Calpurnia Descending

Sisters Grimm’s Calpurnia Descending explores society’s consumption of and fixation with celebrity culture, the feud between diva Beverley Dumont (Paul Capsis) and diva-in-waiting Violet St Clair (Ash Flanders) offering an allegory on how celebrities are created, destroyed and forgotten. Combining onstage action with live filming the work is a technical behemoth, albeit a very well executed one. The structure sees creators Ash Flanders and Declan Greene pay homage to the divas of yesteryear and offer their interpretation and critique on what the archetype has morphed into in its present form. The progression from a film noir parody to an epic explosion of neon drag is especially enjoyable. Matt Greenwood’s animations paying homage to dial-up Internet, 8-bit theme songs and everything between make the show. Capsis is excellent, delivering a performance that allows the audience to empathise and connect with the vulture-like but ultimately vulnerable Dumont. Furthermore, Sandy Gore delivers a stand-out performance as the sleazy mob boss producer. Ultimately, the work is jam-packed with truly bizarre and subversive moments, the highlight being a large rat appearing on stage to awkwardly dance to Baby Elephant Walk. Outstanding and as obnoxious as it is clever, Sisters Grimm should be congratulated on bringing theatre kicking and screaming into the present.

Malthouse Theatre to 30 Nov.