Adelaide Fringe

The Problem With Evil – Adelaide Fringe 2011

Presented by Fish for Brains
Reviewed Thursday 3 March 2011

http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au
http://www.fishforbrains.net

Venue: Iris Cinema, via Mercury Cinema, Lion Arts Centre, 13 Morphett St, Adelaide
Season: 6, 13 Mar at 6pm, 3-5, 10-12 Mar at 8pm, 4-5, 11-12 Mar at 10pm
Tickets: $25.00/$15.00
Duration: 60 mins
Bookings: FringeTix 1300 FRINGE (374 643) or http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au

It must be said from the outset that if you are easily offended or distressed you should avoid this show at all costs. Leon Ewing’s multimedia rant, In Defense of Convenience, is a no-holds-barred, comedic slap in the face for humanity.

Utilising puppetry, multimedia, song and dance, this ‘de-motivational’ seminar provides Key Indicators for the evils of the world and the coming economic Armageddon. Ewing is Evil, wearing a skeletal mask and delivering his message with wit and pointed observation that sometimes lends itself to laughter and at other times borders on extreme discomfort.

Many references are current, from Japanese whaling and Cyclone Yasi to the recent turmoil in Egypt and the current Libyan uprising against Gaddafi. There are also more general references to the environment, domestic violence, heartbreak, internet dating and fishing. Ewing even goes so far as to provide an interpretive dance to a backdrop of the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York on 9 September 2001.

The disturbing multimedia elements are actually quite effective throughout the show but Ewing’s delivery can do with quite a bit of tightening. There are an annoying number of “umms” and hesitant pauses. His quirky puppetry, that features a fish called Bruce and a skeletal Elvis, are good. The puppets turn the monologue into a conversation where issues of love, identity, God and other evils are examined. His few songs are also notable, particular those he whispers the lyrics to.

The ultimate message of this show may be about our acceptance of evil through inaction or, as he says, the only way to save our planet is to kill ourself and everyone we know, but we won’t because we’re evil. It’s open to interpretation, and there’s plenty of food for thought. It’s a confrontational mind game that some will love and some will loathe so the question becomes, dare you challenge yourself?

Reviewed by Rod Lewis, Performing Arts Critic, Glam Adelaide.

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