It was seven years ago when I saw Kids Killing Kids but I remember it
so vividly. The show reflected on a previous collaboration between four
Australian theatre makers (David Finnigan, Georgie McAuley, Jordan Prosser and
Sam Burns-Warr) and a Filipino theatre group, Sipat Lawin Ensemble, on their
season of Battalia Royale. This was based on Japanese writer Koushun
Takami's novel Battle Royale, in which high school students are pitted
against each other in ways that would give the tributes in The Hunger Games nightmares.
It proved to be extremely popular with thousands of people eagerly flocking to
see it but also extremely controversial with its immersive depiction of violence. Fast forward to 2020 and the
ensemble has brought its newest show to Melbourne, Are You Ready To Take The Law
Into Your Own Hands.
This time round the controversy surrounds the kidnapping of the biggest star of the Philippines, and
it is up to three women to rescue her: Selina (Ji-ann Lachica) a social media
influencer, her older sister Sanya (Claudia Enriquez) and police officer Sophia
(Adrienne Vergara). There is action aplenty as they face-off in rap
battles, dance challenges, underwater fighting and encounter corruption at
every corner in order to free Gracielle V. Their personalities and circumstances might be outlandish but committed performances by the actors
allow for honest and authentic characterisations to develop.
You know that saying 'it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game"? Yeah, forget that, because in this competition, it's all about the win. Presented as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, Dog Show is a physical theatre performance scrutinising our obsession with winning, and while it might revolve around a dog show, it's the humans who are ultimately the ones being judged.
It's a dog eat dog world in this competition with Simone French, Alex Roe and Adam Ibrahim each taking on the role of a dog and its owner. The
canines compete in various challenges and tests to determine which one will ultimately be hailed as the best in show. This includes being aggressively examined from head
to toe for ideal leg length, desired weight, and flawless face and teeth by the judges. At other times, they are paraded around the audience, putting their best paw forward to the live score by drummer Cassandra Kumaschow that brings out the tension of the show while also leading the humour. Director Cassandra Fumi does a great job of creating much activity and chaos in such a confined space but never losing the purpose of this show.
