Hit n Hope: A Character Cabaret review (Melbourne Fringe Festival)

From its opening moments, Hit n Hope: A Character Cabaret is utterly ridiculous. Ridiculously hilarious. When they venture out into the audience and ask us "what kind of fish are you?" you just know you're going to be in for an incredibly riotous time with Sugar Bits (Nicola Pohl, Tessa Luminati and Stephanie Beza).

The three performers present various sketches on the male douche bags out there. It's a strong feminist show but with a sharp eye for comedy value and cleverly conveying just how impossibly foolish - and dangerous - men can be.

Even with audience participation, they create a safe environment for all. Their engagement, responsiveness and re-activeness to what is said and done in the crowd - even when they're not seeking anything - is very impressive. And it's the small things that make a huge difference. When someone awkwardly mumbles "oh my god I hate this", Pohl lets it hang in the air and plays with the silence and what has been said.

There are a few things that make me cringe when I see them on stage. First is attempting to portray a drunk person, because it almost never feels authentic. Number two, which always has me rolling my eyes at, is watching someone "have a piss" for jokes. But Sugar Bits not only make me unroll my eyes, but leave me wiping tears of laughter from them during their machismo urination musical number. It's simple but genius. We also go into further absurd territory over a one-night stand concerning a singing toothbrush. It may appear to be quite silly but there is an intelligence with its exploration on men's standing in society and the privilege that comes with being a man.

The sound might not be the best in the venue, but its use, along with the lighting, successfully supports the sketches in taking them that little bit further over the edge.

Hit n Hope: A Character Cabaret is a highly entertaining character study of man. Pohl, Luminati and Beza all have their own skills and abilities they bring to the show, and with their powers combined they are unstoppable when it comes to bringing all the laughs too.

*NB. Due to venue running behind schedule, I did miss the last twenty minutes of this show*

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Motley Bauhaus, 118 Elgin St, Carlton
Season: until 20 October | 10pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $24 Full | $22 Conc
Bookings: Melbourne Fringe Festival

Image credit: Jacob Johnson