Bizarre but sweet adult physical comedy
Reviewed at Gluttony on 28 February 2019
Presented by Simon Wright
Simon Wright brings a new sense of comedy and physical theatre to the Bally at Gluttony for his Adelaide Fringe show Totally Plucked.
The guests are welcomed by Wright’s alter ego grandmother character with snacks, walking frame, hunch and all before being led into the venue for the warm up act of bingo, audience participation and the sly sexual humour that this style of character could get away with.
The grandmother character is wiped away for the birthing, in a bizarrely hilarious and visual sense, of the main chicken character. The semi nudity and feathers combined with the circus acts bring a high energy component to the overall show.
In many ways Totally Plucked represents what is at the heart of Fringe shows. The show consisted of a mix of experimental work that blends together established comedy genres and performance styles, which work together to produce a raw and physically engaging show.
Some elements of the show had an untested edge to them, such as how the show works in a venue the size and shape of the Bally. However, Wright is a proficient entertainer and circus performer who successfully worked any minor flaw or broken prop into the show. He adapted swiftly to this and the reactions of the audience, almost instantly falling back on the established character quirks which provided the underlying consistency of the show.
Wright was supported on stage through the supportive and efficient work of the Bally production assistants who bounced off Wright’s charismatic stage presence to create a natural movement through some of the rougher aspects of the show.
Simon Wright might be better known as Zap in Hoopla Doopla, but what he brings in Totally Plucked is a fun show that is definitely for adults only.
Reviewed by Alex Dunkin
Twitter: @AlexDunkin
Venue: Gluttony – The Bally
Season: 28th Feb – 3rd March 2019
Duration: 60 mins
Tickets: $19.50 – $25.00
More News
