Greece Lightning review (Melbourne International Comedy Festival)

Garry Starr's Greece Lightning has been doing the rounds for some time and it's a show that has been on my radar, but I’ve never been able to make its seasons. Last night, I finally did, and boy oh boy, do I regret having waited so long, because Greece Lightning is a comedy masterpiece.

This is Damien Warren-Smith’s third outing as the dim but absolutely delightful Garry Starr, (Garry Starr Performs Everything and Garry Starr Conquers Troy), and he is bigger and better than ever before as Garry attempts to perform all of Greek mythology to save his homeland from economic ruin.

Garry Starr Performs Everything - Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

Fresh from his Adelaide Fringe Emerging Artist Weekly Award win, Damien Warren-Smith brings his first solo show, Garry Starr Performs Everything, to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Dismissed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the jaded thespian is determined to show them the error of their ways and attempts to perform every single genre of theatre in under 50 minutes. 

The audience is forced to endure watching Starr perform a variety of theatrical and live performance genres, ranging from butoh to slap stick comedy to ballet. His modernisation of Shakespeare during his tragedy genre is a tragedy in itself, but it is perfectly executed by Warren-Smith and hearing the laughter in the audience grow as they recognise what is happening, with Warren-Smith remaining as straight-faced as they come, is pure joy.

Garry Starr Performs Everything - Melbourne International Comedy Festival preview

Fresh from his win at Adelaide Fringe with the Emerging Artist Weekly Award, Damien Warren-Smith is bringing his physical comedy and clowning to Melbourne with Garry Starr - Performs Everything, where misunderstood actor Garry Starr...well...performs everything. In less than 50 minutes, Garry will perform every single genre of theatre to prove his talents to himself, his adoring fans and to those who dare question his ability.

"Garry never quite made it as a Shakespearean actor," Warren-Smith explains. "He worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company as an usher for a very long time, hoping this would be a way in. When that didn't work out, he started a company called the Royal Shakespeare Collective so he could tell people he worked for the RSC. He’s not great to work with though. He's high status but low in intelligence, so he might actually do well in politics."