The Pointy End of Something Different

Holy Smokes.

I know that I was searching for something a little different but this was probably one of the strangest evenings of my life. I hardly know where to start. If you are interested in having your horizons broadened then this event, The Pointy End of Something Different, is for you. At times it was comfortingly familiar and at others supremely bizarre and confronting. It made me feel brave, adventurous and a little voyeuristic. A brilliant night's entertainment that I didn't want to end and couldn't wait to share with others.

This fabulous variety show was emceed by a comedian, Ned Townsend. Not hilariously funny but charming just the same. He was a friendly guy who made everyone feel relaxed and as if this was happening in their own loungeroom. In actual fact the show was at The Brisbane Hotel. This is a unique venue that revels in its diviness. Is that even a word? It should be. The Brisbane is an old fashioned pub that celebrates in its shabbiness and lack of modern style. The walls are painted black and the carpet is so old that all the pile has rubbed off and only the underlay remains. As a result of all the beer spilled on the floor over the years it has a stickiness that makes it difficult to lift your foot to take another step or make another dance move. The decor includes Kiss and AC/DC pinball machine, animal skulls and disco balls. The toilet cubicles are covered with graffiti. If zombies had a pub then this would be it. I really love the atmosphere at The Brissy.

First act was Nick Chugg playing guitar. He was a decent singer songwriter his plying and songs were cool rather than really good.

Stragglers Tas band describe themselves as beer fueled country folk three girls guitar, banjo, fiddle other than having great song they can really sing. miss your dog more than I miss you. I loved these girls and I can't wait to see them again soon.

Ahead of the next act everyone got a ping-pong ball. I was a little concerned that this might be a Thai inspired act. Not to be, rather we were entertained by a couple of scantily clad sensual dancing lady clowns. Half the way through the ladies knelt on the Ground and slowly swivelled their heads from side to side reminiscent of the clowns in sideshow alley. The audience was invited to try and throw the ping-pong balls into their mouths.

The most fabulous buxom woman in the burlesque style. Took more and more of her clothing off as she talked about how wonderful her body was. Stomach feels the same as boobs in the dark. She talked about not understanding the need that many women have for a thigh gap - she had never met a man who insisted on a space to put his hands.

The fabulous Princess Tweedle Needle was next she is fire eater from Berlin. She swallowed both fire and glass to the tones of Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good' playing in the room.

Bodane Hatten the magician was next. His tricks were slick and convincing but his comedy routine was the highlight. Just hilarious.

Then came the very tall Samora Squid, sword swallower and contortionist. Just mindblowing. By now my head was spinning, and not just because I was a few pints of beer to the good. Surely, the night couldn't get any more bizarre. Wrong! 

Princess Tweedle Needle came back. She proceeded to fill a old-fashioned milk churn with a Bootle of rum and several bottles of coke. PTN then clip The churn to her ears and swung it around pail. Ouch! Then she unclipped the churn and put more rum and coke in. What's next, where do you go from ears. Well, my goodness, PTN clipped the churn to her lips and I don't mean the ones on her face. Jesus Christ on a stick, that's got to hurt. But where could she possibly go from here.

After the churn was unclipped the audience was invited to purchase a rum and, depending on your purchase price you're invited to staple gun the money to her body including face, stomach, legs and boobs. This felt very naughty, the opportunity to cause another physical pain without consequences was weirdly thrilling.

The show finished with The Dead Maggies playing their fabulous Convict Punk music. A bit of punk dancing was exactly what required after the weirdness of the show and the tension that comes with such weirdness.

The Pointy End of Something Different was one of the most fabulous shows that I have ever been to. It was the different act that I had been looking for. This is what the Arts is for, to challenge your world and make you think about things in different ways. I don't think that I am the same as before I went to that startling variety show at The Brissy. I am striving to be a Patron of the Arts but in this case is was the Arts that gave me it's Patronage by expanding my experience of life.