All this and more can be experienced first hand in Lifted!, a punchy, energetic play that sees the Castello Theatre turned into a Bankwest Tower lift for an hour.

In the lift, a team of talented actors play out a series of short skits, seamlessly strung together by the smarts of The Kitchen Sink Collective and The Australian Institute of Theatresports.

During each skit, an unassuming businessman stands in the corner of the lift. He comments on the commotions going on around him, and as the play progresses he reveals small hints of his character. Things reach a peak when we find out why this man likes to linger in the lift for his entire lunch break…

The Castello Theatre is a cosy one. There is sneezing, arguing, brawling, farting, dancing, singing and scheming all from a distance where an actor’s spittle might land on your nose. But this is a small price to pay for a good injection of fun.

Lifted! runs until Sunday; 8:45-9:45pm and is part of Fringe World 2013. Tickets are available from www.fringeworld.com.au

This is the genius of his show: to err to blur the lines of stand-up comedy. Also known as “winging it”. On Thursday, Conway kicked things off by getting to know the crowd. He talked shop with Eric down the front, played muffin-tennis with a young hipster, and discussed breakfast cereals with a group of Canadians.

Once everyone was settled in and chuckling away, Conway let rip on some hilarious, high-energy material, which he self-critiqued as he went along. He even backpedalled on one of his jokes to try out a range of different punchlines.

Conway also likes to branch-off on schizophrenic tangents just to see what will happen. At one stage what happened was an audience member spinning around saying “Chocolate milk”. At another, Conway himself was screaming “Instagram, Instagram, Instagram”.

The show is manic, but not inane. It is absurd, but not thoughtless. Through his rollicking banter on small bars, sausage fests and backyard pizza ovens, Conway points to a deeper truth: that this world is absurd, and absurd is, well, funny.

Conway is the Pied Piper, leading his audience up a mountain in his jodhpurs. He is screaming “Freedom from the drudgery of this business-suit world”. Go see him.

The New Conway Vibe runs until February 24 and is part of Fringe World 2013. Tickets are available from fringeworld.com.au.

Sharp begins by describing his childhood in Dursley, England: eccentric parents, non-varied dinner menus, Star-trek and Metal. He then describes his transformation from a well-paid, job-hating depressive, to a poorly paid, life-loving, less-depressive comedian. His message is a strong one: don’t be afraid to do what you want. Unfortunately, his jokes are less strong.

Many of Sharp’s insights into the human world – for example, it must suck to be a gay man or a straight woman, because men are just gross, or, it sucks to be married because you don’t get as much sex as before you’re married – are horrifically uninspired. It seems he is often grasping for something to dislike for the sake of being funny – as opposed to genuinely disliking something in a way that is actually funny.

On the plus side, however, the man is a great storyteller with a relaxed and friendly demeanour. At times, his self-loathing comes across as endearing – albeit in a scruffy, long bearded way; “Yes, my mum is ashamed of me,” is his opening line.

Maybe it was just a tough crowd, maybe he felt out of sorts on the night. Or maybe, possibly, Alan Sharp needs to reconsider his direction.

Alan Sharp: Careful What You Wish For runs until February 8; 8:45-9:45pm and is part of Fringe World 2013. Tickets are available from www.fringeworld.com.au

Melvin starts off simple with The Walk and soon progresses to more demanding tap techniques. There is a range of people at the Bakery Main Space: young and old, absolute beginners and local tap dancing teachers and veterans. Up on stage, smiling and sweating away in his burgundy leotard, Melvin exudes a fantastic warmth and jokey calmness. This puts the beginners at ease. A father, who had just come to watch over his two young daughters, soon kicks off his thongs and gets involved.

The more advanced tappers were impressed by Melvin’s old-school style, which emphasises the heel over the toe. Some people wanted to learn more difficult techniques; they asked Melvin individually and he was happy to oblige.

The workshop went for two hours with three short breaks. There was no air-conditioning at the Bakery so, during the breaks, tappers huddled around the giant fans, lifting their sweaty shirts to cool off. This was all part of the fun.

Movin’ Melvin is a man of soul and solidarity. He managed to create a great sense of camaraderie between everyone, and by the end of the class, with the heart beating and the endorphins pumping, his closing words of encouragement didn’t seem so far-fetched: “Next time I see you, you’ll be teaching me.”

Tap into Health runs until January 31; 6.30-8.30pm and is part of Fringe World 2013. Tickets are available from www.fringeworld.com.au.