There’s nothing like a board game to bring out the best - or worst - in people. In Articulate, two share houses come together for their annual tradition: a fierce game night where the stakes are simple but brutal. The losing team must display a photo of the winners on their fridge - a daily reminder of their defeat and inability to guess even the simplest words.
In one corner we have the reigning champions: Tilly, Nadia and Jules: confident, composed, and fully expecting to take out the title once again. On the other are Lilo, Ben and Rommy, who are more than prepared. Warmed up and ready, they’re determined to prove they have what it takes to claim victory this year. The way each household is seen preparing for the evening is well directed and executed by the cast.
When the two houses collide, the fun begins, and writers Finn Hoegh-Guldberg and Penelope Gordon are able to show all six distinct personalities in a short time. The ensemble easily settle into their characters, capturing the excitement and tension of this competitive play. The staging may feel slightly cramped - not quite large enough for six people and part living room set-up - but they make it work, with a little bit of side stage performing too.Much of the humour arises from the different 'game personas' that emerge. There’s the visible frustration when a partner fumbles a clue, the inevitable arguments over whether an answer came before or after someone yelled 'TIME!, and of course, the high-pressure chaos of the All Play round, stretched to maximum suspense. Half the entertainment comes from watching this all unfold and waiting to see who loses their shit. And, inevitably, someone does. But while the funnies are being had, the story also explores the intersecting relationships and conflicts between the friends.
What starts as something light-hearted shifts into more serious territory - a turn that feels necessary, though somewhat rushed, and perhaps not entirely earned given what we have learnt about these characters. Still, Articulate captures something familiar and recognisable: the way small tensions can surface under the pressure of competition. Fortunately, just as quickly as a board game can tear people apart, it can also pull them back together, at least until next showdown.
SHOW DETAILS
Venue: The Motley Wherehaus, 432 Queen St, Melbourne
Season: until 5 April | Thurs - Tues 6:15pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $31 Full | $26 Conc
| $24 Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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