Review: Rock Bang

Circus Oz is great. Everyone involved is unquestionably talented, plus they have commendable values (this show is devoted to diversity, compassion and human kindness). For Rock Bang, Circus Oz joined forces with German brother and sister musical-comedy duo Otto and Astrid, aka Die Roten Punkte. And therein lies the problem with this show. 

Rock Bang’s visual and sonic aesthetic is heavily indebted to American Idiot-era Green Day. All of the signifiers of capital-r Rock are here. The devil horns. Black and red tartan pants. Black and red everything. Your enjoyment of this show will hinge largely on how charming you find Otto and Astrid’s schtick, their asinine punk, sibling bickering and casual allusions to incest. 

The best moments of Rock Bang are when it’s pure circus. When a single performer is given the space to perform an act to which they’ve devoted monumental amounts of time and discipline. These are often familiar circus acts – juggling, trapeze, rope swinging, unicycling - elevated to dazzling heights. One bakery-set scene advances the plot, nicely integrates Otto and Astrid with the acrobats and includes some of the best juggling and plate-spinning imaginable. This is what we go to the circus for. But too often the convoluted narrative and half-baked songs get in the way of what Circus Oz excels at. Too much of the show involves highly-skilled acrobats simply dancing to Otto and Astrid’s songs. 

The best songs are the ones which stray from rock. An acoustic song lonely little Otto sings solo is lovely. A touching David Bowie tribute manages to pay homage while tiptoeing carefully to avoid copyright infringement. With their excellent backing band, performers and lighting, Circus Oz is capable of conjuring any mood at the drop of a hat. It’s a shame to see that talent and versatility directed at telling Otto and Astrid’s life story, which, while interesting, probably shouldn’t be the basis of a two-hour circus show. 

In this bizarrely paced production, some songs drag on too long, while crucial parts of the story are glossed over entirely. Within the space of two minutes, Otto and Astrid transform from literally not knowing how to hit a hi-hat to performing well-rehearsed songs for a bunch of enthusiastic fans who know every word. Isn’t this show about the formation of a rock band? 

The target audience of the show is also confusing. There is some juvenile humour that would be most enjoyed by kids excluded by the 13+ age restrictions. The show’s nadir is a troubling depiction of a rehabilitation center, complete with straight-jackets and maniacal shrieking. You might think, It’s the circus! It’s meant to be fun and irreverent! Unfortunately, it’s not funny. It’s also at odds with the progressive values of Circus Oz. How was this approved and agreed upon by everyone involved? Incidentally, there is an inspired piece of physical comedy in this scene, but it could have been transplanted into any number of contexts. 

The backing band is superb and the absurdly talented acrobats are all fully committed, but this show is not the best use of the surplus of artistry onstage. Because it bears repeating: Circus Oz is great. But this show still falls short. 

Circus Oz presents Rock Bang until 25 Nov at Malthouse Theatre.