Victory Lap review (Melbourne Fringe Festival)

Victory Lap is a semi-autobiographical one-person show by Mashaka Gunnulson that gently and sensitively explores mental health and suicide with a nostalgic look at friendships gone by, and what saying goodbye feels like.

This is a meditative tale where not much happens on stage but plenty takes place in our minds through Gunnulson's descriptive language and the vivid imagery it conjures. One particular scene where a character is visiting a morgue paints a highly detailed picture of what is being seen, heard and smelt. Their direction of Adam Marks as Billy is minimal yet considered as it allows the performance to be in tune with the tone of the story.

Marks gives a captivating performance where he has let himself to be taken over by the words on the page. He subtly but effectively conveys the various emotions Billy goes through as they reflect on their life, friendships and loss. Marks is not simply remembering lines but he is remembering Billy's memories. You can see his eyes flicker as their past flashes by him. He has a vulnerability and authenticity present in this role that enables Gunnulson's script to leave more of an impact.

Marks performs in a small square area, just under 2x2 metres. A long thick rope weaves over and under the sand and a number of suitcases and trunks are placed in the space, with the suggestion these are filled with all his memories. A serene beach location is projected on to the wall that signifies the freedom and carefree attitude of an earlier time for our protagonist and their friends. Due to the close proximity to the audience, Billy's story is made even more personal and intimate and this becomes the perfect setting for them to tell their story.

While the beach projection supports the production, there are times when images of Kristy appear, but these are too brief for the audience to have a clear look at them before they disappear. The audio/sound also needs to be reconsidered as the speakers used when Billy is recalling conversations with Kristy is far too tinny and makes it difficult to hear what is being said.

Victory Lap is an opportunity to allow the waves crash around us and reflect on not only Billy's story of grief, but our own experiences of loss and coping with death, of those around us and of our own.

Victory Lap was performed 3 - 8 October as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.