Garry Starr: Greece Lightning

There’s not a lot that will throw the utterly brilliant, outrageous and hilarious burlesque performer Damien Warren-Smith off his game. His onstage personality has a kind of disarming innocence, cheekily crossing boundaries as though he didn’t realise they existed, and then basking in the embarrassed delight of the audience he’s dragged out of its comfort zone. That naughty toddler character might come across a little insecure, which contrasts with his physical comedy, which is strong, controlled and comfortable.

But I do believe he was a little fazed when we saw him last Friday. Don’t get me wrong; he was still incredibly funny but I got the impression he was just a bit held back. The show relies on audience participation and the first time the house lights faded up, he spotted a kid in the audience. “Are you aware that there is a lot of nudity?” An indication of assent from the child’s guardian didn’t seem to totally reassure him, which is entirely understandable, since the show is hilariously raunchy. To call it puppetry of the penis with puns understates the athleticism and intellectual calibre, and overstates the crassness, but probably goes some way to explaining why you probably shouldn’t bring along a child under 16. Garry was let down by the sound being low, meaning we missed some of that brilliant wordplay. A combination of those factors meant I found this performance just a little bit less funny than Garry Starr Performs Everything, which was up there with the funniest things I’ve ever seen.

That said, a slightly constrained Garry Starr will still make your diaphragm ache from laughing. Damien Warren-Smith radiates empathy and inclusion, and by some magic of timing can get the audience roaring with the lamest of puns, and make them feel clever with obscure classical references. Speaking of the divine horse who saved the king of Argos, he asks: “Who here wants to see an Areion race?” He incorporates clowning, sight gags, mime, awkward audience participation, confident audience participation, acrobatics, highbrow word play, and a retina-singeing finale based on a visual interpretation of arguably the world’s most adolescent pun.

You have missed your opportunity to see Greece Lightning, but lucky South Australians will get to see his new show, Garry Starr: Classic Penguins at the Adelaide Fringe Festival from 20 – 25 February. If you can deal with nudity, grab a ticket, grab all your friends, but leave the under-16s at home.

Cathy Bannister