Pisca is a charming-enough piece about an orphan’s struggle to survive his childhood and learn some lessons about life and community along the way. The only thing is this orphan is a duck.
His parents lost to a hunter, Pisca has no choice but to raise himself. Through movement and song he slowly comes to terms with his existence, before an opportunity arises for Pisca to face the man responsible for his being alone in the first place.
Cameron Taylor did a splendid job as Pisca in a committed performance. There’s something delightful about a young duck belting out big cabaret numbers. Admittedly, the story got unclear at times, the show getting muddled in places (sitting in the dark for four minutes listening to Pisca sing along to a poor karaoke version of The Beatles’ Blackbird was a misstep), but it was entertaining regardless.
The sound design was excellent and some of the physical touches – a light in an open umbrella, wrapping an audience member in tin foil to cook her and how the light of the ‘fire’ danced on that foil, the hunter’s laser scope, and all the feathers at the end – were also well done.
Solo shows are often a labour of love, the key word being labour. They’re hard work, and, to be sure, it pays off here. Cameron succeeds in keeping things light and relaxed with this amusing and unique piece of avian cabaret.
Pisca
Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Performance: Saturday 1 July 2017 – 5.00pm
Season: 1 & 2 July 2017
Information: www.melbournecabaret.com
Image: Cameron Taylor performs Pisca (supplied)
Review: David Collins