Fish

Fish – as in ‘something’s fishy about this’ – is a kind of cabaret-comedy show about fear.  A series of sketches, songs and dances have been devised by the cast: Andrew Tresidder, Cameron Stanley, David Baker, Erin Pocervina, Michael Buxton, Shea McDonough and Ryan New.  Carolyn Bock and Grace Lowry are support performers and dance captains.  And Jane Bayly helps with the songs.

Rollercoaster Theatre Company, according to their website, is ‘an ensemble of trained actors with disabilities from a wide range of backgrounds’.  Here we see the company overcome those disabilities with great glee and humour to present a bright and entertaining show.

Across the hour or so, we see that anybody can be afraid of something – spiders, car horns, getting sick - but that being afraid really doesn’t help. 

For example, an important politician (Andrew Tresidder), whose weird hair is purple not orange, agonises over whether his appearance will mean people won’t like him.  He’s rather missing the point…  A bloke sits in a boat (a nice metaphor) and watches the television news and is afraid.  His wife deadpans with fine comic timing and hands him a beer.  What’s the use of worrying?

But there is also some slinky dancing on the sidelines, and some ensemble dancing, and a nightclub crooner.  There are vaudeville comedy routines – Ryan New shines here - there are fisher folk in yellow slickers and a worried lighthouse keeper. 

The excellent music is provided by Chris Lewis on percussion and guitar, and multi-instrumentalist Carolyn Connors.

Director Maude Davey keeps things rolling along at a clip and uses the Spiegeltent space inventively.  Paul Lim’s lighting is terrific, providing a night sky filled with stars through to the harsh spotlights of celebrity.  A very appreciative audience laughed a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the show – as do the performers.

Michael Brindley

Photographer: Sarah Walker