Conversations with a Fried Egg

Slick, whacky fringe theatre. Conversations with a Fried Egg is an absurd comedy theatre show about a family of rats who all encounter an ephemeral fried egg. The show appears well organized and well-rehearsed, for an opening night this cast really nailed it. It seems like no-one missed an entrance and no-one dropped a line. The cast of four work very well together and are not flying by the seat of their pants, they play in a generous and tight way.

Audience be ready, this ensemble have devised an Absurd Theatre piece, so settle in to tolerate some confusion. The trap with Absurd Theatre is that it can turn cold or flat and disregard the audience experience (which of course is a choice to be made) but this cast treats the absurdity with a lot of warmth and good-humour. They are to be commended for their articulation of character and delivery of sharp, clear action. They seem to be truly interested in their characters - which are all rhythmically different. The characters are funny as well as quite touching and real in parts.

Conversations with a Fried Egg is absurd and not just for the sake of it. The artists are not filling the space up with weirdness just because they can. Their quest towards something genuinely absurd is really there. On reflection I can spot many conventions of Absurd Theatre, but the audience isn’t bashed over the head with those theatrical devices. Do the main characters, being rats, hint at existentialism; the insignificance of human existence? The returning mysterious Fried Egg keeps the characters caught in a bizarre contact loop.

The show uses text and physicality equally to tell the story. Their script is just enough - they do not rely on exposition or didactic retelling, it unfolds in a necessary way. They deprive the audience of a naturalistic narrative. I could never predict what was going to happen next, each scene was a peculiar surprise. There seems to be a desire to keep the audience in the mystery, to not answer any questions for the sake of the audience's comfort, again, true to Absurd Theatre. They also resist the modern temptation of using the style as a mouthpiece for their own personal opinions. There is a quiet intelligence and restraint to their work, which I really respect.

Their vocal delivery and connection with thought and text is great. Their physical work is grounded and confident and often evokes some good farce. I get the feeling there is some good training behind this cast. These makers are not afraid of stillness or silence, not afraid of the empty space. It leaves me thinking about The Empty Space by Peter Brook - that magical moment when the bodies onstage and the performers’ collective investment concoct a world in front of you in simple conditions.

Conversations with a Fried Egg is a shining example of good, slick fringe theatre created by a troupe from Melbourne. The concept, design and delivery of this devised piece is cohesive and unpretentious. Minimal set, minimal props, single costumes, minimal sound and lighting and yet they create and deliver a theatrical world totally unto itself. One of those pieces that is totally, typically under-resourced, fully humble and rather brilliant.

Kimberley Twiner

Image by Irene Lu