Mitch Jones’s body is a walking canvas. Tattoos cover nearly every visible inch of skin. His striking multi-coloured mohawk adds the perfect finishing touch. Before the show even begins, you know this performer has literally put himself on the line for his art.
Our adventure starts at a North Adelaide street corner. A growing crowd waits nervously. Suddenly, a punk clown in a miniskirt appears. He blares punk music from a portable speaker. His companion – a silent figure in baggy overalls – wears a disturbingly scary full-head mask. They lead us to our secret venue.
“Clown” is Mitch Jones, a NIDA graduate and creative director of Oozing Future. Chloe Fazikas performs his silent partner “Ghost.” Together, they deliver what they’ve branded “Alt-Circus.”
This isn’t your childhood circus. It’s raw, experimental, and provocative. Traditional clowning gets twisted through a punk aesthetic. Gritty subjects replace happy-go-lucky entertainment.
Through increasingly daring acts and vulnerable (wordless) confessions, we witness a self-destructive circus punk wrestling with his demons as he confronts the terrifying prospects of responsibility, maturity, and love.
The show’s crafty structure reveals both sides of performance. We watch a skit once from the audience’s perspective. Then we see how it works behind the scenes. It’s brilliantly meta. The simple outdoor set – just a ute, a curtain, and some props – transforms into a complex performance space.
I couldn’t help watching other audience members squirm. Clown delights in testing our comfort levels. He toys with the more squeamish viewers. When planes roar overhead (North Adelaide sits under a flight path), Jones acknowledges the first interruption, then professionally ignores the rest.
Clowning demands exceptional skill. The 90-minute runtime initially worried me. Could they hold our attention? The answer is a resounding yes. Both performers pace the show perfectly. They create moments of high drama followed by necessary rest. Time flies in their capable hands.
Want to discover just how far Mitch Jones will take his body for his art? There’s only one way to find out. This strange, chaotic journey into the mind of a circus punk isn’t for everyone. But for the adventurous, it’s an unforgettable ride.
Strange Chaos
Haus of Ooze @ North Adelaide
Performance: Thursday 6 March 2025 – 7.30 pm
Season continues to 16 March 2025
Information and Bookings: www.adelaidefringe.com.au
Image: Mitch Jones in Strange Chaos – photo by Georgia Moloney
Review: Daniel G. Taylor