The Melbourne Fringe Festival
The Lithuanian Club, North Melbourne
Reviewed on September 28, 2012
In 1991, the American actress, Lily Tomlin, debuted a revolutionary new one – woman Broadway play. In it, she smashed the traditional joke – telling, punch line – driven formula perfected by previous generations of stand – up comics.
Exploring the many quirks and absurdities of modern existence, The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in The Universe, was an award – winning collaboration with her long-time writing partner, Jane Wagner.
Tomlin spoke through a dozen personalities ranging from a desperate housewife sneaking her kids’ ADHD medication, an angry teen punk rebel without a cause, a world – weary activist exhausted by the ‘me generation’, and a bag lady who talked to aliens from outer space.
An immediate success, spectators identified with these lost souls somehow disenfranchised from society, but able to find a way home on their own terms. Fusing her poignant tales with gentle humour, Tomlin raised the blueprint to new and exciting heights.
Her work also allowed and inspired other artists such as Mike Birbiglia (Sleepwalk With Me), Emo Phillips (E=mo²) and Australia’s Frank Woodley (Bemusement Park) to build their own acts around a similar structure.
Seemingly without plots, these shows were in fact highly complex adventures that broke the fourth wall and encouraged viewers to join in for the ride.
With audiences integral to the ebb and flow of his own performance process, Vachel Spirason takes that precious relationship and cranks it up hundred crazy notches.
A sell – out hit at the recent 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Truth (co-written and produced with Stephanie Brotchie) makes a glorious return as part of the current Fringe program season line – up.
Without giving too much of this highly original game away, Spirason slowly unfurls a fantastic story about meeting a naked man in the Auckland wilderness called Preston Faux, and how he comes to be in possession of Faux’s prized Woolworths cold bag.
For 60 jam – packed minutes, Spirason slips in and out of delightful character.
Meanwhile, he keeps track of possible friends (or not) via a whiteboard placed to the side of the stage. Throwing a further spanner into the mix, Spirason fights random bell – induced black – outs, somehow under the spell of a mysterious plasma lamp.
Such choreographed schizophrenia has never been nuttier or more laughter – inducing. While walking the high – wire, Truth fearlessly breaks the rules and boundaries of conventional theatre left and right. This is truly an absurdist theatre sports Olympic experience that defies description.
Seemingly a master and slave to both his mind and body, Spirason’s physical commitment to some brilliant creations is astounding. Even his lustrous head of hair takes on a life of its own.
They include a cross – eyed Czechoslovakian chess champion, one half of a famous figure skating couple, a hillbilly hayseed, and last but not least, Juan, a frenetic flamenco performer with a taste for chilli and a hot – blooded ego to match.
Spirason is a one man Marx Brothers, Mr Bean, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Steve Martin and Jerry Lewis, all squeezed up into one. With ingredients of cabaret, dance and clowning added to the exploits, there is truly something for everyone.
Don’t be afraid of surrendering to the madness. In return, you will be rewarded with refreshing, non – stop hilarity that comes thick and fast.
Image Source: The Music