THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2021 - APAX
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THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2021 Glam Adelaide by Ben Stefanoff https://glamadelaide.com.au/fringe-review-the-alphabet-of-awesome-science/ Rating: ★★★★★ Back for another year of exciting experiments, The Alphabet Of Awesome Science truly lives up to its name. The premise of the show is simple. When the audience arrives, professors Lexi Con (Emma Bargery) and Noel Edge (David Lampard) ask members of the audience to randomly select letters of the alphabet, creating a random order across the back of the stage. From there, the professors have 52 minutes to perform a science experiment to correspond to each letter of the alphabet, equating to two minutes per experiment. Sounds simple enough you would think…..wrong. This is where the magic of this show lies. Lampard and Bargery are a tight unit. I’ve seen this show before, and it keeps getting slicker. The script is so carefully written and executed perfectly, to the point that you forget it’s all scripted – it feels as though they really are just “nerding” out on stage. Each experiment has a well written, informative script. As the order of the experiments change from show to show, due to how the audience selects the letters, the two cast members have each experiment memorised as individual performances, rather than learning and rehearsing a show from start to finish. The two cast members weave the show together successfully and seamlessly. The experiments are each carried out in such a way that you don’t realise you are actually learning something. My 5 year old daughter surprised me by informing me after the show that water can absorb heat and the average adult human can produce nearly 2 litres of urine a day (important information to retain when you’re 5). From explosions, smoke donuts, and liquid nitrogen experiments to water flying left, right and centre, this show is action-packed for the full 60 minute duration. There is no dead time, so there is never a moment to lose the audience. This is no easy feat, especially when your target audience has a short attention span. The audience at the performance I saw hung onto Lampard and Bargery’s every word throughout the performance. The Alphabet Of Awesome Science is certainly a “must see” as part of your 2021 Adelaide Fringe. Although aimed at the younger audience, there certainly is something in there for everyone. The Alphabet of Awesome Science © 2021 1
THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2021 See-Do-Eat-Review by Shane Berketa https://seedoeatreview.com/fringe-festival-2021/f/review---the-alphabet-of-awesome-science Rating: ★★★★★ One thing that really stands out to me this year at the Adelaide Fringe, compared to other years, is just how well prepared all the acts have been for their performances. Every year I’ve attended the Fringe there always seems to be two or three shows which seem grossly underprepared, but in 2021 that’s all changed and I’ve been more than impressed with the majority of acts I’ve seen. One show, in particular, caught my attention on the weekend, and that came in the form of The Alphabet of Awesome Science. The team of Lexi Con and Noel Edge rarely put a foot wrong on the afternoon the kids and I went, and their professionalism added to what was already an awesome show to watch. As we walked into The Flamingo Tent we saw the two performers already hard at work on stage asking children to yell out letters that would form the basis of the show. Once all 26 letters of the alphabet had been put into a random order, Lexi Con and Noel Edge began the Alphabet of Awesome Science. It’s a simple but really fun format that uses a 52-minute countdown clock to add to the speed of the show. When a letter is chosen Lexi must choose a peculiar word that begins with that letter and give its definition, while Noel makes a fantastical science experiment and uses the word to explain what is happening from a scientific perspective. It’s a fast-paced, entertaining and eye-opening show that left the kids and I looking at each other in disbelief and clapping with joy after nearly every letter reveal. The memory retention of Lexi Con is truly outstanding to witness, spouting off big words, small words, 29 letter words, no longer used words and everything in between at the drop of a hat. This exemplifies how well-rehearsed this show is, because every performance would be completely different, due to the audience’s letter choices on the day. As for the science side of things, it was great to see that they weren’t difficult for children to understand. Noel demonstrated impressive experiments like an exploding balloon, fire funnel and smoke rings, and then gave a simple explanation in a way that kids (and adults) could comprehend. The Alphabet of Awesome Science is a magical show in which Mr. 7 and Mr. 10 had so much fun they had no idea that they were actually learning from the entertaining performers on stage. As I’m writing this review now they’re performing their own science experiments in the backyard. Who says science can’t be fun? The Alphabet of Awesome Science © 2021 2
THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2021 KIDDO By Olivia Williams https://www.kiddomag.com.au/festival/review-the-alphabet-of-awesome-science/ Calling all word nerds and science geeks … this is the show for you! Professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge (real names: Emma Bargery and David Lampard) are the stars of the kids’ show, The Alphabet of Awesome Science. Their show’s premise? To conduct 26 experiments onstage, relating to 26 big ‘sciencey’ words, in 52 minutes – while a timer counts down. As they say, every show is completely different as audience members are asked to call out letters at the start and this order dictates how the show will run. Emma reminded me of a cartoon character like Inspector Gadget’s Penny as she dashed about the stage in her yellow Cons, yelling ‘next word!’ and reeling off facts. David, meanwhile, was more like The Nutty Professor, bringing the poo and wee gags, and Dad jokes. (For one experiment, surrounding a fog-filled bottle, he quipped: “I tried to catch the fog the other day, but I mist.”) There were experiments involving smoke ‘doughnuts’, a fire tornado, and an oversized straw sprinkler (which doused the crowd). Many of the stunts drew oohs and aahs from the young attendees. Along the way, I learned some fun facts, like that the average adult expels 2L of urine per day, that some of the grossest-sounding English words are ‘pustule’ and ‘yeast’ (I’d concur), and that, thanks to physics, a balloon won’t burst on a bed of nails. Kids in the crowd also got sprayed with water-blasters and had to choose between a Bluey or Elsa toy getting their own drenching. Some of the science chatter onstage went over my head – many of the words could’ve belonged in Pip Williams’ The Dictionary of Lost Words, they were that obscure. And a few of the experiments I would’ve liked the duo to have lingered longer on, but, alas, that wasn’t the point of the show. The Flamingo tent was packed to the gills – or, perhaps, the feathers – for the performance. (Best to go for the tiered seating if you don’t want your littlies complaining about their view.) If biology class at school had been more like this show, I might’ve paid more attention. Fun and educational … who knew? The Alphabet of Awesome Science © 2021 3
THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2021 InDaily By Greg Elliott https://indaily.com.au/inreview/adelaide-fringe/2021/03/08/fringe-review-the-alphabet-of- awesome-science/ Rating: ★★★★ This family-friendly show is a fusion of art and science in which audiences are guaranteed to learn new words while witnessing fun scientific experiments involving fireballs, explosions and a breakfast cereal blower. Emma Bargery, who plays Professor Lexi Con, describes The Alphabet of Awesome Science as a show with “big words and explosions” and David Lampard, as Professor Noel Edge, agrees while doing some neat tricks with liquid hydrogen (sic). The show begins with Lampard and Bargery performing a song and dance number about science and soon after they are racing against the clock to perform 26 science experiments in 52 minutes. It’s a slick, fast-paced, action-packed show, with Professor Lexicon spitting out complex words beginning with the various letters of the alphabet and Professor Noel Edge setting up interesting scientific demonstrations. The words used throughout the show will extend the audience’s vocabulary, although they are not likely to be remembered because there are so many and they are complex. “Tabulous”, “rabulous”, “pabulous”, “spumescent”, “horrescent”, “corybantic”, “nephelococcygia” and “floccinaucinihilipilification” are fascinating words and the stories around them are generally interesting but everything is fast and you have to keep alert to keep up. As well as performing the science experiments, Professor Noel Edge effectively integrates a few “dad jokes”, some of which create good-hearted laughter in parents and children. Fireballs created on stage, clouds of breakfast ceramic dust, and explosions and clouds in a bottle create visual interest, and there is the usual fun you would expect in children’s theatre with a range of simple, home-made water devices creating “sprinklers” that inevitably spray the audience, fart jokes, sound effects, and a sense of possible danger. The Alphabet of Awesome Science is a returning production but there are new effects, including a fire tornado, the breakfast cereal blower and an unusual musical instrument called a bloogle resonator. Simple techniques such as rubbing rosin on an aluminium rod to create a high-pitched, piercing sound or the twirling of a whirly tube generate further interest, and who wouldn’t be fascinated to watch the two professors blow up a 2m tube? Television science shows such as The Curiosity Show have captured children’s imaginations but The Alphabet of Awesome Science is unique with its combination of zany entertainment and science. Audiences young and old will learn a lot while having a good time. If anything, it might be a little too focused on getting through all the letters and experiments; occasionally, the audience might need time for a breather, to take it all in and digest what they’ve learned. The Alphabet of Awesome Science © 2021 4
THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2019 The Adelaide Advertiser by Tom Bowden Rating: ★★★★★ Got a kid in your family who’s a little inquisitive? Then for the love of all that is scientific, take them to see this show! You’ll love it just as much as they do. On entry, the effervescent Professor Lexi Con, (played by Emma Bargery) gets children in the audience to randomly select scrabble letters out of a bag. These are arranged on stage by Professor Noel Edge, played with charm and flair by the irrepressible David Lampard. 26 letters of the alphabet. 26 scientific terms. 26 experiments to perform. Oh, and there are just 52 minutes on the clock, so our pair had better get cracking. And that they do, ripping through a painstakingly rehearsed hour at a cracking pace to deliver, frankly, a cracker of a show. Things burn, freeze, explode and make weird noises – each experiment presented with an alliteration-stuffed commentary so jam-packed with information you’re sure to leave smarter than when you arrived. The fact that these experiments are performed in a different sequence each performance only makes their achievement more impressive. The sound guy was bang on cue, the performances were flawlessly delivered and – although it’s aimed at school aged kids – my three-year-old was on the edge of her seat the entire time, as were all of the parents in the room. An enormous amount of effort has gone into making this the perfect production it is. A must see show that sets the standard for educational family fringe entertainment. If I could give it six stars I would … The Alphabet of Awesome Science © 2021 5
THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2019 The Adelaide Show by Steve Davis https://theadelaideshow.com.au/reviews/the-alphabet-of-awesome-science/ Rating: 9.8/10 We need more shows like this for kids. As Amelia Moseley, presenter of Behind The News said in episode 274 of The Adelaide Show, kids love having new words and concepts to wrap their minds around. Sadly, much on offer for kids (and adults, sadly) plays to the dumb end of the spectrum. And while there is always time for all of us to enjoy silliness, The Alphabet of Awesome Science proves (see what I did there) that you can pop balloons and talk about farts while still learning about science and the natural world. The fact this show does not shy away from being sesquipedalian is laudable. Thank you, Professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge. The structure of this show, working through the 26 letters of the alphabet, each with a challenging word and an entertaining (and often surprising) experiment is made all the better by being done in a random order (different each show, depending on letter tiles chosen by young attendees) and with a strict time limit per letter. This means we have the pace required to hold the attention of tiny theatre goers, many of whom have beckoning mobile devices resting in their laps and surely ready to fill the minutest gap in concentration, and we have robustly planned and speedily executed experiments. Arresting aliteration, excellent experiments, and dangerous ideas for my 10yo to reproduce at home (I have already hidden the cornflour to save us from fireballs in the kitchen), make this show a must-see for any parents who want to expose their kids to wonderful, wonder-inspiring wonderment well poised to spark (literally) interest in science. And, believe me, the world need a LOT more of this. While the badinage between the professors was witty and illuminating, there were a few times when it just edged into sacharin sweetness; a fine line that is incredibly hard not to cross (something Amelia from BTN also discussed in the episode mentioned above). It feels really picky to even draw attention to this but there is so much that is so perfect about this show, I believe these professors have the elements to create an even stronger communication model that doesn’t need some of the old tropes and hand-me-downs from other kids shows. The Alphabet of Awesome Science is a short but wonderful peregrination you can take with your child. And, who knows, its legacy might be a budding scientist, a home fire, or both! The Alphabet of Awesome Science © 2021 6
THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2019 Stage Whispers by Sally Putnam http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/alphabet-awesome-science This is one of the best children’s shows I have seen; not only is it fun, well-produced, exciting and educational, it doesn’t talk down to children and keeps everyone from 5 to 105 engaged, learning and laughing. I have had the pleasure of seeing David Lampard in action before, when he has presented to school groups. His enthusiasm and knowledge, plus a hefty dose of drama and entertainment skills, is a highly successful combination. The addition of Lexi Con and her love of interesting words is a nice touch and a great way of structuring the show with an alphabet of awesome words and science experiments. There is a touch of competitive drama in having the challenge of fitting 26 experiments into 52 minutes and having the audience mix up the order in which the experiments happen by choosing the letters randomly. With lots of bangs, explosions, water, fire and liquid nitrogen, it is everything everyone always dreams science is really like. If only, say I….. What a great way to spend an hour even on a stinking hot afternoon. The Alphabet of Awesome Science © 2021 7
THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2019 Susan Lily Blog https://susanlilywowfm.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-alphabet-of-awesome-science-show.html I was one of the kids who had a natural fascination for science so it was a “no brainer” that I was curious to go see The Alphabet of Awesome Science on the weekend. One of the fascinating aspects of this show is that it doesn’t flow in strict alphabetical order. Letters are chosen before the show by audience members as they arrive, and thus the distribution of letters is random. Filled with onstage activity all through, it was like we were speed dating with science. Professors Noel Edge and Lexi Con, from That Science Gang, raced against the clock to fulfill their promise of 26 experiments in 52 minutes. There are two key aspects that make this show a success. Firstly is the visual and aural demonstration via the experiments: some were simply spectacular and others delightfully whimsical. Secondly, was the seamless delivery by the two professors through their dialogue. Remember, they did not know the order of the show until it started. If anything, the ever-moving programme will stimulate and delight the youngest brain to the oldest. Delivery style of the wonderful world of physics, chemistry and, biology is paramount to engaging children enough to pursue a science based career if they so choose. It’s also a wonderful way families can enjoy an event together and then reminisce about once the show is done.I’d really like to go back and see this show again, and maybe I will. If you’re a family who’s looking for a fun show that also brings in some education then please grab your tickets to see THE ALPHABET OF AWESOME SCIENCE. I give it: ★★★★★. The Alphabet of Awesome Science © 2021 8
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