Kate Norquay
Oddacity is delightful, hysterical, and ridiculous. The show is a collection of circus, cabaret, and comedy sketches, each more silly than the last. It’s one of those shows that when you try to explain, you have to preface your description with ‘it sounds stupid but…’. Oddacity is the definitive ‘you had to be there’ show, and you do not want to miss out.
Oddacity’s cast is made up of three unlikely superstars. First up: a seedy Las Vegas rock and roller with a bad toupé and impressive circus skills played by Vinyl Burns. Then Trent Baumann, dressed like a budget magician in a shiny silk black suit with gelled mohawk. Finally Sachie Mikawa as a trumpet-playing clown, celebrating her birthday. Oh, and there’s also a cameo of an egg, also played by Mikawa. Together, they craft a show that is both an entry in the circus genre, and a satirisation of it. From moment to moment you can never be sure if you’re going to be gasping in genuine awe at impressive balancing acts or groaning at terrible dad jokes. At one point Baumann threatens to do a backflip off a stool - will he do it? Or is it the lead up to a joke? This is the kind of show where either could happen - you never know what to expect.
I am impressed by the show's ability to drift between genuine circus and satire. It shows a real mastery of tone. There is never that awkward moment - Uh, do they want me to laugh or clap here? The cast's easy rapport with the audience means that they can guide us through the scene, and the interaction was part of the fun.
There is one scene that seems a bit out of place, a sombre trumpet solo which is not really funny or circusy. It slows down the pace of the show, and to me was the one piece of the jigsaw that didn’t fit.
Oddacity is hysterically funny. My personal favourite scene is a soft toy fight, which was exactly what it sounds like. There is something so liberating about throwing a stuffed elephant at a group of international award-winning comics. I know, it sounds stupid, BUT I was crying with laughter. It was the way you laugh when you’re eight years old, high on sugar, sliding down the stairs on a rubbish bag. There’s nothing witty about it, no nuance, just pure silliness and joy. It’s not often that you get to feel such giddy delight as an adult, and this is an unexpected pleasure that I wish entertainment gave us more often.
Despite its silliness, Oddacity is a well crafted show. In sketch shows it’s easy to forget about transitions, as you treat the scenes as separate pieces. However, Oddacity makes the transitions into part of the joke. Purposely mishandled lighting cues, and clumsy movement of the set mean that the laughter doesn’t stop when the performers leave the stage.
Also, Oddacity does feel like it’s over very quickly, partly because time flies when you’re having fun, but also because it’s a 40 minute show rather than the advertised 60 minutes. I would have loved them to use the full time, as I wasn’t ready for it to be over.
Oddacity is super silly, super fun, and something that you need to experience to understand. This is a show for anyone who wants to experience some childlike delight all while laughing their arse off.
Oddacity is on at Bats Theatre, March 8-10, at 9pm.
I am impressed by the show's ability to drift between genuine circus and satire. It shows a real mastery of tone. There is never that awkward moment - Uh, do they want me to laugh or clap here? The cast's easy rapport with the audience means that they can guide us through the scene, and the interaction was part of the fun.
There is one scene that seems a bit out of place, a sombre trumpet solo which is not really funny or circusy. It slows down the pace of the show, and to me was the one piece of the jigsaw that didn’t fit.
Oddacity is hysterically funny. My personal favourite scene is a soft toy fight, which was exactly what it sounds like. There is something so liberating about throwing a stuffed elephant at a group of international award-winning comics. I know, it sounds stupid, BUT I was crying with laughter. It was the way you laugh when you’re eight years old, high on sugar, sliding down the stairs on a rubbish bag. There’s nothing witty about it, no nuance, just pure silliness and joy. It’s not often that you get to feel such giddy delight as an adult, and this is an unexpected pleasure that I wish entertainment gave us more often.
Despite its silliness, Oddacity is a well crafted show. In sketch shows it’s easy to forget about transitions, as you treat the scenes as separate pieces. However, Oddacity makes the transitions into part of the joke. Purposely mishandled lighting cues, and clumsy movement of the set mean that the laughter doesn’t stop when the performers leave the stage.
Also, Oddacity does feel like it’s over very quickly, partly because time flies when you’re having fun, but also because it’s a 40 minute show rather than the advertised 60 minutes. I would have loved them to use the full time, as I wasn’t ready for it to be over.
Oddacity is super silly, super fun, and something that you need to experience to understand. This is a show for anyone who wants to experience some childlike delight all while laughing their arse off.
Oddacity is on at Bats Theatre, March 8-10, at 9pm.
