A sparse looking bedroom; a bed, wardrobe and a mirrorless mirror stand are the only props on stage. A nun drags the bed by a rope slung over her shoulder. Gazing out to sea, she casts a rod, landing herself a wayward traveller, apparently lost at sea. He lands on the bed, dazed and confused, especially as the nun only speaks in French. Bernadette, the house maid wears a sign “Je suis un mute”. Thus begins the farce that is Plenty of Fish in the Sea as presented by Made in Sydney and Clockfire Theatre Company.
The work is described as being fantastical with an absurdist edge, which is probably the best way to describe it. There are elements of the traditional Irish sea shanty, visual gags galore, a cast that perfectly capture the essence of their roles and a story that makes no real sense. But none of that matters, because it’s hilarious. Running gags such as catching, kissing, killing and gutting a fish become part of the tale. Is the house by the beach or on a ship? Can we tell? Is the nun as puritan as she seems? What drives us to search for more and more?
Madeline Baghurst plays the part of the nun and created and directed it along with Emily Ayoub who plays Bernadette. The result is a story of hookups, love, desire and the perfect catch. Christopher Carroll is perfect as the hapless fisherman caught in the net.
The accessories, such as the fishing rods are deliberately shortened, making the action of fishing become as important as the physical object. The ability of the trio to make small actions seem real is astounding. The bed and wardrobe are on wheels, allowing the set to shift and change. The trio work together as if they are in a ritual mating dance, culminating in a feast of foul smelling fish extract. This has a powerful aphrodisiac effect, giving rise to a slow motion sex scene that had the audience howling with laughter.
Overall it is a particularly funny example of absurdist theatre that is worth heading out the garden for. The Courtyard of Curiosities at the Migration Museum has four theatres and a number of interesting plays. Indeed, the Clockfire Theatre Co are also presenting two solo shows in the same theatre. “The End of Winter” by Jane Phegan celebrates the cold in this warming environment, while “Blacklisted” is a moving story of immigration from Pakistan to Australia. For an evening of fun and laughs, this play is highly recommended.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Plenty of Fish in the Sea plays as part of the Adelaide Fringe until Sunday 3rd March.
Venue: The Gallery at The Courtyard of Curiosities at the Migration Museum
Tickets and info here
The reviewer attended on 28th Feb
