#pickup is the most hilarious show I’ve seen at Fringe. It’s not what I expected. I was pretty sceptical at first. Maybe it was the hashtag in the title, or the complete overabundance of fifty-something hetro couples who piled into the room with me.  But #pickup is a truly original and absolutely fantastic show that you should aim to see if you get the chance.

The show features Alia and Colin, one branch of a polycule who have gone through their fuck-et list and decided to share it with us. They poke fun at themselves, heterosexuality, dating, and the hilarious nature of sex, with the added benefit of a text number which they check during the show.

There’s fundamentally two components of the show, both intertwined. One is the music. Colin is on the electric guitar whilst Alia is on the equally electric ukulele, and honestly, they rock. The music is technically brilliant, but also hilariously entertaining.

Themes range from ‘that time where you take someone home to your house and then decide you don’t want to fuck them so you have to kind of awkwardly ask them to leave’ to ‘I’m really close to orgasm so please let me tell you what to do so we’re not here for another 40 minutes, I’ve got other shit to do too’.

The second part is the text line. You are able to message in and ask the performers at any time questions that they will answer on stage. Be it about polyamory, kinks, a particular song that they sung, their fuck-et list – nothing is out of bounds and everything is (mostly) anonymous.

The whole thing accumulated to the funniest, most sex positive show I think is humanly possible. They remind us that sex is entertaining, funny, and incredibly fun. It’s the human side of sex, rather than the glamorous, look-don’t-touch burlesque you frequently get at fringe.

This show isn’t very up market. It’s not sequins and feathers (although there is a healthy dose of glitter-pits). But if you are looking for excellent sex themed comedy, #pickup is the show to go to.

–Annique Cockerill

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The Funny Tonne

It is a raucous, rocking filk session tailor made for the obsessives amongst us.

Reviewed by Rachel Hyland

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The Funny Tonne

This was a show of comedy and fun that had everyone in the audience laughing out loud throughout.

Reviewed by John Souness

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Melbourne Comedy Festival – #PickUp

In a world of dating and hook-up apps, much of the humour comedians find in Tinder stories stems from an old-fashioned view of the world. Remember when we dated like that, well now we date like this – isn’t that SO WEIRD?

The fun of #PickUp is the sex talk is frank and non-judgmental and the apps are just there to get to the really funny part – the sex itself and how to get your hook-up to go to sleep after.

Performers Alia and Colin are in a relationship, but they are polyamorous so they date other people. That’s a good set-up for a show in and of itself. As a non-traditional pairing, you get to be on their side as a team but also appreciate when they come into conflict. They don’t always find their needs met by one another.

#PickUp is a musical act first and foremost; the songs are the kind of rock and roll sexy that suits these two off-beat performers. There’s some fun audience interaction, mostly through people texting questions to them during the show.

When comedy about gender politics and sexuality can so often be lazy, it’s great to see an hilarious sex-positive show that is a little bit educational and a whole lot of fun.

Reviewed by Keith Gow

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MICF: Nerds are Sexy – PickUp

Nerds are Sexy. Derr!

What’s not hot about someone who enthusiastically shares their passion and is prepared to really know – really know – how to do something really well.

Rock’s also sexy.

And the combination of both can be too much!

Alia Vryens and Colin Craig have no shame in being nerds. Nor in being positive and enthusiastic about sexuality and about having sex. Last year, their first full-length show was about their polyamorous relationship and welcomed questions from the audience. They’ve since toured to festivals and host and curate the semi-regular Funny Music Mondays at The Butterfly Club, where Melbourne’s best cabaret artists try out new work or simply let loose and be funny.

There’s no wrong way to nerd. If you play games on tables or online with many stranger, love cosplay, can explain D&D or have watched every episode of Dr Who (and read all the books, listed to the audio series and judge your friends based on their opinion of Russell T Davies), you’ll be with your tribe – and maybe get the chance to talk about your own glorious obsessions.

They also rock with songs about the likes of pinball, getting dumped by your Dragon Age boyfriend, and why women’s armour doesn’t cover their boobs.  And if you think it’s all about Colin and his guitar, you haven’t seen Alia with her ukulele.

