Tuesday 17 April 2018

Whom - Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

Clara Cupcakes has two faces: her comedy face and her burlesque face. During her many years as a performer, she's noticed there is a dichotomy between the two. To put it simply, she is too sexual for comedy and too funny for burlesque. In her new Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, Whom, Clara takes us on a journey inside her head as she tried to reconcile the two art forms.

Known for her whimsical nature, Clara seems more erratic and anxious in this show than previous ones which is fitting within the context of Whom. We are delving into the mind and psyche of a performer that doesn't quite fit in to the existing moulds and it should be nerve-wracking. She still finds a good balance of confidence and vulnerability in exploring this and in remaining true to her character, Clara chooses to host a karaoke party as the backdrop for Whom.


There are many songs to be sung and numerous games to be played at this party, including a turn of Pass the Parcel that reveals more about Clara as each layer of the parcel is unwrapped. Questions that Clara has been asked by strangers are read out to her and the absurdity and the inappropriateness of these is evident in her responses. However, it would have been great to see Clara take these moments and go deeper with them, as at times it felt like the answers were frivolously glossed over and didn’t explore the divide between the two styles of performance she practises.

There's plenty in Whom to be entertained with, and Clara Cupcakes' personality is always going to win the audience over. There are some top bits in this show but going a little deeper into the experiences and realities of what it is like for a performer to cross over from one medium to another, especially something as fanatical and protective as comedy and burlesque, would be a bolder move for the show and have a greater impact on audiences.


Click here for my interview with Clara Cupcakes.

Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne
Season: Until 22 April | Mon - Sun 8.30pm
Length: 60 minutes
Tickets: $32 Full | $25 Conc

Bookings: MICF website 

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