Adelaide Fringe

Fringe Review: Tales of an Urban Indian

This play written by Indigenous Canadian comedian Darrell Dennis is a complex story of prejudice and poverty

2.5

Presented by Tift in association with Hartstone-Kitney Productions
Reviewed 28 February 2020

This play written by Indigenous Canadian comedian Darrell Dennis is a complex story of prejudice and poverty better suited to a more conventional staging. For any performance  a bus is less than ideal but especially for a confronting story which can make the audience feel uncomfortable.

The solo performer, Brendan Chandler was energetic and totally engaged but was thwarted by the situation in many instances. As he moved around the bus, he became difficult to hear at times and for the most part at least half of the audience only had a partial view. I wonder if the director, Herbie Barnes was aware of the performance space made available for this production.

The story itself is an interesting and candid look at a lifestyle many of us are unfamiliar with but covers many problems that are common in other countries and communities, including ours. Chandler has a strong presence and deserves a better venue to tell his tale.

Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds

Rating out of 5: 2.5

Venue: Bus Stop at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Season: 15Feb – 1 Mar

Duration: 90 mins
Tickets: $28

Bookings: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/tales-of-an-urban-indian-by-darrell-dennis-af2020

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