Following the success of Great Detectives in 2018, Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage is preparing to entertain audiences once more with the sequel, Great Detectives 2! The Adelaide Fringe 2019 is the stage for this world premiere event. But wait there’s more….Audiences will also be treated to a second world premiere production; #bunnypastards – Hardly Trivial Trivia, a night of improv, pop culture and comedy.
Sam About Town chatted recently with Benjamin Maio Mackay, presenter, director and actor, to find out more.
SAT: The original Great Detectives was very well received last year and delighted audiences nationwide. The show was nominated for numerous Broadway World Sydney Theatre Awards and was described by Theatre Now as an experience “not to be missed”. For people who haven’t seen the show, could you explain what it is about?
BMM: It’s a recreation of attending a 1950s radio recording, featuring 2 original scripts (heavily adapted) from that era. The original show actually first premiered in 2015 and last year’s season was it’s 3rd return season – so it’s certainly proved to a be a hit with audiences! The scripts feature American detectives Candy Matson and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar – both shows combine mystery, intrigue and comedy, ideal for Fringe audiences!
SAT: What inspired you to choose this unique idea of a 1950s radio recording to develop as a show?
BMM: I’ve always enjoyed listening to the shows from that era and the exceptional thing is the challenge it provides for the actors. Everyone voices multiple characters, which is a very unique skill and not overly common in theatre. Once you couple great stories and characters with a creative challenge I’m sold on a project!
SAT: What were the challenges in taking an audio recording and making it into something visual for a live audience to enjoy?
BMM: The excellent thing is that in the 50s radio shows were actually recorded in front of a live audience – so in that respect the show is historically accurate. The actors would also react and respond to the live audience and bring a physicality to the show for those people in the room. One of my favourite things about doing this show physically, are the fight-sequences and I can’t wait for audiences to see these new ones.
SAT: One aspect I found very slick and smooth in your original production, was the timing of all the sound effects with the voices and action. Was that difficult to achieve?
BMM: It certainly is one of the most important aspects of our rehearsals. As soon as voices and characters are established/developed we rehearse with our tech with the sound effects. The timing is so important and the show does have a little bit of improvisation, so it’s crucial that our tech knows the show and knows how we, as actors work. It’s technically the most challenging aspect of the show and kudos to our incredible tech Mark, who’s been with us since the original run in 2015.
SAT: Your other Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage production is #bunnypastards – Hardly Trivial Trivia. This sounds like it couldn’t be more different from Great Detectives 2! Can you tell us more about it.
BMM: It’s a comedy collaboration between myself and Ben Sorensen (TV/Radio Personality hailing from Melbourne). Audiences are in for a fun evening of bleak, dark humour, improv and insanity. There’s audience interaction, a number of segments, prizes and general craziness!
SAT: How do you find the contrast between one show being so precise in its dialogue and timing and the other being loose and full of improvisation?
BMM: There’s still very much a script and structure to #bunnypastards and comedic timing is hugely important too, but you’re right, they are very different shows. I’m always working on a number of different projects and thankfully I find it easy to switch between. With #bunnypastards I’m really just playing a version of myself – where there’s acting involved in Great Detectives 2 and that certainly helps to differentiate them. I like to ensure that the work I’m doing is always different, so I’m not pigeonholed and this Fringe there’s certainly no chance of that!
SAT:Aside from your work with Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage, you are also directing Cepacia: Love Takes His Breath Away (a reimagining of Romeo and Juliet) and appearing in Sex and the Musical (a musical parody of Sex and the City), both for Emma Knights Productions. Could you tell us more about these productions?
BMM: When Emma approached me about Sex and the Musical it was a no brainer, I love Sex and the City and the opportunity to play a young Stanford (Carrie’s best friend) was too good to pass up. The show’s clever and witty, with some great music – if you love Sex and the City you’ll love this show.
Cepacia: Love Takes His Breath away is a beautifully tragic reimagining of Romeo and Juliet where both lead characters have cystic fibrosis. It’s got an excellent cast led by the incredible young performer Issy Darwent and I know audiences are definitely going to be moved by this powerful show.
SAT: That sounds like a very varied and full Adelaide Fringe for you. What do you do to relax and how do you prepare for so many different roles?
BMM: It’s certainly a huge Fringe this year (and I’m doing a 10 day stint at Perth Fringe too), so my preparation is very regimented. We’re already deep in rehearsals for Great Detectives 2! and that’s at an excellent place. #bunnypastards’ script was finalised earlier this week and there’s some excellent video promo content coming out shortly too. With Cepacia I’ve plotted the whole show ahead of our rehearsals commencing in February and I’m working on getting lines/lyrics down for Sex and the Musical at the moment. When Fringe actually starts vocal and physical health are my biggest priorities. Also ensuring that I continue to eat healthy and get enough sleep will be very important. I have a routine before each show I undertake and I try to talk as little as possible on show days – so it’s a lot of work to maintain a show schedule this large, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
SAT: What is in store for you personally and also for Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage for the rest of the year?
BMM: At this point I do have a number of exciting projects lined up I’m not yet able to talk about, but I do encourage people to follow me on instagram (benjaminmaiomackay), Facebook (look for the verified check mark) or twitter (@BenjaminMM_). The company’s website is also always up to date (www.preachrspodcast.net).
The chat-show podcast Benjamin Maio Mackay’s Talk 2 Me! is always releasing new episodes and our audio drama sci-fi trilogy The Phoenix Files (starring Paul McGann) was completed last year and is available for download/streaming on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play.
See the Sam About Town review of Great Detectives from the 2018 Adelaide Fringe:
https://www.samabouttown.com/adelaide-fringe-2018/great-detectives-adelaide-fringe-review-4-stars/
Great Detectives 2! is playing at Morphettville Racecourse Feb 22- Mar 3.
Tickets and more information:
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/great-detectives-2-af2019
#bunnypastards – Hardly Trivial Trivia is playing at Morphettville Racecourse Mar 14-15.
Tickets and more information:
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/bunnypastards-hardly-trivial-trivia-af2019
Cepacia: Love Takes His Breath Away is playing at Morphettville Racecourse Mar 13-15. Tickets and more information:
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/cepacia-love-takes-his-breath-away-af2019
Sex and the Musical is playing at Morphettville Racecourse on Feb 23, 28 and Mar 10. Tickets and more information: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/sex-the-musical-af2019
