Imp! (One Man, Many Parts) review | Melbourne Fringe | The Motley Bauhaus

Scott Middleton’s Imp! (One Man, Many Parts) is a bold and imaginative physical theatre piece that adapts Shakespeare’s iconic “All the world’s a stage” monologue into a playful, clown-driven exploration of life’s absurdities, loves, struggles, and surprises. He demonstrates a remarkable ability to inhabit multiple guises, inviting the audience into a whirlwind of humour, heart, and theatrical brilliance.



The monologue captures the seven stages of life - from infancy to old age - with each person cast as a player performing in the theatre of life. It is both a meditation on the cycle of life and a wry commentary on the roles we adopt, the masks we wear, and the fleeting nature of our time on this planet. By opening with this text, Middleton acknowledges the timeless theme of “life as performance”, while signalling he will be toying with identity and the comedy and tragedy of everyday life.



Middleton presents these stages through skilful mask play, a form that is most compelling when used for storytelling. We follow a man called Jacques as each stage of his life is represented by a different Commedia dell’arte character - from the childlike Zanni to the vain Capitano and the miserly Pantalone - allowing Middleton to delve into archetypes of human behaviour with humour and vivid expression. He embodies each character, shifting posture, gesture, and voice to match the persona he assumes. Confident physical choices are made with complete commitment, as we follow the evolution of this man from the moment he is born right up until the end of his existence.



The production is grounded in the “real world” but heightened to a surreal, exaggerated level, providing the perfect canvas for Middleton’s imagination and physical prowess. The narrative itself may not be entirely unique - after all, many of us have experienced or are experiencing these stages - but the inventive use of masks, movement, and clowning turns a familiar story into a captivating and entertaining one.

Beneath the exuberant clown work and physical comedy, Imp! (One Man, Many Parts) is a thoughtful reflection on the pressures and paradoxes of modern life. Through his mischievous yet precise transformations, Middleton touches on the anxieties of masculinity, the complexities of love and desire, the weight of financial and social expectations, and the universal search for meaning and connection. The show balances laughter with insight, reminding us that while life can often feel absurd or overwhelming, there is joy - and even wisdom - to be found in embracing every stage of the human experience.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Motley Bauhaus, 118 Elgin St, Carlton

Season: until 12 October | Wed - Fri and Sun, 9.50pm

Duration: 60 minutes

Tickets: $25 Full | $20 Conc

Bookings: Melbourne Fringe Festival

Image Credit: Scott Middleton