Puffio

Calling all readers - by now Puffio supposes that all readers know there's a Fringe Festival about to erupt across this fair and parched city, such that the city intelligentsia are up in arms about the lack of water in the Torrens Lake, usually described as a 'jewel in Adelaide's crown'. It's a bit sad, really, since if the Torrens lake - with or without water - is a jewel then the city might as well be described as a 'stinking bog', although one without water of course. What needs pointing out is that drunken Fringe-goers prove all too frequently that they do not need a water feature to vomit into; they're happy to use any old doorway or portion of waste ground. And so it goes, and will continue to go, throughout the car race which dare not speak its name, when drunken race-goers will - likewise - not be put off by a paucity of water. Ah, March. Beautiful one day, a dust bowl the next.

The Fringe kicks off on Fri 27 Feb, and a number of shows begin before that time, eager to avoid the opening night blues and scramble for 'bums', as they're so affectionately known in the trade. Don't forget the opening night parade - hitting the East End as the suns sets slowly in the West, and don't forget, for instance, our friends on the rooftop at Synagogue Place in the beautifully named Tuxedo Cat venue, for whom comedy is a way of life, but only once per annum, since the council will not let them open on other occasions. Go figure.

And so to business - sharp eyed readers will note that in this issue the visual arts review is written by Lauren Tomczak, who until her recent nuptials went by the name Lauren Sutter. Puffio will honour the occasion and update the office records, and note in passing our congratulations, and sincere thanks that nothing - repeat nothing - even a mere wedding celebration kept the inestimably great Lauren from preparing, and writing her review. Attagirl!

One thing which is not Fringe related is the incredible success which Greater Union had with the screening of their big screen, big sound tribute to Luciano Pavarotti, so much so that they've announced an extended season, running from Sat 28 Feb until Wed 4 March. In that week you'll be able to see - and hear - the 'Big Pav' as he's fondly known around this office in the screening of 'Salute Petra, Celebrating The Life Of Luciano Pavarotti' from a concert filmed in Petra in Jordan at Greater Union Marion cinema.

'Home Safe' is an exhibition featuring the works of Anna Spilsbury, Samantha Webb and Rose-Marie Wilkinson, and is curated by Chloe Powell. It opens on Sun 1 March, whereupon three emerging textile artists explore security, sanctuary and a sense of belonging. It all happens at the Seedling Art Space, an environmentally aware, artist-run-initiative situated in the Adelaide foothills, at the corner of Main Rd & Turners Ave, Hawthorndene.

In other dance news, and therefore not entirely unrelated, Leigh Warren & Dancers take their thing to the Flinders Medical Centre for a season of performance as part of the 2009 Adelaide Fringe. Singer, songwriter and musician Heather Frahn joins Leigh Warren & Dancers to present a very special free public performance of 'Medico Manoeuvres II' at Flinders Medical Centre during the Adelaide Fringe, the show being a second instalment of specially choreographed dance pieces created by Leigh Warren & Dancers for Flinders Medical Centre's Arts in Health program. In March, the new dance works will be presented both to patients in the different hospital wards and then as a standalone production for the general public in the central courtyard of Flinders Medical Centre at 12.30pm on Wed 11 March.

In what counts as something of a massive coup for them and their nascent careers, dancers from the Adelaide Centre For The Arts have landed supporting roles for the Australian Ballet in the forthcoming production of 'Petrouchka' at the Festival Centre. A group of nine second and third year dance performance students from TafeSA's Adelaide Centre for the Arts have been chosen for the performance of 'Petrouchka', which forms part of the Australian Ballet's current programme, 'Firebird And Other Legends', three spellbinding Ballet Russes works which premiered in Paris 100 years ago. And here they all are, practicing their pout for the camera... amazing what they teach these days, isn't it?

You know it's coming and there's nothing at all you can do to avoid it: the forthcoming concerts featuring the still young and skilled Ben Lee performing with the ASO. That's right, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra hosts a couple of evenings with the lantern jawed singer songwriter Ben Lee in concert performing songs from his forthcoming album 'The Rebirth Of Venus' together with favourites such as Gamble Everything For Love, We're All In This Together and Catch My Disease on Fri 13 and Sat 14 March at the Festival Theatre. Ben Lee has won an amazing six ARIA awards, and when you think of it, has posted enough hits to be considered something of a loquacious mouthpiece for a generation.

'Fragments Of A Female Consciousness' opens on Fri 27 Feb at The Art Cafˇ at Higher Ground, in Light Square, and is a photographic and sculptural exhibition focussing on perceptions of the female form and self worth from Angelique Haese - a visual arts student from UniSA's South Australian School of Art. Central to the exhibition will be a series of fabric sculptures that have been moulded and shaped using sugar syrup and other fabric hardeners. A number of black and white photographic works will also be showcased. The whole exhibition is accented by touches of red, symbolising intensity, passion, power and pain.

From Fri 27 Feb at the Karma Sukha Gallery in Hindley Street (Puffio thinks there's a subtle play on words there) you'll find the visual art experience of 'Disillusory', whereby the Adelaide collective We Ask, a group of visual artists, musicians, performers and writers present their second Fringe Festival exhibition. 'DisIllusory' is an interactive sanctuary where artists and audience take equal roles contributing to this creative environment, where installations, painting, music, poetry, performance and comfy seating will all be part of a creative ecosystem and engaging "hang out" space. And this, Michael Dyson's Happiness Landscape is one of those exhibits. Vibrant, isn't it? And kinky

Meanwhile, down South at the Southern Youth Theatre Ensemble (SYTE) the cast take on the serious topic of drinking... 'Party House' is a new work from Adelaide's much-loved actor/director Alirio Zavarce, is performed on location in a suburban house. The audience is invited into the space to witness and interact with the characters in a 'party' environment, and to confront the reality of 'Gen Y' drinking and abuse of drinking. The performances run from Tues 10 March, and the venue is, as suggested, a suburban house on The Esplanade at Port Noarlunga South.