Perth Fringe World Reviews: The Naked Magicians, Dave Hughes & More

Pussy Play Masterclass @ Casa Mondo at the Pleasure Garden

31 Jan

Led by former Miss Burlesque Australia, Strawberry Siren, the Pussy Play Masterclass is equal parts entertaining and informative. Dubbing herself the ‘Pussy Professor’, Siren sets the crowd at ease as she explains that the best way to learn is through play. After moulding handfuls of plasticine into the 'perfect pussy', she showcases a variety of techniques for playing with your partner’s - or even your own. Sure to bring in a mix of ages, couplings and the odd single, it’s a raucous hour of illuminating entertainment that just might teach everyone a thing or two. Caution: may cause flooding.

Tash Edge

Escape Room: The Speakeasy @ Escape Room at the Pleasure Garden

1 Feb

Thrust together with a group of strangers (unless you’re organised enough to plan for five or six friends to come along) in an early 1930s prohibition era speakeasy, it’s a race against the clock to hide all of the booze before you’re carted off to jail. By seeking clues and solving puzzles, more clues are presented until all of the tasks are complete and the room is considered ‘respectable’ again. The catch? You only have 45 minutes to do so. The puzzles are complex and cleverly constructed, and this exercise begs the question - would you have survived the prohibition? We sure didn’t.

Tash Edge

The Naked Magicians @ The Regal Theatre

1 Feb

Back on home soil after a few years abroad, the Naked Magicians, Mike and Christopher, present a magic show like no other. As the name suggests, much of the show is spent sans-clothes - couple this with a buttload of audience participation and you’ve got a recipe for one saucy show. Quick-witted and more than just a little bit dirty, the boys prove that they’ve got a few tricks up their sleeves (or lack thereof) and had everyone in the Regal positively mesmerised for the full hour. Think top hats - and nothing else. Tempted yet?

Tash Edge

Best of the Western Australian Circus Festival @ Big Top at the Pleasure Garden

2 Feb

It was a truly international affair as some of the top acts from the recent Western Australian Circus Festival in Margaret River charmed the audience in the Big Top on Friday night. From balancing acts and trapeze to diablos and juggling, it’s an exciting array of performances hosted by ‘Doc’ Brown’s doppelgänger (it’s the hair). Each act builds the suspense and wonder as they build on their tricks to eventually have the whole room cheering and rooting for more. It’s a bit of light-hearted fun that would suit all ages, so bring the kids along!

Tash Edge

Club Swizzle @ the Ice Cream Factory

2 Feb

As the crowd milled in and the actors kicked off the totally immersive experience, no-one quite knew what to expect at Club Swizzle on Friday night. Hosted by the very definition of fah-bu-lous, drag queen Reuben Kaye, there are hardly words for how impossibly good this show actually is. It’s sexy, it’s sassy, it’s naughty as hell and it’s a wild ride from start to finish. With cabaret and comedy, acrobatics and a hell of a lot of skin, the brand new show from the creators of La Soiree have outdone themselves with this one. Do yourself a favour and buy a ticket. Now.

Tash Edge

The Nasty Show @ The Craft - Beer & Cider Garden

3 Feb

Boasting a different lineup from across Fringe every night, the Nasty Show is not for the faint-hearted. Created and hosted by Perth local Jez Watts, each night is sure to cover off just about every offensive topic known to comedians. It’s filthy, it’s smutty, and it’s a safe space to laugh at the worst kinds of humour. Watts is a standout host, setting the perfect tone for the night as each comedian follows and delivers the filthiest material from each of their shows. It’s a night of easy fun for those of us who like a bit of controversial humour.

Tash Edge

AUDIOTHERAPY @ The Moon

3 Feb

The frank and honest nature of Audiotherapy would confront anybody unsuspecting or inexperienced with mental illness. Perth artist Sun-Mi Clyburn delves deep into her own past and understandings with depression, coping, loss and endless cycles of treatment in a compelling and impromptu storytelling set to turn the audience's mind to their own relation to the subject. Utilising stripped down musical intermissions throughout to help set the tone, Audiotherapy is interesting in its delivery but doesn’t feel as though it’s breaching any new ground either, unfortunately.

Mark Beresford

Dave Hughes: The Snorkeler @ Heath Ledger Theatre

3 Feb 2018

Grinning from ear-to-ear, Dave Hughes was just as pumped as the audience to get stuck into the final Perth Fringe performance of The Snorkeler. Creating comedy gold through hysterical anecdotes, Hughesy's set was largely made up of tales about his family, from his ninja kids to getting the snip. It wasn’t all family-friendly, though, with Hughes dishing up edgy punchlines from time to time that had the audience more than satisfied by the show’s end.

Aneta Grulichova

AAAAAAAARGH! It’s the best of UK Fringe Comedy @ Circus Theatre at Fringe Central

4 Feb

Featuring a different pick from across Fringe each night, the Best of UK Fringe Comedy provides a small taster of four well-seasoned acts to whet the appetite and give audiences a chance to try before they buy. These shows are always a hit if your group can’t quite decide what to see, as each act brings their best material for their short sets - so there’s something for every kind of humour. A standout from Sunday night’s show was Joey Page with his keen observational humour, thoughts that run a million miles an hour, and flaming pink suit.

Tash Edge

Simon Taylor Happy Times @ The Deluxe at the Pleasure Garden

4 Feb

A masterful voice of the millennial generation, Simon Taylor expertly combines clever and insightful humour into a true story of the possibility of accidentally becoming a father. Taylor’s delivery is impeccable as he brings a brand new show to Fringe this year, and despite the varying age group in the room on Sunday night, he was easily relatable to everyone and had the whole crowd in stitches from start to finish. There really isn’t anything to gripe with about Taylor’s show - except for the fact that he’s only playing until Friday. Do yourself a favour and get down to see him.

Tash Edge

Peter Helliar: Big Boy Pants @ Heath Ledger Theatre

4 Feb 2018

The Project’s Peter Helliar is always a barrel of laughs on our nightly television screen, and now, in the flesh, he had the crowd on his side within minutes of gracing the stage. Between sips of beer, he divulges on trips to the shops for toilet paper, aka sandpaper, and his funny interactions with very honest kids during his book tour for Frankie Fish. Helliar is a great comedian, however, at times throughout the show there were a few jokes were the laughter was minimal while at jokes about his anniversary present, a vasectomy, had everyone in stitches or grabbing their junk.

Aneta Grulichova