Venue: The Butterfly Club, 204 Bank Street, South Melbourne
(Just near the South Melbourne town hall)
Dates: Thurs December 17, Fri December 18, Sat December 19 all SOLD OUT
NEW DATES: Thurs February 4, Fri February 5 and Saturday February 6, 2010
Time: 9.00pm
To Book: CLICK HERE!

Tickets: $27 full / $22 conc/groups (8+)
Info: (03) 9690 2000 / www.thebutterflyclub.com

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The Conversation Hour

Tuesday May 12 @ 11am ABC 774 on the AM dial

I'll be on the radio co hosting The Conversation Hour with Jon Faine on 774 ABC Melbourne.
The talent in the studio will be explosive!!!
I'll be joined by members from the band "Rudely Interrupted" and Red Stitch Theatre company.
Listen in for a session about the lives, loves and liabilities of being an independent performer.
For further information on The Conversation Hour, visit http://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/features/conversations/

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HOLD THE PICKLE

Rachel opens the door of her parents' delicatessen and delivers stories of heartbreak, loss and longing, fear and belonging. Oh, and schnitzels.

But there's more...

More intimacy, more laughs and more stories that produce sweat and labored breathing. Experience the shrieking, the embraces, the flagellation and overflowing anxiety of her parent's journey from war torn Europe to 1960s Melbourne, Hills hoists and Vegemite. Berger plays out the angst and energy of her immigrant childhood by inviting the audience into a world populated by eccentric, heartbroken, adorable and sometimes embittered characters. After 21 years as a stand-up comedian, growing up with Jewish guilt and refugee parents, Rachel Berger knows more about survival than any idiot attending tribal council on reality TV. She is one of Australia's most highly regarded, adept, and adaptive comedic talents, working variously as a broadcaster, comic, novelist, columnist, agitator and television entertainer.

This is what you said:

"There were many moments when in retrospect, I felt I was the sole audience member, so eloquent and engaging was your communication of this epic tale."

" a very moving story, told with the right balance between restraint, humour, pathos and compassion. The humour is so well integrated into the narrative that when it comes, the impact is more powerful."

" You assumed characters with ease, broke the tensions that were built and re created them again. You took care of our welfare so we would last the distance."

"...it was brilliant, funny, sad, moving and kept me engrossed from start to finish... it was very personal without feeling like we were being imposed upon, more invited to share your journey, good and bad."

" there was hardly a sound from the audience for the whole 75 minutes apart from appreciative gasps and/or chuckles here and there until at the end when you were rewarded with loud and sustained applause."

What the Reviews Said...

The Age reviewer Martin Ball said:
"It's a simple solo show, where Berger takes on a variety of characters. She begins in the voice of her mother, telling the harrowing story of precarious survival as Jews in German-occupied Poland, before emigrating to Israel and finally to Australia. Scores of characters come to life, each crafted with affection and wry observation. But this is no mere sentimental nostalgia trip, and Berger's honesty in exploring the gamut of family life is a key factor in the success of Hold the Pickle. In terms of performance, Berger's considerable stage experience ensures a confident hold on story and characterisation. There is clearly an extended audience for this show and Berger might find she can hold the pickle for quite a while"

Kate Herbert, The Herald Sun:
"Cleverly balancing her comic skills with poignant story-telling and delightful characterisations"

Read - Sunday Age: Between the laugh lines, a life full of drama - April 5, 2009: Click Here to download

Please click here for The Age review, and here for the Herald Sun'sreview

For further information about the show, Technical Rider and costs please email boomboom@rachelberger.com