“bold, adventurous, inspirational performance-making.”
Underground was like a wild night out - the sort you recount proudly as a benchmark for variety, spontaneity, poignancy and fun.
If you were a traveller who stumbled into this Korean speakeasy and its nightly retelling of the tale of lost love and found community, you wouldn’t leave until you became part of the story too.’ ‘Through some beautiful, clever and funny music created by director Jeremy Neideck (who also plays Jules, one of the singing, dancing, flute- and accordion-playing ensemble) and Nathan Stoneham (who plays Jinhee, another of the singing, piano- and theremin-playing troupe), these odd outcasts tell the story of the Coconut Princess, his whale (Park Younghee as the singing, drumming, dancing Cheolsu), his salvation by a sailor (Abe Mitchell and the singing, sax- and guitar-playing love interest) and his subsequent arrival and acceptance at the Underground bar. Here we also meet the singing, dancing, story-telling hostess Minyo, played to perfection by Lee Chunnam. Do you get the impression the cast are a multi-talented bunch?’
- ArtsHub
“a journey that defies stylistic convention and pisses in the mainstream.”
‘An incredibly talented cast of Australian and Korean performers sing, and dance and play live music in this celebration of life. Fusing Korean and English narration, provided by our DJ Thom Browning and bar manager Lee Chunnam, we are guided through a simple story with frenetic songs and ‘improvised’ props. Even though this is my third time at Underground, I can’t help be moved as Neideck's Coconut Princess discovers the pain of loss. And if that’s not enough to bring a tear to my eye, the soaring voice of the talented Park Younghee is. Despite these powerful moments, Underground leaves me with a sense of jubilation - and co-writer Nathan Stoneham’s music in my head - for days to come.’
- ArtsHub
Pull up a beanbag under the glimmer of disco ball (or under the great cardboard whale) and make sure you have a beer in hand. Welcome to Underground: a karaoke speakeasy underwater queer surrealist love story with complementary watermelon ... all those things and more.
The narrative (delivered in English and Korean) unfolds so naturally out of the space and characters; the cast’s carefully rehearsed spontaneity is invisible; every scattered piece of bric-a-brac might be significant; and time (even in this longer version) still seems to warp. There’s something about the space and lighting that evokes being inside a neon aquarium.’
- Offstreet Press
“...oddball, offbeat and even off-stage...’”
It blurs the distinction between love, gender and friendship, and does this with a gentle exuberance that builds through moments of heartbreak to a pounding anthem celebrating individual freedom.
- The Courier Mail
“A joyous and energetic treatment of some of life’s darkest experiences.”
The success of Underground lies in the paradox of its carefully rehearsed spontaneity.
With just the right amount of humour and self-conscious kitsch, our evening follows a love story that crosses oceans, along with the great divides of both language and gender.
- Rave Magazine
The technical aspects of this show really shine. The lighting of the place is really remarkable, and like all the other technical elements, subtle and cleverly placed in the performance. What appears as a rather haphazardly put together show is quite complexly designed and the ease with which the crew and cast control this is brilliant.
- Australian Stage
Production Designer M’ck McKeague has transformed the entire Metro Arts’ Basement space into an astonishingly visceral and stunningly detailed approximation of a Korean speakeasy, complete with a fully functioning bar and a colourful array of characters and staff.
- Realtime Arts
“Unless you like your theatre cut and dry - and safe - it’s hard to find fault with Underground.”
The Performers are gifted comedians and tellers of truth. They carry the audience through their tales with warmth, artistry, and gentleness.
Critical Mass
“The energy in the room is electric. Underground is an absolute riot.
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“The Dokboki Box is the essence of what theatre is all about. It connects people.”
Simple, elegant, intimate, comforting and inspiring.
Actors Greenroom
“one of the most beautiful moments I have experienced in theatre.
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