FRINGEWORLD 2023 | Run by Stephen Laughton | 4 Stars

Review | Laura Money

And then all I can see is YOU

So speaks Yonni, a young British and Jewish man, whenever things get overwhelming. Ben Stuart gives a solo performance as seventeen year old Yonni, telling his story in a non-linear narrative that sometimes flickers and fades as our protagonist fails to process the events of his life. The humour and banter written into Yonni’s character bely his status as unreliable narrator and more and more facts creep in as the story progresses. Run by Stephen Laughton is a sharply written piece that uses the actor against himself – imbibing the script with small clues that are overshadowed by Yonni’s affable nature and banter. It’s a piece that could have benefitted by a British accent as it’s so deeply rooted in a particular culture of Jewish Britain, although Stuart’s pronunciation is impeccable.

Gavin Roach‘s direction is impressive – he has Stuart navigate different temporal zones and headspaces through particular movements on stage. Utilising a soccer ball as a stand in for his great love, and using different levels such as crouching, sitting, and angles Roach creates a dynamic environment that almost mimics Yonni’s headspace. While the rhythm of speech and inflection could be more nuanced, Stuart is a master at using his body to truly demarcate each scene. Stuart moves his body in the rhythm of each scene – shy smile creeping over his face as he hugs himself in simulation of a lover’s embrace, desperation as he pushes against nothing when attempting to help a beached whale and running, running, running. He does these amazing slow motion movements, thrusting his hands to the sky with an openness and willingness to soar – it’s mesmerising in the muted, Venus-like light and seeing Stuart’s face lit up with the elation of self-induced freedom is an unforgettable moment in theatre.

You can run to see the show at The Jonesway Theatre until 19th February 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

FRINGEWORLD 2023 | Japanese Worry by Takashi Wakasugi | 4.5 Stars

Review | Laura Money

Oh my goodness – if you haven’t seen Japanese comedian Takashi Wakasugi yet, then what are you waiting for? Stop reading this review and book your tickets! Ok, have you done that? Great – you’re in for a treat. Wakasugi is so funny! He has an offbeat style of humour that is deeply rooted in Japanese culture – hence the name Japanese Worry. Wakasugi assures us that Japanese worry is markedly different to any other kind of worry. It’s a deep overthinking of trivial things like being judged for buying caged eggs when all the free range ones have sold out. Or whether the tree that was turned into toilet paper perhaps had other paper aspirations, like the beautiful paper on a passport. Wakasugi’s approach to life is hilarious, he also happily makes fun of himself for constantly apologising to things like the plumbing on the third floor of his apartment complex and the Homebrand products that he uses to disguise his caged eggs in the shopping trolley.

Wakasugi has a casual yet restrained manic air to his delivery style. Part laconic, and part frenzied he immediately puts you at ease with his bizzare observations. I have never thought of vaping as a redundant option B to smoking before but there you go. His hilarious grappling with the English language points out how absolutely ridiculous it is – and the musings about elephant trunks and pizza sandwiches is an absolute riot. Japanese Worry is a gentle ribbing, an observational show with a twist and an affable, funny comedian. Wakasugi is not crude but his comedy is powerful and will have you a bit worried about weird things afterwards but that’s his charm.

You can find more things to worry about at The Laugh Resort, SHOE Bar until 19th February 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

FRINGEWORLD 2023 | Werk It | 4 Stars

Review | Laura Money

You better work! And believe me, the crew from Circus Trick Tease absolutely do just that. They work you into a frenzy, they work at all their tricks but ultimately they Werk It as a brilliantly coordinated ensemble. Brainchild of Malia Walsh the whole thing leans in to different work culture and Aussie boganism. Bursting out onstage the five amazing acrobats have enough energy to power Perth for the whole festival! They start strong with a ‘werk out’ full 80s aerobics gear and high ponytails bouncing along with every impressive trick.

