The latest Halloween instalment of Scary Goats Theatre’s Twilight Zone pastiche is a successful reminder of how strong acting can elevate the simplest of stories and genres.
The evening’s first story was Count on It, written by Liliana Braumberger and Chloe Towan. Major Roger Hart is a WWII fighter pilot who is intercepted by three sirens: a strange cross between the Weird Sisters and the Andrews Sisters, who have come to judge whether Hart is as good a soldier as he appears.
The actors’ energy and timing make this an engaging opener to the night’s events. The trio of actresses who play the sirens show remarkable synchronicity as they finish each other’s lines and sing seductive harmonies. Their playful menace made me equally intrigued and intimidated. I do feel, however, that this story could have benefitted from a full-length runtime to properly unpack how Hart’s choices impact the next generation of soldiers.
The second play, The Dollhouse by Jack Bengough, demonstrates a strong emotional throughline that I feel Count on It could have better developed. 13 children have disappeared from the town of Bent, and two agents of the crown have been sent to resolve this bizarre mystery. Their investigation leads them to the home of a strange old woman, where our heroes must sacrifice something of great value to them to save the missing children.
First-time Scary Goats Theatre actors, Jack Farley and Lauren Sewell, effortlessly convinced me of their characters’ years of companionship with likeable line deliveries and subtle gestures. Their believable chemistry made the twist ending, I believe, one of the most poignant twists this anthology has given us so far.
Hayley Richards provides great versatility as the old lady, showcasing her skill as an antagonist after mostly starring in heroic and neutral roles. I know personally that Richards is a very experienced actress, so it’s a testament to good direction that her performance doesn’t overshadow the all-important chemistry between Sewell and Farley.
The Itch by Savier D’Arsie Marquez centres around a couple of struggling artists and romantic partners named Joan and Fi. Joan takes a real estate job to support Fi’s dream of touring the country, but it’s not long before the allure of stability and success begin to change Joan into something her partner scarcely recognises, something monstrous.
This is another great example of a compelling central relationship making a story’s twist ending impactful. The script’s witty, sardonic dialogue accurately captures the passive-aggressive verbal jousting with which young couples approach conflict. The conflict between a career vs. a relationship is a time-worn story, but Tayla Harry and Chloe Towan, as Joan and Fi respectively, give these doomed lovers a good amount of nuance.
The play’s final scene is a triumph of Twist of Fate’s ability to balance varied tones. The scene deftly transitions from amusingly hammy physical acting and costume work to an emotionally devastating loss. In a story about the collapse of sincere communication between lovers, supposed monsters become unexpected victims and supposed victims become guilt-stricken tormenters.
The evening concluded with my personal favourite of the four plays: Soot by Emily Morey. Bing, Bang and Bong are three performance artists who attempt to overcome their crippling perfectionism with the help of an enchanted hand puppet. But what will their pursuit of a groundbreaking show cost them?
Soot is the funniest of the four stories, due to impeccable physical clowning. Bing, Bang and Bong are the most over-the-top theatre brat cliches you can imagine, and Richard Mealey is delightfully outrageous as he tumbles around the stage as a humanised Soot. Fortunately, the comedy doesn’t smother the show’s strong, clear message. The risk of becoming too wrapped up in your imagination is relatable for any creative type and our three lead actors – Liliana Braumberger, Ben Fox and Kate Weston – know when to inject genuine fear and despair into their largely comical characters.
Twist of Fate Season 6(66) is a strong instalment that encapsulates this anthology’s ability to inject familiar genres with a refreshing, human-focused pathos. The four scripts tonight are a perfect balance of laughs and terror. Here’s to another year of Twist of Fate.
To book tickets to A Twist of Fate: Season 6(66), please visit https://www.eventfinda.com.au/2026/a-twist-of-fate-halloween-special/melbourne/carlton.
Photographer: Kieran McNamara, 3 Fates Media
