Adelaide Fringe

Fringe Review: Which-craft?

The ideas behind Which-craft? are brimming over with possibilities to satirise the now somewhat stale ideas we are offered on, the misnamed, ‘Reality TV’.

Does not live up to its potential
2

Reviewed at Holden Street Theatres on 26 February 2019

Presented by The Holden Street Theatres’ Adelaide Fringe Award in Assoc. with CCtheatreCo
Reviewed 26 February 2019

The ideas behind Which-craft? are brimming over with possibilities to satirise the now somewhat stale ideas we are offered on, the misnamed, ‘Reality TV’. CCtheatreCo took ideas such as being famous just because you’ve been on TV; or the back-biting and ill will between contestants; or the tricky deals between producers and celebrities and created a piece of musical theatre which did not live up to this potential.

Even allowing for opening night glitches such as late light cues and clumsy scene changes, overall the performance was flat – totally lacking in ‘oomph’. Three of the five actors could certainly sing and dance but barely any of them understood what acting requires. Plus much of the performance took place in relative darkness as the performers’ faces were often in shadow.

It’s not enough to recite your lines and move, at times with no discernable purpose, around the stage without tripping over the set. If only the company had put as much effort into some tight, sharp directing as they did into most of the costumes – by far the most interesting aspect of the performance.

And yet, even here, near enough was apparently good enough. The TV host wore a terrific bright yellow plastic wig, a dead ringer for the ‘gelled to within an inch of its life’ hairstyles so often seen on game shows hosts. But he appeared to be wearing someone else’s suit – someone who was both taller and wider than he was.

It may seem like a pedantic comment, but this ill fitting costume strikes me as a metaphor for the lack of polish of the whole performance. If you are going to ask people to pay money to see you perform, then the least they can expect is that the players know their lines, singers can actually sing and the show has been directed well enough to justify charging people to watch it.

Reviewed by Jan Kershaw

Venue:  The Arch at Holden Street Theatres, 34 Holden St, Hindmarsh
Season:  26 Feb to 10 March at 6.30pm, 8pm or 9.30pm (except Mondays)
Duration:  60 mins
Tickets:  $18.00 to $27.00 Concession $18.00

 

https://www.adelaidefringe.com.au

http://www.holdenstreettheatres.com/

https://www.cctheatreco.com/

 

 

 

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