Making its debut at the Off Broadway Hub – Turner Theatre, as part of the 2024 Sydney Fringe Festival, Definitely NOT A Hungry Game: A Parody Musical by Dramafreak Productions is a terrific example of fringe festival fare with boundless amounts of absurdity, drama and musical hilarity.
Co-created by Freya Moore and Robbie Alexander, who also directs, this show features 18 original songs and a talented cast that brings a comedic twist to the beloved Hunger Games franchise. Originally conceived as a one-hour showcase for the Oxford Cabaret Festival, the show has now evolved into a full two-hour extravaganza
With musical direction by Alana Willetts and choreography by Nala Davies, Alexander has assembled a stellar cast of emerging talent that brilliantly combines plenty of humour and pop culture references, with vibrant performances.
Inspired by the HG reality format, complete with contestants’ loved ones observing in a Gogglebox style set-up, the ensemble cast is superbly matched, playing off each other with infectious energy. Standout portrayals include a bogan Gale, a humorously off-named Prim, an alcoholic mother, and a delightfully goofy Rue.
With its clever mix of District 12 meets RuPaul’s Drag Race, and a nod to Australiana, the show is a jubilant celebration of the genre’s source material. While the show could benefit from a slightly shorter running time and some tweaking with the audio setup, these minor issues can be easily fixed.
More than lending itself to a niche audience, Definitely Not a Hungry Game is well worth seeing for its unique blend of music and humour. The fun and laughs are guaranteed!
Definitely NOT A Hungry Game: A Parody Musical
Off Broadway Hub – Turner Theatre, 19 Mary Ann Street, Ultimo (Sydney)
Performance: Wednesday 4 September 2024
Season continues to 8 September 2024
Information and Bookings: www.sydneyfringe.com
Image: The Cast of Definitely NOT A Hungry Game: A Parody Musical – courtesy of Dramafreak Productions
Review: Brett Thomas