Presented by Prying Eye Productions
Reviewed 21 February 2018
This is a show that re-imagines the idea of fearing the Big Bad Wolf within today’s anxiety-provoking society, approachably discussing mental illness in a way never before seen.
The Inquisition of the Big Bad Wolf sees a mixture of elements such as comedy, contemporary dance, physical performance and theatre combine together to create an unusual, yet interesting, interpretation of anxiety within the demanding world of modern society. From panic attacks and constant lethargy, to an overwhelming fear of participating in life – the show approaches the topic broadly and interprets many situations through the use of creative mediums.
There are some wonderful moments of humour within the show that have the audience in stitches due to the cast’s thorough dedication to their rather unusual roles and characters. At first the performance has light-hearted, comedic vibes, similar to those of Fawlty Towers (where anything that could go wrong, does) and those involved are not giving their full attention to their performance (actors rocking up late on their phones, wearing socks when they’re not supposed to be). From there, however, the show starts to delve deeper into mental illness, the pressures of society and fear culture, and the more serious undertones begin to come to light.
The quality of the performances is outstanding, with all three performers giving it their all. Their dance skills are high quality and demonstrate years of training, combined with imaginative choreography that produces bold moments of contemporary dance.
Adelaide expats (now currently residing in Brisbane) and creative duo, Lizzie and Zaimon Vilmanis, who both star in the show, as well as being major players in its creation, bring over 20 years of global arts expertise to the performance, in collaboration with the very talented up-and-comer, Charles Ball. The Vilmanis pairing are also the directors of Prying Eye Productions, which is well known for its physical, emotional and cognitive fullness, and has had rave reviews from the audience for its last show, Porcelain Doll.
For those who want to witness something truly different, The Inquisition of the Big Bad Wolf is the perfect show to experience a mixture of varying performance styles, that will leave the audience ruminating on its serious themes long after the performance and humour has ended.
Reviewed by Georgina Smerd
Twitter: @Georgie_xox
Rating out of 5: 3.5
Venue: Tandanya Theatre at Live from Tandanya, 253 Grenfell St, Adelaide, SA, 5001
Season: 21 Feb – 4 March
Duration: 60 mins
Tickets: $15 – $25
Bookings: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-inquisition-of-the-big-bad-wolf-af2018
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