Stickybeak - Melbourne Fringe Festival 2023

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Posted 2023-10-07 by Mia Ferreira ⇒ follow

Every street needs a stickybeak... or twelve!

A comedy created and performed by Kimberley Twiner, Jessie Ngaio, Laura Trenerry and Patrick Dwyer; Stickybeak is what I imagine the TV show Neighbours would be like if it had been made by comedians...

Full of drama, conflict and laughs, the 60-minute show follows a range of characters who are neighbours - featuring an older couple with their rickety old corrugated fence, the rich and pretentious white picket fence family, and the boisterous family of four renting the run-down milk-crate and brick house, plus drop-in characters like Jarrod the backward cap wearing teen and Rod the retired vet and chicken owner - and a whole host of pets and animal...

In fact, the opening scene sees the actors singing the notes from a classical song (can't remember the name now) one by one, before joining together in chorus as they transform into birds, with some impressive and realistic cooing sounds and pecking actions. There are also a couple of dogs and cats and a chicken too.

But the standout animals for me were definitely the snails! I snort-laughed out loud when the first one came sliding out from behind one of the screens and I would have been more than happy for the rest of the show to just follow these slow-moving snails with their antennae fingers wiggling around.

The set was simple and effective; with three contrasting fences delineating the three homes. The costumes were also pared back in contrast to what's depicted in the show's promo photo. The acting and body movement was 5-stra, and character changes were seamlessly and cleverly executed; hilariously disguised with a random squawking chicken at one point. And the writing smoothly moved us between characters and storylines. Simple lighting, and no audio that I could remember.

A super fun show honouring the quiet and regular, but also not-so-quiet or regular, people of our suburban neighbourhoods - this is one Fringe show you don't want to miss!

Showing: on now, Wednesday - Sunday until 15 October
Times: 8pm Wednesday - Saturday, 3pm Saturday and 7pm Sunday.
Location: Festival Hub: Trades Hall - Quilt Room, Cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton, VIC, 3053
Tickets: $30 full, $20 concession
Book Now: [LINK https://.com.au/event/stickybeak/]