Please Don’t Use My Flannel for That (US and Australia)
“Please Don’t Use My Flannel for That: A Memoir” – Phoenix Theatre, sponsored by Storytelling Arts of Indiana.
The Act – Australian writer/stand-up comedian Lou Sanz gives “a reading” from her memoir-in-progress. The chapter she shares is about her selling a screenplay as a 19-year-old (I think) and coming to Hollywood from Melbourne to fulfill her dreams. She has the most outrageously bad luck when she gets here – everything from falling in with a racist pimp she calls The Cowboy to falling in “love” with a heroin user/dish washer that she meets at Denny’s.
The Art – Lou speaks from beside or behind a music stand that holds her writing, but this show is so much more a crafted and polished performance piece than a mere reading. For one thing, if Lou hasn’t memorized the whole thing I’d be surprised, she is that comfortable walking away from the stand and interacting with her audience. Also, subtle but effective lighting choices, subtle incorporation of props such as eyeglasses and balled up pieces of paper, even Lou’s choice of what to wear (leopard print top over cute black shorts plus glittery purple eyeliner and red, red lipstick at the performance I saw) add layers of artistic polish to the show as well. Her word choices and her story-shaping make for brilliant writing. Her deadpan delivery and deliciously impeccable comic timing make for brilliant performance art. I wish I could hear and see the next chapter in her memoir as well!
The Appeal – Beyond the basic appeal of excellence in literary and performance art, if you like your IndyFringe experience to have an international flavor, this show is filled with fascinating cross-cultural references. Plus, there is the delight of Lou’s Australian accent.
The Audience – I heard both men and women roaring with laughter at this show. This show is definitely only for adults, and only for adults who are not easily offended by shocking language and content. This show’s humor is sophisticated but it does include references to things like finger raping and dick-kicking, for example, never mind the occasional “f” word.
From the Indy Fringe Theatre Habit.
The Sandz and Hopper Show (Australia)
The Skirt Network
Dear Lou, I thought we agreed not to talk about this (Australia)