You are hereThe Chronic Ills of Robert Zimmerman: AKA Bob Dylan (A Lie) - A Theatrical Talking Blues and Glissendorf (April 6 - April 24)
The Chronic Ills of Robert Zimmerman: AKA Bob Dylan (A Lie) - A Theatrical Talking Blues and Glissendorf (April 6 - April 24)
By Benito Di Fonzo
Following a critically acclaimed season at the Adelaide Fringe
("a wonderful strange... marvelously engaging theatrical experience" theatreguide.com.au) the surrealo-absurdist rhythmic reimagining of the life and weird times of Bob Dylan plays at the Old Fitz this April.
Presented by Tamarama Rock Surfers.
Penned by award winning Sydney poet, playwright, journalist Benito Di Fonzo,The Chronic Ills is a reverently ironic homage to the man born Robert Allen Zimmerman, better known as Bob Dylan.
We follow Bob/Robert as he begins his career by running away from home at ten, twelve, thirteen, fifteen, fifteen-and-a-half, seventeen and eighteen years old. Instructed by Woody Guthrie, he goes in pursuit of a holy grail of songs armed only with a fascist-killing guitar and a dream. Accidentally renamed Dylan in a New York public hospital, he then encounters, corrupts, jams and gets lost at sea with fellow icons Ginsberg, Lennon, Pound, Eliot, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Billy Bragg, and a hipster-Yiddish speaking Abraham Lincoln (to name a few).
Following a sell-out, critically acclaimed season at the Adelaide Fringe, the Chronic Ills returns to Sydney's mainstage for three weeks only.
“It’s a long story mister, involving bible, ghosts, chaos, clocks,watermelons, everything”
"Benito di Fonzo's Dylan-esque stream of consciousness is fun ... Fonzo has invoked the spirits of everyone who might have influenced Dylan ... with John Lennon and Yoko Ono being a particular crowd pleaser."
Tim Lloyd – The Advertiser
“Wonderfully strange … so well written … a marvelously engaging theatrical experience."
Brian Godfrey – theatreguide.com.au
“You don’t need drugs to enjoy … the wackiest show in the fringe.”
Matt Byrne – Sun Mail
“The musical accompaniment is outstanding in it’s subtlety and effectiveness.”
Troy Foster – Rip It Up!
“It was fantastic and will be a hit of the fringe!”
David Grybowski
"this was a bloody brilliant show, every bit as entertaining as Bowengabbie… and that’s a massive compliment." http://ff.moobaa.com/?p=1422
Cast & Crew
Playwright: Benito Di Fonzo
With: Andrew Henry, Lenore Munro, Matt Ralph and Simon Rippingale
Director: Lucinda Gleeson
Producer: Jennifer Hamilton & Sophie Alize Finnane
Publicity: Emma Jones
Designer: Eliza McLean
Lighting Operator: Tess Moffat-Sosa
Stage Managers: Christopher Rhodes & Charlotte Grien
Graphic Design: Think Five
Lighting Design: Richard Whitehouse