Frehd The Clown: Stripped Bare (MICF)

As has been said countless times before, the clown cries on the inside. The tears of a clown may be a bit of a cliche, but in Frehd The Clown's case, her show is all about what happens beneath the greasepaint and red nose.

Stripped Bare is a touching yet earnest insight into a woman who has turned her life around. Sex, drugs and forward rolls, Frehd The Clown has seen it all and has had a hell of a journey to reach this moment of catharsis. She is more open about her past than most would dare be with a close confidant, let alone a room full of strangers, but she is capable of transmuting those traumatic aspects of her past into pure comedic joy.

Frehd's energy is off the charts, even without the uppers she once indulged in, and Stripped Bare sees circus skills and comedy collide in a very adult explosion of vulnerability and resilience.

Frehd is a bit of an anomaly as far as her persona is concerned. From the outset, it would appear that much of what is seen on stage has been written, but there are still moments that feel untamed and spontaneous. As one of those "couldn't make this stuff up" types, her life has been bombarded by such a multitude of bizarre events - some good, some bad - that her personal outlook has been weathered into something entirely unique.

Stripped Bare has more heart than it knows what to do with, and while it's difficult at times, it is ultimately a truly inspiring tale. Aspects of the performance drag on a little too long to hit the right spot, but Frehd The Clown has faced worse than some off-kilter pacing. It may be challenging, it may be raw, but in its own way, Stripped Bare is beautifully courageous, and surely that's enough.

Frehd The Clown presents Stripped Bare till 23 Apr at the Imperial Hotel, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.