It’s a compelling story to begin with, make no mistake. Franzi (April Albert) tells her story of being a teenager in Berlin in 1989, present in the days before the Berlin Wall was about to come down. Alas, with an age of freedom and enlightenment surely about to be brought forth, Franzi hit her head and fell into a coma. Waking now in 2017, she tries to reconcile what marvels the present day holds with her vision of hope & optimism held onto for over 20 years.
After some burger-related shenanigans (a nice bit of foreshadowing), the audience are lead into the space, essentially a long corridor where they are seated in traverse. There’s a shrine to Franzi’s past at one end, and what’s nice about April’s writing and performance is how, as things progress, this turns from a totem into a memorial.
To be sure, some elements didn’t quite work. The audience interaction (particular with the small ticker-tape prompts) was haphazard at best, but to involve an audience is to risk a stilted response. That said, what was commendable was how April never let her commitment waver – even in face of two audience members more concerned with keeping up a near-constant conversation instead of engaging with the show.
It was an entertaining hour. At the end, April alluded to the fact this was the first outing for the show. While it certainly felt raw in places, it was only in a way that felt inspiring. Go see it.
The Wart on my Breast (Brustwarz)
Aeso Studio, 83 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Performance: Saturday 1 April 2017 – 9.00pm
Season continues to 9 April 2017
Information and Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au
Image: April Albert (supplied)
Review: David Collins