Jester's Privilege review | Melbourne Fringe | Trades Hall

In Handful of Bugs’ Jester’s Privilege, the fool steps off the stage and into the shadows, revealing not the radiance of wit, but the weight that lingers after the laughter dies away. A jester returns to his room after entertaining the court, appearing despondent, frustrated, and weary. Over the course of the evening, he is visited by various members of the Queen’s court. Gradually, we begin to understand what troubles him: his own mortality and the unsettling dread that he has delivered his final joke.

Alex Donnelly and Lachie Gough are a brilliant artistic duo, but when they share a stage, their chemistry generates an additional spark of mischievous playfulness. Here, Gough assumes the role of the tired jester, and he illustrates the character’s inner turmoil with nuance and patience, allowing the unravelling to unfold naturally. This measured approach draws the audience in, which makes us lean closer to the performance. Donnelly takes on a range of secondary characters, from the Queen’s Guard to a Lord to the Queen’s Groom of the Stable, each clearly defined and adding dynamic contrast to the piece.

The costumes are a standout element of this production. Remarkably, this independent company has created all of them in-house, and the results are impressive. Gough’s jester uniform, head to toe in red, is patched and torn in a way that reflects both his low social standing and the erosion of his identity. Donnelly, in turn, cycles through a variety of striking and often expressive outfits that not only signals a new character but conveys their personality and status inside the court.

Watching Handful of Bugs continue to challenge themselves creatively has been a very rewarding experience. Their shows remain within their distinctive style of storytelling and humour, yet they are increasingly pushing further into new thematic territory. They make excellent use of silence as well as speech here. Their vocal cadence and movements convey a despair and frustration that hangs in the air, a gravity that reinforces the play’s impact without undermining the comedy. There are still laughs to be had in Jester’s Privilege, but there is also a thoughtful examination of the divide between the performer and the person.

What happens when audiences become disinterested in you, or when you can no longer hold their adoration? The play gestures towards the fragile line between the mask of the fool and the vulnerable self behind it. A self who wonders what remains after the applause. It’s a question the ending hints at but doesn’t fully resolve, and a little reworking could give it greater clarity and impact.

Jester’s Privilege leaves us with laughter, but it also highlights the inevitable reality that every performer will eventually doubt themselves, question their choices, and confront the possibility that their appeal may fade.

Read out interview with Alex and Lachie here.

SHOW DETAILS



Venue: Trades Hall, Cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton

Season: until 5 October | Thurs - Sat 7:30pm, Sun 6:30pm

Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $28 Full | $26 Conc
Bookings: Melbourne Fringe Festival