as those excerpts are, Claudia’s autobiography sweeps the board. Hmmm. Claudia is eventually unmasked as a bit of a dreamer…but that’s why we like her…she’s a story-teller. And the winner is…books!

So what’s so good about books? Well, the batteries don’t fall out for a start, and they’re a bit like radio: the pictures are better when you have to make them up yourself. Books will take you all the way round the world, even into outer space and you don’t even have to get out of bed!

"Fantastic! It engaged all the children. Thoroughly professional." Trevor Dent. Teacher, Gidgegannup Primary. "Brilliant!" Teacher, Lake Gwelup Primary. "Terrific - brilliant - loved it!" Teacher, Riverton Primary. "Fantastic, wonderful. The children, and staff, were totally enthralled." Head, North Dandalup Primary.

Bookings:The Big Book Show costs $600 for audiences of up to 120, add $5 per child for larger audiences. Email: perthartscompany@yahoo.com.au

CINDERELLA: It's a panto Jim, but not as we know it.

Written and produced by Mick Devine. A sell-out community pantomime for the town of Ellenbrook, Christmas 2010.

An all singing, all dancing, partly animated, sci-fi hooha featuring Lord and Lady Muck, the lovely Cinders, the not so lovely but very tuneful Doubly Ugly Sisters and the nasty piece of work that is Vic Charmbling. There's Winnie and Joanna, show biz gossips and fashion tipsters, broke donut magnate Baron Hardup and his financially demanding Lady wife, their servant Buttons, a battleaxe of a Fairy Godmother, millions of moon mice and a giant alien.

“A fantastic show full of energy and class.” The Paper

“Absolutely smashing. Squeek!” Sue McFadden

THE CORRIDORS OF HALFWIT HALL

By Mick Devine. A musical comedy.

"Rocky Rockford? The King Kong of Pop? Dead? That doesn't sound right."

And it isn't. He's holed up for the night in the Gothic Mansion he bought when things were good, hoping the album sales will skyrocket when the world finds out that another absolute legend has gone. Perhaps then the electricity bill will get paid and his PA, Quark, will be so busy fending off the press... hang on... where did this Quark chap come from? And the Gospel Choir? And what else is stalking... The Corridors of Halfwit Hall? A podcast...coming soon!

MICK DEVINE VERSES THE UNIVERSE

An illustrated poetry reading.

Mick Devine, local arty-type. Writer of plays (‘Mummy’, ‘The Lucky Country’), books (‘Fish God’) and verse. Artist to the gentry having drawn over 10,000 drunks at the very poshest of parties all over Europe. Painter and decorator. Surely he must be good at one of them, let’s hope it’s the poetry. Mick Devine Verses the Universe? What could possibly go rong?

Running time 50 minutes.