Global Smash Club review (Melbourne Fringe Festival)

My first foray into the world of Finucane & Smith was way back in 2010 with Carnival of Mysteries. I remember the sense of awe and excitement as I wondered from room to room, seeing what magic I would come across. In the 14 years following, Finucane & Smith have consistently put on incredible productions that focus on love, joy, connection and community. Their most recent one, presented alongside the Melbourne Fringe Festival, is Global Smash Club, which is also celebrating twenty years of Finucane & Smith. Twenty years of this dynamic duo giving their all, not only to their audience, but to the countless artists they have provided opportunities to allow their "voices" to be heard.

In Global Smash Club, an array of Finucane & Smith living legends come together through musical numbers, burlesque, dance and live art. It's a combination of old and new but with the structure and style of Global Smash Club, even previously seen acts retain their intensity, innovation and exhilaration.

Burlesque and performance artist Imogen Kelly dazzles in a routine that might involve the most impractical dress ever, but as a prop it is simply divine to watch how it’s used and guides their choreography. Maude Davey’s cover of The Angels' "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" is always going to hold a special place in my performing arts heart and seeing her do it again is a pure delight. The rest of the Finucane & Smith family, including Yumi Umiumare, Mama Alto, Zitao Deng, Xiao Xiao, Iva Rosebud, Piera Dennerstein and Kate Foster, captivate us in their respective acts and roles, and the sheer stage presence they possess as they move around the room and interact with each other and audience members is remarkable.

Finucane is masterful at having the crowd eat out of her hand, or maybe that should be drink the milk out of her hand, with some very messy, very comedic and very commanding acts. She is an amazing storyteller with such a caring and uplifting perspective in seeing society, and her story about snails is a perfect example of her way with words and building togetherness.

For all its fun and raciness, Finucane & Smith speak to something so much more powerful. Their shows spread a message of hope, that all the shit things happening in the world can be overcome, but we first need to come together and see each other, care for each other and love each other. If ever there was a reason or purpose for the performing arts, it is Finucane and Smith and Global Smash Club.

Global Smash Club was performed between 16 - 19 October as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. 

Image credit: Jodie Hutchinson