But don’t worry if you’re not a nerd. Come on, who are you kidding? You’re reading a nerdy theatre blog. You’re one of us.

PickUp are creating a wonderful on-stage relationship as they decide which one of them is really sexier and smarter. I’m looking forward to seeing how their stage story develops and grows, especially as they are beginning to find a loyal audience who are going to obsessively love them a bit too much.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Peard

ORIGINAL POST HERE

Nerd Are Sexy – Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

I suspect Alia Vryens and Colin Craig, the comedy rock duo from PickUp, are the biggest nerds around after seeing their new Melbourne International Comedy Festival show suitably titled Nerds Are Sexy. The pair sing and talk their way around a variety of nerd themes while reassuring the audience that liking things and being passionate about things should be celebrated and not hidden away in a wardrobe.

Vryens and Craig’s free-flowing energy and enthusiasm are easily comparable to the moment you kill Bowser in the final round of Super Mario Bros. Even with a relatively small stage space, they are always moving and completely dedicated to giving the audience a great time. It’s not long before the show begins to resemble a group of friends chilling out and playing music in their garage. Their use of popular culture references like Pokemon, Dr. Who and others I’ve never heard of previously, to tie into their themes of relationships, sexism and life experience is well thought out.

The pair have written all the original songs performed, including “My Boobs Have +5 Armour” which cheekily looks at the differences between male and female characters’ body armour costumes and “Gotta Catch ’em All (The Poke-Tinder song)”, which is pretty self explanatory. You can easily feel guilty for sitting when the music is playing because all you want to do is get up and bust out some sick Dance Dance Revolution moves. There is even time for a ballad in this loving tribute to nerdiness, and when you hear Vryens sing about the love for her fake boyfriend Alistair (from Dragon Age), you’d be hard-pressed to pick anything else as a highlight.

At times, PickUp throws questions out to the audience about what they are nerds for and you can see people itching to share theirs. What’s impressive with PickUp is that rather than simply acknowledge the responses, they are actually aware of what the person is talking about and able to get into a short conversation about it. People’s eyes light up when they have the opportunity to discuss something they really like and it’s a constant source of enjoyment watching this happen during Nerds Are Sexy.

PickUp know they’re nerds and they also know their nerds. There are plenty of laughs to be had here – even if you’re like me and don’t always get the references. More importantly though, Nerds Are Sexy is a show that allows you to feel good about yourself and the fact that you have a comic book collection that needs its own bedroom, and what more could you ask for?

Reviewed by Myron My

ORIGINAL POST HERE

Review | Musical talent shines in PickUp: Sex Is Funny

Alia and Colin are a confident and talented duo. This is a show of original songs, written, sung and played by the couple.

This show had its moments. Alia rocks her ukulele like a true rock n roll star. And yes, I really do mean rock n roll. I was thoroughly entertained by a song in which they both called out all the names for penis and vagina they could come up with. They skilfully included the audience in this song without embarrassing anyone.

However, overall the show fell short of expectations. I thought it would be funnier. I was surprised when they mentioned onstage that it was last year’s show. I had the idea early on that it may still be in early development stage, working out what jokes worked and what didn’t, still in need of refinement. I probably would have enjoyed the show more if I wasn’t expecting to see a comedy show.

Luckily, they had the experience and confidence to keep up their high energy performance in spite of the obvious efforts they had to put in to get audience response and participation. It wasn’t awkward to watch. These two have talent. They can sing, they can write music and they can play well.

There’s so much scope with the topic, sex is funny. They’ve written a slew of songs around the subject. However, there seemed to be some songs tacked on closer to the end of the show that didn’t really fit the theme as well. Spruiking during the show, we learned they’ve brought a total of four shows with them for the three weeks they’re here. I suspect they may have attempted to show some of their newer material in order to garner interest for the other shows they’ve brought to the Fringe Festival. Hopefully their newer shows are more well rounded.

Reviewed by Halimah Halse

ORIGINAL POST HERE

PICKUP – ‘#PICKUP’

I was invited to check out Pickup’s 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) show ‘#PickUp’. Colin and Alia form the group Pickup, and after interviewing the pair pre-festival (read it here), the show promised good things.