Strongwoman Cassia Jameison is impressively funny when juggling an office desk on her feet – the ‘at werk’ sketch is cheeky and there’s something oddly sexy about Jamieson bouncing the desk on her feet while in office attire. Next is the ‘men at werk’ section where hi vis and construction work rule. Walsh is the bogan Jesus, annointing the audience with Vegemite and scaling heights to reach a keg of beer. The whole aero routine is hilarious and jaw-dropping. Lisa Lottie brings her iconic hula hoop routine to the big top, perky and peppy in aerobics gear. Her skills are so strong you’ll lose count of how many hoops she’s swirling at any given time. Finally, Vincent van Berkel shows off his amazing juggling skills and stuns with a phenomenally hilarious trapeze act. Circus Trick Tease are a fun and talented circus crew who provide a bit of everything. They know how to entertain! Werk It is strongest when they work together and the sensationally swinging finale will keep you on the edge of your seat.

You can check out the Werk It crew at The Pleasure Garden until 19th February 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

FRINGEWORLD 2023 | A Southern Fairytale | 5 Stars

Review | Laura Money

Expertly performed by Ty Autry, A Southern Fairytale tells the story of Alex – a young gay man and his youth growing up in the South, USA. We all know the stereotypes, but Autry rips off the lid of conservative Christian life and how going against the grain is more than taboo. Framing the story around the idea of a fairytale, Alex introspectively writes his narrative, hoping he will finally get a happy ending. Autry is phenomenal as Alex – he never falters and pierces the audience with an intense look, as if he is really seeing you. Declaring his romanticism of the fairytale genre, he adopts a wistful tone when trying to weave his childhood and stories of princesses and dragons together. This motif is revisited in a clever punctuation of a fairly harrowing story. There are melodramatic reactions to coming out, so much so that Alex went in and out of the closet about three times, moving schools, excommunication, and desperate clinging to devilry as Alex and his family navigate his identity. Parts of this are hard to watch – Autry elicits empathy in every glance, ruefully smiling while gently welling up as he relives the pain – horrible memories viscerally returning as he opens up his heart.

A Southern Fairytale makes you say ‘I thought I knew.’ Each revelation of horrendously toxic and baffling behaviour that is exposed cuts you deeper and deeper. Autry is endearing, laughing at himself while sarcastically declaring it was a ‘shocker’ that he was gay with a hilarious head waggle and limp wrist. Whether it’s the years of closeted behaviour or brilliant acting, it really isn’t until he puts on these affectations – a bit of a caricature – that Autry presents as being gay. He speaks in a restrained and resigned fashion, only letting loose when forced to relive the anger he felt at the frankly fucked up therapy sessions, excommunication and interventions, and disowning from his father. In perhaps the most poignant scene, Alex has an epiphany of his own – finally turning his back on the people who no longer serve him, he comes confidently into his own identity, proudly bearing his scars but not being defined by them. And he lived happily ever after to tell his story.

You can search for Prince Charming at The Jonesway Theatre until 19th February 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

FRINGEWORLD 2023 | Jeromaia Detto: MUSH | 4 Stars

Review | Laura Money

If you thought you were getting a boring and straight night of stand-up comedy in MUSH then you are at the wrong show, my friends! Jeromaia Detto is an absolutely hilarious sketch comedy expert – and MUSH features a series of solo sketches in which Detto throws himself full pelt. It’s a raucous hour of completely bonkers comedy that will have you laughing long after you’ve left the venue. Detto is a total clown – messing about with his unique sense of humour and getting the audience involved from forming a mime big band to running a biplane’s engine with the power of our humming I’m pretty sure there will not be anyone he doesn’t interact with. Each of the sketches are a combination of surreal and hilarious – he plays a temperamental fashion photographer, a man who gives his heart away in the form of beach balls, and keeps the audience on their toes.

Detto is naturally funny – in every gesture and movement there’s a cheeky twinkle in his eye. The sketches are bizarre and fun, totally clean and really out there. When Detto asks to put on a play he wrote, things take a turn and the comedy is turned up to 100! The play is hilarious, incorporating earlier sketches and his mouthing along the words like the worst of your drama teachers who just devised a little something is classic comedy. Detto will have you in absolute stitches, even if you are scratching your head wondering what you just witnessed. I’ll tell you what it was – the inner workings of a whacky funny man!

You can turn your brain to mush at the Liberty Theatre until 19th February 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.