Adelaide Fringe

Fringe Review: Bisexual Intellectuals

A delightfully silly experience, which is a true embodiment of queer joy

A delightfully silly experience, which is a true embodiment of queer joy
5

Presented by: Millicent Sarre, Jemma Allen, Rosie Russell

Reviewed: 16 February, 2024

As someone who would consider themselves a bisexual intellectual, I was equal parts excited and nervous to experience this show. Though I am no stranger to the work of Mim Sarre (she/they) and had seen many of their wonderful shows in the past, there was a small part of me that was worried I was building this show up in my head. I could not have been more wrong. 

Bisexual Intellectuals is an absolute delight of a show. The trio of Mim, Jemma Allen (she/her), and Rosie Russell (she/they) have impeccable chemistry and comedic timing, and their banter is a major contribution to the biggest strength of this show: its tone. The best way to describe this show is delightfully silly, with number after number that will have you cackling in your seat. 

The comedy of the show is perfectly balanced with nuanced social commentary about bisexual stereotypes, ingrained prejudices, and the toxic side of the queer community. Masterfully, these commentaries don’t detract from the show’s lighthearted tone, and instead make the comedic scenes even funnier through a deeper level of understanding the life of a queer individual. As a queer person, I felt understood and seen by this show, and that is not an easy thing to achieve. 

For a show centered on the experience of a bisexual identifying person, there was also an appreciated level of nuance and understanding of their limited perspectives. The trio were all too ready to poke fun at their limited experience from three white perspectives, and the feminism that was deeply ingrained in the foundation of this show was deliberately intersectional. 

With the trio utilising their professional theatre training through numbers filled with tapping, and even some Irish dance, the physicality of this show blended seamlessly with the absurd, pun-filled comedic moments. Personally, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the image of Jemma perfectly embodying the Bi-Erasure Eraser, and I’m glad of it. 

There is no reason to not run to get tickets to this wonderful show, it isn’t one to miss. The final thought that struck me as we all left the tent truly sums up the experience of seeing this show: it is the embodiment of queer joy.

Reviewed by Tielah-Jade Cannon (she/her)

Photo credit: Kieran Humphreys

Venue: The Kingfisher at Gluttony
Season: Fri 16 Feb – Sun 25 Feb
Duration: 60 min
Tickets: $23 – $31
Bookings: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/bisexual-intellectuals-af2024

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