Christina Davis: Diaries of the Unamed Fraser
Christina Davis presents a show in which her life is replayed through the diaries she has keep since early teenage years. Having adoptive parents, moving to France to perform, being exposed to all on reality television and suffering the same ‘What am I doing with my life’? experiences that many people relate to: there is fantastic material here.
While the show starts well and Davis shows some genuine comedic ability, it seems that she is too nervous to capitalise on those moments in which the audience is responding to her material. The diaries provide a compelling way to move through interesting life experiences, and she certainly doesn’t shy away from sharing stories which are deeply personal. At times though, it feels as if we are getting a highlights package of her life. The potential is all there, yet somehow Davis misses the mark.
Moments of spot-on timing are mixed with a nervous haste, which doesn’t allow the audience to settle into the pace of the show. Finishing far too early, it is hard to tell if Davis has rushed her material, forgotten part of the show or is just not ready for a full hour of stand-up. The performance feels like a funny piece of theatre rather than a solid hour of stand-up material. Perhaps with a few more hours and more confidence under her belt, Davis will step up and fulfill the potential that is already within the show.
I saw it and i agree it was good but it also was not very long and she was not very comfortable on stage or something because she finished early my night as well. Maybe it was the same night.
Only 30 minutes long the night I went which is – let’s face it – fairly unforgivable. If I’d paid $16 for a ticket I’d have every right to ask for my money back. The problem is that the show is an acceptable support slot on an ordinary comedy night, but it’s not a show. Davis isn’t ready for a solo show and she’s certainly not ready for the Town Hall – she should get a bit more experience in stand-up, learn to relax and write a proper show about her dance experiences, as that’s where she’s funniest and most interesting. And Christina, if you don’t want to talk about Big Brother, then DON’T! That part of the show seemed very uncomfortable, and since we had no idea what she was talking about it also seemed very dull…
You guys missed out on Christina at her best. When she is not intimidated by her audience she gives a relaxed and engaging performance. I thought she shone- if not necessarily for laugh a minute- just the sheer absurdity that is her experience- particularly the bits about BB!
Of course she needs to work on her show a bit but that’s what the Wee room is about any way isn’t it?- is it really a room that commands the high expectations of the town hall?- I mean really! Have you been there’
Christina Davis – The secret diaries of an Un-named Fraser – 30/04/06 @ Melbourne Town Hall – by epod
The fact that Christina Davis was a Big Brother evictee nearly caused me not to see this show. I urge you strongly to please not make the same mistake.
Christina’s show was performed with shitloads of confidence, was very well written, as well as sweet, charming, interesting and funny. I believe that she has a great deal of potential as a comedian, and hope that she achieves the mainstream success that she deserves in the future.
The show took place in what is called, “The Wee Room”, which is a rather small room right at the very top of the Melbourne Town Hall which seats 30 people. There were about 10 people there the night I saw the show. Despite reading a couple of promising reviews of Christina’s show, I do admit that I did walk into the room with low expectations – which were instantly blown away when the show started. From the moment the show began, Christina had totally engaged me in the stories of her life.
Christina’s show was a combination of her reading diary entries (which she said were true), and then further clarifying things that happened in a normal stand-up comedy type routine. I think that this format worked really well.
Firstly, she explained that she was adopted and was named on her birth certificate as “un-named Fraser”, hence the name of the show. She talked about how she had always wanted to be in the Royal Australian Ballet, and how she was told by someone in management there that to get in she really should get a nose job. Christina talked about jobs she has had performing Ballet both in Australia and overseas. She came to describe her stint on Big Brother.
This was described with such venom, and was worth the price of admission alone. She talked about how Big Brother had called her into the diary room about week six of the show and had told her to be funny as she was not being funny, although she had been funny in audtions. Furthermore, she was also told at the same time by Big Brother that she had not mentioned the fact that she was adopted to any of the other housemates, so could she please do so, as that was one of the reasons why they chose her for the show. Christina ended up telling fellow housemate Sarah-Marie, and her impersonation of her was well worth seeing.
Christina had tried doing stand-up comedy a few times prior to entering the Big Brother house and some time after leaving, she decided to continue with her stand-up. For this, she recieved some very scathing attacks in the press, being labelled a try hard (and worse) through various media outlets. Newspapers were actually naming the places where she was doing open mic and asking people to come along and review her. I have done open mic and know how terrifying it is, let alone having to deal with that sort of attention.
It really is a testament to Christina’s strong character that she continued to do stand-up even after all the negative press attention she got from it. As Christina said, “How many other open-mic’ers need to perform and then worry about the review that they will get in the paper the next day?”.
Christina read out some of her fan mail, most of which was positive…until she got to a death threat she recieved. After recieving that, she decided to go and live in the USA for a while where no-one would know who she was or be able to recognise her. She moved in with two flatmates, one of whom was a witch – but the witch was the normal one. Her other flatmate got arrested and used Christina’s ID when she got charged, something Christina knew nothing about until she was contacted by the Australian Consulate. Christina moved back to Australia after her stint in the US.
The show was completed by Christina writing a diary entry for the 30/04/06. I really enjoyed this show and hope that Christina recieves the support that she deserves. Why pay double the amount to see one of the big name acts, and have to stand outside in a massive line, in the rain at Melbourne Town Hall when you can walk straight up the stairs (er…a lot of stairs) and check out Christina in the Wee Room. Highly recommended!
Leave your response!
2012 Reviews
Menu
Recent Comments
Recent Posts
Archives
Recent Posts
Most Commented
A New Leaf Media