Local Laws review | Melbourne International Comedy Festival | The Improv Conspiracy

When you work in customer service and the first thing someone says on the phone is, “I have a few things I’d like to talk to you about,” you know it’s never going to end well. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Rose, a local council call centre operator in Local Laws, is up against, stuck in a repetitive cycle where the inane complaints are more punishing than the job itself. But when a random hole appears in the suburb, the calls turn from tedious to intriguing, pulling her into something stranger than the usual stream of grievances. Suddenly, another frustrating day on the phones for Rose becomes more interesting than she expects.



Phillips is completely in her element as both Linda, the pedantic, fussy, serial complainer and Trevor, a Council Team Leader overseeing road works and maintenance. She switches between them with a quick wig change and the shedding of a layer of clothing, but it is her sharply defined physicality and specific mannerisms that set them apart. Linda carries herself with a tight, brittle energy, every movement clipped and deliberate, whereas Trevor is looser and easygoing, with a casual ease that contrasts beautifully. 

Bishop has the more straightforward task of playing Rose, with performer and character sharing the same name. Drawing on her own three-year stint working in a council call centre, the portrayal is grounded in lived experience, naturalistic without becoming dull. Even with the role being less exaggerated, she brings a dry, underplayed humour that lands with precision, anchoring the piece whenever it threatens to tip into caricature. Her delivery is measured and unflashy, but never flat, finding small, telling beats in the mundanity that make Rose engaging and funny.



With that in mind, the writing is a real winner. The characters are fully realised, and the scene transitions are carefully considered, allowing the story to move smoothly without losing momentum. The suspense builds as Linda and Trevor describe the strange, unfillable hole, one that seems to whisper to them, and leaves the air around it feeling noticeably thicker.



Director Alistair Baldwin keeps the residents of Local Laws contained within their everyday world as the mystery evolves. There is minimal activity or action, with Baldwin relying on the strength of the actors to bring the work to life. There's an effective lighting design too, particularly in instances where individuals peer into the hole, heightening the unease and leaning into the subtle science-fiction strangeness of it all.



While the piece doesn’t necessarily need concrete answers, the final scenes are a little on the thin side in how it addresses them. The resolution is short on impact, as it rushes past ideas that could have been explored deeper. The climax with the arrival of a truck to fill up the hole with gravel could also have had greater dramatic presence through lighting, sound, and the performances.



Local Laws is a well-considered production that thrives on its performances and keenly observed writing. It captures the monotony of everyday complaints as it steadily establishes a sense of curiosity around the central mystery. The ending could have pushed further into the enigma of what the hole is and where it came from, but the journey to get there remains captivating, anchored by strong character work and moments of understated humour.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Improv Conspiracy, Level 1, 19 Meyers Place, Melbourne
Season: Sat 4 April Sat 8:15pm, Sun 5 April 7:15pm, Sun 12 and 19 April 5:45pm
Duration: 50 minutes
Tickets: $32 Full | $24 Conc
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival