Gabbi Bolt is heading back to her high school at the end of the year to accept an award recognising her as one of its most successful alumni. But rather than prompting a moment of joy and pride, the prospect sends her into a spiral of self-doubt, anxiety, and insecurity. And when the world seems to be on the brink of collapse, how is she supposed to keep any of this in perspective?
In Small Poppy, Bolt examines both the state of the world and her own desire for fame. While unpacking the history of "tall poppy syndrome", she lands on the Wikipedia page for Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the seventh and final king of Rome, whose tyrannical rule led to his overthrow and the establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE. He is also often associated with the origin of the phrase "tall poppy".
Bolt reflects on examples from his reign and subtly draws parallels between then and now. With everything currently happening in the world, it’s a reminder that we never seem to learn from our mistakes. Positioning her own career ambitions within this context, she navigates these two extreme subjects with ease, seamlessly integrating them together to capture a shared sense of angst, while interrogating how questions of ethics and morality complicate what she should do.
There are plenty of catchy songs, with Bolt using a keyboard, a piano accordion, and a mic looper to explore her frustrations and yearning for fame, beyond her Sydney Comedy Festival Best Newcomer 2022 award. She’s not asking for much; she just wants Kylie Minogue level of fame in her Charlene era, or Dannii Minogue fame in her present era, Bolt sings.
Throughout the show, Bolt moves across a variety of genres and styles, and her lyrical sharpness is reminiscent of Rachel Bloom, an American comedian, actress, writer, and songwriter best known for creating and starring in the musical comedy television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Both their writing blends comedy storytelling with musical theatre, cabaret, and modern satire, with rapid-fire lyrics that come with intricate rhyme and rhythmic complexity.
Bolt’s songs are funny on the surface, packed with jokes, wordplay, and absurd premises, but the humour serves a deeper purpose. They offer insight into her psychology and carry the narrative forward, rather than simply delivering punchlines.
Small Poppy isn’t just about success or failure, but about the cost of wanting to stand out in a world that’s constantly pulling you back down. At the same time, it widens its lens to the bigger picture - the instability and unease of the world itself - suggesting that personal anxiety and global uncertainty are closely intertwined. Bolt makes that tension laugh-out-loud funny and uncomfortably real.
Bolt reflects on examples from his reign and subtly draws parallels between then and now. With everything currently happening in the world, it’s a reminder that we never seem to learn from our mistakes. Positioning her own career ambitions within this context, she navigates these two extreme subjects with ease, seamlessly integrating them together to capture a shared sense of angst, while interrogating how questions of ethics and morality complicate what she should do.
There are plenty of catchy songs, with Bolt using a keyboard, a piano accordion, and a mic looper to explore her frustrations and yearning for fame, beyond her Sydney Comedy Festival Best Newcomer 2022 award. She’s not asking for much; she just wants Kylie Minogue level of fame in her Charlene era, or Dannii Minogue fame in her present era, Bolt sings.
Throughout the show, Bolt moves across a variety of genres and styles, and her lyrical sharpness is reminiscent of Rachel Bloom, an American comedian, actress, writer, and songwriter best known for creating and starring in the musical comedy television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Both their writing blends comedy storytelling with musical theatre, cabaret, and modern satire, with rapid-fire lyrics that come with intricate rhyme and rhythmic complexity.
Bolt’s songs are funny on the surface, packed with jokes, wordplay, and absurd premises, but the humour serves a deeper purpose. They offer insight into her psychology and carry the narrative forward, rather than simply delivering punchlines.
Small Poppy isn’t just about success or failure, but about the cost of wanting to stand out in a world that’s constantly pulling you back down. At the same time, it widens its lens to the bigger picture - the instability and unease of the world itself - suggesting that personal anxiety and global uncertainty are closely intertwined. Bolt makes that tension laugh-out-loud funny and uncomfortably real.
SHOW DETAILS
Venue: Malthouse Theatre, 113 Sturt St, Southbank
Season: until 19 April | Tues - Sat 8.50pm, Sun 7.50pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $33 Full | $29 Conc | $25 Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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