COMEDY
Presented by Nicole Henriksen
Pho Barn at Noodle Palace
Review by Jasmine Seabrook-Benson
Nicole Henriksen has formed a connection with everyone before the show’s even started. She is friendly, welcoming, exceptionally lively and clearly very pleased to again be performing at Fringe World 2016.
Dressed in a vibrant blue Poncho, Nicole reminds us to suspend our disbelief. She crouches down at the corner of the stage as the lights dim, microphone in hand, and introduces herself with the smooth aplomb of an accomplished MC.
Techno Glitter Penguins is Henriksen’s hot mess variety show. Incorporating political comedy, ludicrous bits of humour and an eye-catching physical performance, she succeeds in bringing the house down with laughter.
Nicole’s ability to take a serious topic and address it through comedy is exemplified early on. She delivers a thrilling monologue on gender as she formally welcomes everyone to the show. Yes, that’s right: she can weave political comedy into a welcome.
Henriksen impresses the audience with her acting as she embodies the characters of two utterly peculiar guest performers. On each occasion, she provides us with an entertaining video before disappearing behind the privacy screen at the side of stage. Keeping the show going as she makes the necessary alterations to her appearance, it’s only moments before we’re all giggling; almost believing that the woman in front of us is an entirely different person.
We’re kept on the edge of our seats with an array of skilful parody, rewritten jokes — Nicole can take ‘why did the chicken cross the road’ and turn it on its head with a quip about capitalism — ridiculous and touching impressions, and a high proportion of improvised content. However, despite the madcap range of this high-energy performance, the show is never in danger of falling apart.
As Nicole invites us to sing along to her exit song (which she’s singing unaccompanied) no one moves. We’re all thoroughly entertained, and it takes her to interrupt the song with a kind nudge to ‘please leave’ before we finally accept that the show is over.
Nicole Henriksen – Techno Glitter Penguins runs until February 6 at Pho Barn at Noodle Palace, Perth. Tickets available here.
