Taking a stab on Frank Benson’s show Mystery of the Fish to officially begin our Melbourne Fringe Festival season. The only thing to go by is the brief and cryptic description: “A clown ponders the enigma that is his pet fish. Fish is good. Frank is good. Fish is mysterious. Frank will solve this mystery.” After all, Fringe is about taking risks, as a performer and as audiences.
Benson is a great clown, and he remains committed to the bit throughout. There are a number of fun, silly moments that showcase his willingness to embrace the absurd, even when the material itself doesn’t always land.
There are a few instances where the humour feels underdeveloped, such as when Frank decides to read us some poetry. It’s chucklesome, but not exactly funny. His “fuck” sketch also relies on fairly basic humour that doesn’t leave much room for creativity.
And while there is a mystery surrounding what happened to Frank’s fish, it is barely a focal point of the show. That doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be, but having something to tie the various sketches together - perhaps, dare I say, the fish - would make the work more cohesive and give it a greater sense of purpose.
However, the inclusion of Nosferatu pays off exceptionally well. Dressed entirely in white with a black shroud, the costume resembles the lovechild of Pinocchio, the Coneheads and the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth. While not exactly sure of his purpose, the scenes between these two, and with the audience, are some of the strongest parts of the show.
Ironically, Mystery of the Fish is at its best when Frank and Nosferatu riff off and improvise with each other and the audience. One particularly highlight comes when Frank attempts to play something on the keys but is repeatedly prevented from doing so as people in the audience keep yelling out “more!” It’s these unpredictable moments that allow the performers’ comic instincts to shine.
Ultimately though, this requires stronger focus and a more developed overall direction. At only thirty minutes long, it very much feels like a work-in-progress rather than a show that is quite ready to be presented at the Fringe Festival. There are some genuinely funny ideas and two performers who know how to work a room, but this needs a clearer framework to bring everything together.
SHOW DETAILS
Benson is a great clown, and he remains committed to the bit throughout. There are a number of fun, silly moments that showcase his willingness to embrace the absurd, even when the material itself doesn’t always land.
There are a few instances where the humour feels underdeveloped, such as when Frank decides to read us some poetry. It’s chucklesome, but not exactly funny. His “fuck” sketch also relies on fairly basic humour that doesn’t leave much room for creativity.
And while there is a mystery surrounding what happened to Frank’s fish, it is barely a focal point of the show. That doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be, but having something to tie the various sketches together - perhaps, dare I say, the fish - would make the work more cohesive and give it a greater sense of purpose.
However, the inclusion of Nosferatu pays off exceptionally well. Dressed entirely in white with a black shroud, the costume resembles the lovechild of Pinocchio, the Coneheads and the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth. While not exactly sure of his purpose, the scenes between these two, and with the audience, are some of the strongest parts of the show.
Ironically, Mystery of the Fish is at its best when Frank and Nosferatu riff off and improvise with each other and the audience. One particularly highlight comes when Frank attempts to play something on the keys but is repeatedly prevented from doing so as people in the audience keep yelling out “more!” It’s these unpredictable moments that allow the performers’ comic instincts to shine.
Ultimately though, this requires stronger focus and a more developed overall direction. At only thirty minutes long, it very much feels like a work-in-progress rather than a show that is quite ready to be presented at the Fringe Festival. There are some genuinely funny ideas and two performers who know how to work a room, but this needs a clearer framework to bring everything together.
SHOW DETAILS
Venue: The Motley Wherehaus, 432 Queen St, Melbourne
Season: until 4 October | 6:15pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Tickets: $20 Full | $15 Conc and Hump Day Wednesday
Bookings: Melbourne Fringe Festival
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