fringe festival - Whats The Show

Maybe He’s Born With It Maybe It’s ADHD

4 April 202520 October 2024 Caitren Sheather-Reid

Maybe He’s Born With It Maybe It’s ADHD Rating

★★★★★

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Do you need an emotional rollercoaster of a show that will make you laugh and cry and then, upon further thought, inevitably question all of your actions as possibly neurodivergent?

Yeah, neither did I, and yet I find myself wanting to go back for more!

Upon entering the theatre (and having no previous knowledge of Colin Ebsworth, my assumptions were a comedy show with probable laughs and maybe some relatable content. Little did I know that I would be crying both from laughter and sadness by the end.

Ebsworth is (in short) an insanely talented comedian and wordsmith who managed to convey so many different emotions of relatability, anguish, confusion, satire, wittiness and much more as we are walked through his experience as a neurodivergent child. As someone who has Autism (of which there is a lot of cross-over with ADHD), I found it refreshing to find someone who had some of the same issues as me growing up and was able to articulate it accurately.

All whilst sitting on a stool on a stage in a spotlight with a remote and a few lagers.

I also genuinely enjoyed the creative use of both vocal effects and music to enhance the story. And so did the audience! I took my best friend (who is ADHD incarnate) with me and her reactions were vivid and similar to mine. As were the rest of the attendees. We all gasped together, laughed together and felt deeply together. It is no mean feat to be able to create an atmosphere where everyone is invested both individually and as a collective audience.

This show is so important not just for those that are neurodivergent, but also for those that have neurodivergent individuals in their life. It’s content of this show will only continue to become more and more valuable as time goes on.

So, even though this show for Melbourne Fringe is sold out, I would unquestionably recommend that you keep an eye out for Colin Ebsworth and any of his future shows. I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next and will be attending prepared to feel the full range of emotions next time!

For further information about Colin Ebsworth, please follow: https://linktr.ee/colinebsworth

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Global Smash Club: A Full-Throttle Cabaret Spectacle

4 April 202520 October 2024 Emelia May

Finucane & Smith’s Global Smash Club Rating

★★★★★

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Exuding colour, light, and all things sublime, Finucane & Smith’s ‘Global Smash Club’ celebrates its 20th anniversary exactly as it came into the world: with a glorious bang.

Opening night at Trades Hall saw the ETU Ballroom bursting with talent, as icons of Melbourne’s art and theatre scene took to the stage for an hour of cabaret, spectacle, and daring subversion. At the helm, Moira Finucane – Fringe legend and co-creator of the original ‘Burlesque Hour’ – isn’t one to shy away from making a mess. Her performances tore through the boundaries of convention with wild abandon and dubious liquids, stirring the pot in ways that left the crowd gasping for more (and more and more).

Performance art legend Maude Davey transformed the ballroom into a high-voltage dive bar with powerhouse vocals, off-the-charts energy, and a healthy side of rock and roll. Her cheeky acts blended classic burlesque with a contemporary edge, and were just so cool (seriously, Aussie-BBQ-meets-showgirl should be compulsory viewing).

Yumi Umiumare, the undisputed goddess of dark fever dreams, served up her signature whiplash concoction of surreal dance, twisted comedy, and Butoh, luring the crowd to the edge of reality with spellbinding intensity. The way her intricate costumes moved and flowed under her precise control was as hypnotic as it was impressive.

Sharing the stage with these powerful headliners was a dazzling ensemble of stars. Unforgettable performances from Mama Alto, Piera Dennerstein, Imogen Kelly, Zitao Deng, and Xiao Xiao suspended the crowd between moments of breathless awe and unbridled laughter. The evening’s magic was punctuated by a special appearance from Yorta Yorta Taungurung Wiradjuri elder and artist Glennys Briggs and country musician Ian Muir. With live music and art filling every corner, the show was an all-encompassing, neon-drenched seduction of the senses.

What makes ‘Global Smash Club’ truly irresistible, however, is the bold individuality of its performers. Each act overflows with personality, effortlessly balancing artistic expression and unhinged absurdity. If you’ve got a good sense of humour and don’t mind a bit of provocation, this will do you just fine. As for me, the odd fish that I am, I felt right at home in the chaos – though it still got a few dropped jaws out of me! By the end, I left no less than obsessed and hopelessly in love with the beautiful madness of it all.

‘Global Smash Club’ has everything you never knew you needed – cabaret, karaoke, the possessed demonic spirit of Hello Kitty. It’s a lucky dip of performance art that can’t be pinned down, and you either get with it or get left behind. Defying reason and transcending both genre and gender, this show asks: why be normal when you can be gloriously indecent instead? It’s cheeky, saucy, and it’ll leave you soaking wet (literally).

As a passionate farewell to this year’s Melbourne’s Fringe Festival, ‘Global Smash Club’ is more than just a show; it’s a sweaty, sexy homage to a powerful movement that refuses to simply survive – it thrives in all its naked glory. Catch it this weekend only at Trades Hall – satisfaction guaranteed.