‘#PickUp’ is a sex-positive musical comedy performed by a rock duo (part electric guitar, part electric ukulele) who have a passion for quality comedy as well as music.

Both Alia and Colin are talented musicians and the songs are the focal point and highlight of the show. The duo have crafted cleverly written songs about sex that bring waves of laughter. Touching on a range of issues from quick flings to a coitus bucket list, they made what should be difficult look very easy!

A part of the evening involved answering questions from the audience. The pair did so honestly and appeared genuine in their responses (even when it didn’t frame them in the best of light). Alia and Colin are a good pairing as they complement each other in melody and harmonisation as well as in their chemistry, which they used well to keep the show moving at a good pace.

‘#PickUp’ is a sex-positive romp that is entertaining from the foreplay to its climax. If you enjoy sex…and musical comedy, this show is for you!

★★★★½
– Andy, Melbourne-based comedy enthusiast

ORIGINAL POST HERE

REVIEW: #PickUp

REVIEW: SUSIE CAMPBELL

Finally we have a show that insists you leave your phone on.

Through text, song, masterful guitar and a brilliant electric ukulele, Colin Craig and Alia Vryens will have you admit sex is funny.

#PickUp is a no-holds barred romp through the delights and perils of dating, sex, silly noises and looking for love.

Original songs brazenly hurl you through the embarrassing and universal pitfalls we all face in the silly things we do to win at love, err sex.

On stage Colin and Alia share an amusingly light-hearted salacious repartee. Akin to the audience they represent our hopes and fears as we all stumble together with the mysteries of the unobtainable.

Only from the mouths of these cherubs come the lyrics of a demon and there are no bounds. They make us laugh: laugh at love, laugh at sex and laugh at ourselves.

Colin’s guitar gives the impression of the best of bedroom air guitar, only he can musically back it up. Alia’s electric ukulele is a joy and part of her seemingly innocent portrayal of wicked and naughty songs.

Texts from the audience live to the stage underpin the show and give these two clever performers an opportunity to further shine their wit. Gleefully and humorously Colin and Alia will totally go there. They will answer any question from the titillating to the taboo, drawing from all the life experience a millennial can offer. Or has fantasised about.

They’ve done all the fun things, so Colin and Alia say in song. Or at least they would very much like to.

So come on Perth, get textual. With your phone in hand, and switched on, give as good as you get and you will be in for a fun musical raunchy ride.

ORIGINAL POST HERE

The best Oral is word of Mouth

Review | Amanda Lancaster

Well, it’s definitely the most prophylactic that’s for sure! Meet Alia Vryens and Colin Craig the not-so-rock comedy cuties that are the show #Pickup as they seduce you along on their completely ridiculous no-holds and definitely no-holes-barred comedic romp.

A messy, completely un-serious musical musing about the very ups and downs of love and of course sex. Throughout the performance the audience is treated to an enthusiastic, if a little awkward, attempt to convince them that sex is indeed funny and not the serious, shh don’t talk about it taboo topic the world would have you think it is. With charismatic, charming performers such as these two its easy to forgive the slightly less than polished feel to this performance and instead get swept up in the naughty silliness of the experience.

Think over-the-top fast paced games for the age appropriate 18+ audience members. Games such as those that can only be described as the likes of genitalia bingo or Simon does more than Simon says. Things you would never ordinarily find yourself confident enough or loosened of inhibitions enough to suggest let alone join in on. And yet somehow you find yourself laughing along having a great time making a complete ass of yourself. Talented voices are at times slightly overshadowed by the purposefully over the top instrumentals not dissimilar to those one might come across whilst waching grown ups attempt to play a game of guitar hero and yet some how every almost cringe worthy note is met by a hit the mark follow up one making for a roller coaster of a time.

For me it was hard to beat the surprise and elation of an electric ukelale being thrashed, licked and fingered like a true rock star guitar god but you will have to see the show to get exactly what I mean. Without the ordinary interactive measures such as “ please folks keep your phones turned on and continuously text us during the show” it is hard not to be impressed by the quick witted pair. They may not have their technique and flow of the show down to a fine art yet but this is one duo who certainly don’t plan on stopping until they get you there….to the show that is.

ORIGINAL POST HERE