Chookas review | Melbourne International Comedy Festival | The Motley Spielhaus

Three eggs appear on stage. Slowly but surely, they begin to hatch, and out pop three cabaret-loving chicks. It’s best not to dwell on it too much. What follows is an hour of more chicken-themed burlesque, comedy and songs than you can fry. Adore Handel, Mae B. Wilde and Penelope Splendour are our hatchlings, who take us on a wild, ecstatic ride full of energy, cheek, and playful absurdity with Chookas.



The trio are adept at capturing the specific mannerisms of chickens. They display inquisitiveness and a judgmental edge as they reach out to the audience, almost as a challenge or assertion of authority. The way they move and feed off each other and us strongly resembles observing chickens, albeit with clearly exaggerated physicality.

There’s a variety of group and solo performances, and each artist excels, though to varying degrees. Splendour’s day spa routine is a highlight, channeling the kind of act cabaret legend Moira Finucane might deliver, if she were a chicken. Another showstopper is Wilde’s saucy cooking demonstration, preparing a roast with a surprising climax.



While the chicken theme ties the show together, there are a small number of acts that don’t fully build or land as well as the others. The spoken-word, noir-esque explanation about a chicken crossing the road, and a chicken maraca-shaking choir set to the Spice Girls are fascinating in theory, but are missing a satisfying crescendo or effective payoff.



The three performers bring their own distinct presence and aesthetic, yet they work together with an easy cohesion that never feels forced. There’s a shared sense of play between them, and it’s obvious they are having just as much fun as the audience is watching them. This flair translates into some eggcelent interactions, particularly during the chicken diner ordering service sketch, where timing, improvisation and engagement collide to create one of the more memorable exchanges of the show.



Chookas leans into its preposterous premise with confidence and commitment, serving up an entertaining hour built on personality, physical comedy and audience connection rather than narrative structure. Its standout moments showcase keen comedic instincts, inventive ideas and an undeniable rapport between the performers and the crowd. It’s a lively, offbeat cabaret that knows exactly what it is, and embraces the chaos with enough charm and pizzazz to keep the experience zany from start to finish.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Motley Spielhaus, Berrbang Lane & Kulinbulok Lane, Melbourne
Season: until 18 April | Thurs - Sat 9:50pm

Duration: 55 minutes
Tickets: $32 Full | $27 Conc

Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival