Presented by Danger Cabaret

Big Top @ The Pleasure Garden

Review by David Erceg

Roll up, roll up, for a night of entertainment that you’ll never forget! El Bizarro has earned quite the reputation, proving a smash hit on its Fringe World debut in 2015, which it follows this year with a no-holds-barred circus spectacular. Expect to laugh, cheer and have your jaw plummet at the antics on display throughout this late night offering.

Any good circus prides itself on audience engagement, and the El Bizarro troupe thrive under the lights. As their performances ramp up in daring and spectacle, so to does the audience’s enjoyment of the show. Ringmaster Magnus ‘Danger’ Magnus bounces around the stage at frenetic pace, radiating enthusiasm — his antics themselves make for an entertaining hour in and of itself.

Of the acts themselves: such variety! We’re treated to extreme body contortionists who climb into high heels while laying on their stomach, legs splayed back up over their head (picture a scorpion and you get the idea); sword swallowing beauties; and a ping pong ball-spitting Swedish juggler who asks if anyone in the audience has an IKEA wine glass he could borrow, when his own prop shatters mid-performance.

Importantly, this is a show with a Fringe UV rating of 4 out of 4, so it’s not for all tastes. One act in particular, in which a costumed male-and-female duo subject each other to graphic ‘pleasurable pain’ with clamps and chains, proves confronting, and the routine is called to a halt to allow some light-headed audience members to dash for open air. Kudos are owed to the El Bizarro team for going no further into the realm of the macabre than this.

As you’d hope, the finale is stunning and breathtaking, involving flame dancing and fire breathing, leaving the audience cheering. It’s a slick production; the music is spot-on, and the performers give it absolutely everything. If you’re looking for an alternative show to really spice up your Fringe experience, maybe El Bizarro is for you.

El Bizarro runs nightly until Saturday February 20 (except Thursday 18). Tickets available here.

4 Stars

Art Gallery of WA Theatrette

Review: David Erceg

Fringe World is increasingly known for bold, spectacular shows that wow audiences. Easy to miss, but no less special, are quiet, thoughtful productions such as Absolutely, Perth-born performer Allan Girod’s account of his life as “a very large introvert”, rising from the suburbs into the sights and sounds of Cirque du Soleil.

Girod begins his tale by recounting his days spent growing up as a “pasty white nerd”; being snubbed by girls at school dances, and poring over airplane models in the local Toyworld. School was tough for him, and he notes that his initial choice to become a schoolteacher may not have been the greatest idea, given his general fear of ‘talking to people’. He continues through his formative years as a fledgling stage performer after it was suggested he join the local drama club, thus discovering a love of the theatre and a knack for entertaining (though not without some part time job-related mishaps along the way).

Hopeful of the best yet fearful of the worst, Allan and audience board the fast-moving train that is international performance, before eventually being discovered by Cirque du Soleil; “a company chock full of absolute perfectionists” – he recalls his first time trying on his custom-made clown outfit, marveling at the love and passion that went into it’s creation and witnessing hysterical tears of joy from costume designers upon seeing him wearing it.

Girod explores his battle with crippling internal doubt, and more importantly, learning the courage to go outside of one’s comfort zone in search of something better. Girod is a masterful storyteller, showing us his pure humanity throughout, hand-feeding the audience just enough to keep them hooked, before whisking us off onto the next chapter. I was enthralled for the entirety, and would have eagerly stayed for more. It’s shows like this that showcase the spirit of Fringe World — hidden treasures to be cherished by those lucky enough to see them.

Absolutely is a very loving, genuine account of a constrained childhood from which rose a remarkable career and a larger than life persona. The hour will fly before your eyes.

Absolutely runs until Sunday February 13. Tickets available here.

Each performance features a different set of comedians representing a range of heroes, so you’ll get a new show every night. My favourite ‘battle’ featured Andrew Roper passionately defending Superman’s clean cut image against Byron Bertram’s suitably villainous portrayal of Lex Luthor. While Roper enthusiastically listed Superman’s positive traits both as hero and person, Bertram went on the offensive, pointing out that Superman ‘hides’ in a department full of investigative journalists, all whom are none the wiser to his identity.

Meanwhile, Bertram poked fun at everything from the Man of Steel’s ‘stupid haircut’ to the fact that ‘he wears his underpants on the outside’, and adamantly polarised the audience with the hilarious (yet thought provoking) notion that Lex Luthor has done more for global charity and healthcare through money than Superman has through heroics.

We were also invited to participate in a trivia contest to win assorted superhero comics (hoard them, who knows how much they’ll be worth someday). The hosts accosted representatives with all-important questions, like who would be the most fun to have at a party, what would happen if they were to find themselves stuck in traffic, and which hero present would prove the most effective housemaid? It’s a bizarre sight to see multiple grown men passionately arguing over superhero superlatives, but it made for great entertainment.

We’ve been saturated with superhero films of late and so this is a welcome comedic take on a huge phenomenon; it was also a delightful evening. The winner of each ‘round’ moves on to the final showdown on Monday evening, where you’re guaranteed an epic battle, with laughs of comic proportions.

Battle of the Superheroes: The Superhero Debate runs nightly until Monday February 1. Tickets available here.

Hale begins by explaining the concept of the show and assures us there’s no reason for concern.

Before any hypnotism is conducted he demonstrates to the audience how easily the subconscious can be nudged. All we’re asked to do is to focus intently on our fingers. The audience giggles nervously as, despite all efforts, we can’t stop our fingers from drawing closer together.

Anybody willing to take the plunge is invited to the stage and eased into peace and relaxation. Once suitably sedated, Hale has the newly anointed stars perform in a band alongside the Muppets (complete with epic saxophone solos and satisfying guitar smashing) before sending them cruising Downtown (complete with Macklemore backing track pumping) on their brand new Mopeds.

The cast takes to this venture with great gusto, squealing excitedly when presented with their new ‘keys’ and posing enthusiastically, before hilariously attempting to ‘outrun the police’ and then putting on their best ‘charming face’ once pulled over. In the audience, friends and relatives howl with laughter at the sight of their loved ones postulating and pouting in the face of the law.

Matt Hale is no stranger to Fringe World and entertains naturally and fluidly, but perhaps his greatest strength is his awareness of the hidden desires of the audience to participate. He bestows one lucky individual with The Force in their fingertips with raucous results, but it’s once he has the group on their feet dancing carefree to TayTay that the crowd really shows their enthusiasm. Perhaps because, deep down, we know that none of us have the power to resist.

Hale’s whole show is brilliant, respectful to the good sports involved, and achingly funny for the rest of the audience. Along with bemused volunteers and their guffawing families, I leave with a wide grin on my face, impressed by the power of hypno-suggestion.

On that note, I suggest you go see this show.

100% Chicken Free – Matt Hale Comedy Hypnotist runs until February 20. Tickets are available here.