A bundle of energy greets you with when you take your seat at Tessa Waters’ Fully Sik. High fives pumping music and a pillow fight start things off. You’d call it a little absurd if the only type of fare you’re used to in comedy theatre is someone telling jokes into the microphone.
In reality, this was a great ice-breaker to warm the crowd up into a very physical show full of clowning, action and physicality. Tessa invigorates the room with her bubbly nature, while interweaving a slight message of body positivity within the show
The audience interaction doesn’t stop through the show, with this little duck having a bit of a fit with a joke about partying the night away, and then merrily pointing out that I would need an asthma puffer for the rest of the night.
This interaction is done without fear, without any hesitation and it’s probably good to know if you’re planning on seeing Fully Sik, that Tessa will make sure you are involved somehow, someway. Be prepared for that. Then again, you are going to a comedy festival show – expect the unexpected.
It’s a very all-encompassing-and-not-in-any-way-intimidating type of interaction though, and Waters has a charm which shines on stage. It’s a delight to see amongst many shows which have a more political bent in this festival. That’s not to so that Tessa doesn’t shine a light on issues that are important to her (feminism, body positivity), it’s just refreshing to see such issues being presented in a fresh and original way.
Tessa Waters’ Fully Sik plays at the Greek Centre, Aphrodite’s Room, as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival until April 23rd. More info here.
The reviewer attended the show on March 30th.
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