It's quite rare to spot the ever-so-joyful Phi Theodoros without her trusted ukulele Willow. With a voice as sweet as honey to complement the soothing tunes played by the Ukulele Dream Girl, Phi has created a wave of shows since at least early 2019, where the art of poignant storytelling is mixed with a bright presence on stage to encompass forms of connectedness, compassion, and care.
This year, Phi has returned to the Adelaide Fringe with a show that explores the evolution of love between strangers and lovers in a world where people are more prone to find love at first swipe. With a minimum of 1.5 metres of distance, Phi takes her audiences on a journey of tumultuous yet tantalising love stories via love letters that keep flying onto the stage left, right, and centre - each with an individualised note that proclaims love for someone in its own unique way. Following her traditional style of prefacing an acoustic cover of popular songs as well as original pieces with an enchanting and engaging narrative, Phi sets the scene for each of her 'characters' who are painted as those in different stages of their chapters of love.
Performing her show in a stunning open-air venue - The Lark - Phi presents her audience with a relaxed and casual ambience while serenading us with melodious words that beautifully encapsulate the many emotions that make up a roller coaster of love languages. Ever heard of an acoustic version of 'Mambo Number 5', 'Valerie', or 'Coin Operated Boy'? Well, Phi revitalises these well-loved songs that are intertwined with her eloquent storytelling skills to create a memorable narrative of feel-good long-distance love stories.
By bouncing between the honeymoon period to one of the ultimate heartache (and even heartbreak), Phi's show is one that offers audiences to join in on a safe space where open conversations thrive and social stigmas are broken down to its most minuscule elements. Phi is able to capture her audience's attention through a powerful showcase of the different perspectives of love, which involves a beautiful mix of themes such as intimacy, polyamory, self-love, mental health, social stigmas, and the power of technology. Ukulele Dream Girl - Love at a Distance is a show that's a little bit playful, a little bit sensual, and offers a decent amount of emotive reflection through the power of human connection.
Overall rating: ★★★★