Pummel Squad describe themselves as an “experimental theatre collective”. For their Melbourne Fringe show Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, they’ve written a blurb sparkling with silliness, and they breezily deliver on that promise.
Referencing Jules Verne’s sci-fi adventure novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (1871) in a show title seems to set up a sizeable challenge. Pummel Squad are wise to scuttle any expectations of something like Captain Nemo’s “Nautilus” here: “If we could afford a submarine this show would be a lot better, but we’ll have to make do with junk.”
This is an adventure story, after a fashion. Whilst it uses some ideas from Verne’s tale, it has some distinctive differences. We would spend most of our time with our protagonist, Rasthomus Bulge.
Stripped of any personality quirks by his private school years, he has a solid job in selling sportscars. He makes good money, as do his kids in their serious professions. Yet, Mr Bulge loves music, and now feels a desire more adventure in his life. This would spring from a most unexpected source …
It is this surprise, and others, that make the work so enjoyable. Mostly responsible for these were performers Harry McGee and Cooper Donald McDonald. Often one would relate chapters from Mr Bulge’s story, whilst the other piloted transparent sheets on an overhead projector to create action on various backgrounds.
Often to the side, Yanto Shortis provided sound effects and musical accompaniment that contributed to the mood of scenes, even helping to achieve some moments of pathos for Mr Bulge.
Sometimes shows packed with random goofiness, but not much structure, become unsatisfying fairly quickly. Pummel Squad distinguish themselves here by ensuring that their interludes of high silliness or breaking the fourth wall are crisp and focused.
The work’s snappy pacing and playfulness overwhelms our good sense, and we can’t help but be propelled along with the story. Well, mostly. A pedant might find that Mr Bulge seems to do a lot without oxygen at times. However, as the work does enter the orbit of sci-fi, it should be possible to find a way to smooth this wrinkle.
If you had seen some “serious” theatre earlier at Trades Hall, such as The Black Cat, then following it with this entertaining amalgam of live art, old tech, and exuberance is certain to get your evening back on an even keel.
The season ends Sunday 6 October, so those who enjoy unpredictable comedy should plot a course to Trades Hall, full steam ahead.
Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Festival Hub: Trades Hall – Meeting Room, Corner Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton
Performance: Thursday 3 October 2024
Season continues to 6 October 2024
Information and Bookings: www.melbournefrinmge.com.au
Image: Pummel Squad presents Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (supplied)
Review: Jason Whyte