For further information on Finucane & Smith, please check out: https://www.finucaneandsmith.com/

Photographer: Max Roux

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Lizard People

4 April 202517 October 2024 Karen Yee

Lizard People Rating

★★★★★

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“Lizard People” is a light-hearted comedy by writer-director-producer Laura McKenzie that pokes fun at just about anything in pop culture. The interplanetary Lizard Conglomerate are planning the destruction of humans on earth. It does this by sending individual Lizard people to take over the bodies of prominent Earth leaders for short periods of time and getting them to do dumb things that sow discord. “Divide and conquer” is part of the mantra.

But the Conglomerate, lead by a virtual Lizzo, is an authoritarian regime and Shiv, our protagonist Lizard person, doesn’t quite fit in. Despite months in a remedial “performance management program”, he continues to be fascinated by human culture and has taken up knitting, journalling, listening to Grimes and reading Malcolm Turnbull’s biography in secret. Lizzo needs to test his allegiance and sends him on a mission to embody Elon Musk and to follow orders without question. Somehow they end up in Ballarat……

The strength of this play is in the casting and the quality of the performers in the ensemble. Elliot Wood shines as Shiv and is endearingly enthusiastic in his adventurous curiosity for all things human. They are joined by Clover Blue (Tony) and Georgia Barron (Tiff) his siblings. Their banter is fun to watch and the characterisations are playful and engaging.

The strength of this play is in the casting and the quality of the performers in the ensemble. Elliot Wood (Shiv), Clover Blue (Tony) and Georgia Barron (Tiff) are the Lizard People who are also triplets. Their sibling banter is fun to watch and the characterisations are playful and engaging.

Bridie Pamment (also assistant director) shows her comedic range as TV journalist, voice of Lizzo and Elon Musk’s partner, Grimes. In the human world, Blue and Barron also play childhood friends from Ballarat who are now sharing a house. There’s a lovely chemistry in their relationship.

Each actor is a pleasure to watch, as individuals and as ensemble members, fully at home on stage and in each character they played. I would love to see more of them!

There is a multi-media element to the show, with film projections by Park Avenue Media supporting scenes and scene changes. Shiv’s transformations from Lizard to human and back were filmed and feature Wood’s movement skills. The set (Jessamine Moffett) and costume changes were minimal and therefore highly effective for the fast-paced scene changes which were well supported by light (Kate Kelly) and sound (Olivia McKenna) design. The montage scene showing Elon, Grimes, Maz and Spider bonding as housemates brought all these elements together really well.

There was a light skimming over a lot of interesting ideas such as the nature of humanity, of power, of evil vs good, dictatorship vs democracy, romantic vs sibling love, poor vs rich, curiosity vs compliance. I would love to see a film version of this where some themes are explored more deeply and the stakes are higher for all involved.

But in the meantime, enjoy the fun of “Lizard People” playing at the Meat Market Stables till October 21!

For tickets, book @ https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/lizard-people/

For further information about Laura McKenzie, please check: https://www.lauramckenzie.site/

Photography: Tom Noble

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Colin Ebsworth – Me, My Cult & I: Bold Storytelling

4 April 20259 October 2024 Megan Davis

Colin Ebsworth – Me, My Cult & I Rating

★★★★★

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Colin Ebsworth’s show at the Melbourne Fringe Festival was held at the Trades Hall, the festival’s bustling hub. The show, titled Colin Ebsworth – Me, My Cult & I, takes the audience on an intense, multi-layered journey through Ebsworth’s life, family, and the cult that brought them together.

Ebsworth was raised in a South Korean-led religious movement, the Unification Church, commonly called the Moonies. In the 1980s, Reverand Moonie, a man who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, married Ebsworth’s parents at a mass wedding in Madison Square Garden. From this extraordinary beginning, Colin unfolds a complex and deeply personal story.

With a mix of rapid-fire storytelling, music, and a PowerPoint presentation, Ebsworth passionately recounts growing up in a cult and grappling with undiagnosed ADHD. There’s a lot to unpack here, and while the show was sometimes overwhelming with its myriad storylines, it was also packed with poignant moments and humour.

Ebsworth’s narrative darts between his parents’ arranged marriage, their move from the US to Australia, and the emotional isolation they experienced due to the cult’s restrictive nature. The disconnection from his father’s family in Perth because they weren’t part of the church added layers of complexity to the story.

The show isn’t just about the cult, though. It’s about belief systems, family dynamics, and the ongoing search for identity and hope.

Ebsworth’s delivery is fast-paced and almost breathless, and as an audience member, you need to be fully attentive or risk missing important details. It’s a challenging ride that feels meaningful, as different sections of the story will resonate with different people. The overarching theme does emerge: while we can’t undo the past, we can still move forward.

There’s no doubt that Colin is a gifted storyteller. Still, his choice to cover so many intricate layers made it hard to resolve everything cleanly. That said, his passion and energy kept the audience engaged throughout. It’s the kind of show that leaves you with much to think about and will spark conversation afterwards. I’d like to see how this performance evolves in the future as Colin continues to live and tell his story.

Overall, it’s an insightful and enjoyable show full of witty observations and heartfelt reflections. It’s definitely worth checking out if you enjoy performances that make you think and challenge your perceptions.

For tickets, book @ https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/colin-ebsworth-me-my-cult-i/

Dates 09 – 13 Oct – Time 7:00pm, 6:00pm (60 minutes)

For further information about Colin Ebsworth, please follow: https://linktr.ee/colinebsworth

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