Fairy Smut review | Rama Nicholas | Melbourne Fringe Festival | Underground Upstairs

In Fairy Smut, Rama Nicholas takes audiences into the world of romantasy - a literary subgenre of romance and fantasy - where witches, dragons, kings and other fantastical characters populate a tale filled with sexual escapades and comic absurdity. Guided by Thistle, a fairy with a decidedly filthy outlook, Nicholas brings the genre's adventures to life in a solo performance.

The story itself is intricate and detailed, with Nicholas taking on 15 characters, including the aforementioned witches, dragons, and kings. Each is given a distinct personality, brought to life through carefully judged changes in voice, facial expression and body language. The level of detail she brings to these transformations is impressive, demonstrating both her versatility as a performer and her ability to create an entire cast of characters on her own.

A few forgotten lines draw us out of the world of the show, although Nicholas attributes these lapses to her perimenopausal symptoms. Similarly, while not explicitly stated, her decision to remove her costume (while still wearing her regular clothes, this is a smutty show but not that smutty!), and being seated for much of the performance may also be related to her condition. But all of this eventually takes its toll on the show, which, despite remaining entertaining, is unable to recover and falls short of what could have been a much stronger production.

The structure of the show feels a little disjointed. We begin with Thistle explaining what romantasy is and why people enjoy it. He then reads us an example, which is unnecessary when we've come to see a romantasy show in Fairy Smut. From there, Nicholas acts out the story, with Thistle occasionally stepping in to ensure we understand what's happening. This works well enough, but the performance is periodically interrupted by pre-recorded narration or moments when Nicholas reads directly from a book. There are too many devices at play for a 60-minute show, resulting in an uneven narrative rhythm.

Nicholas's commitment to her characters and remarkable range make Fairy Smut an entertaining outing, with plenty of laughs to be found in her rich portrayals of the cast. While the storytelling at times loses its flow and some of the transitions feel a little clunky, there is much to enjoy in Nicholas's imaginative approach to the genre. With a little more cohesion, the show could be even more enchanting.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: Underground Upstairs, 1/210 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Season: until 18 October | Tues - Sun 7:30pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $29 Full | $25 Conc | $22 Hump Day Wednesday
Bookings: Melbourne Fringe Festival

Image credit: Adam McKenzie