Full disclosure: when I first read the title of this show, I felt incredibly uncertain of whether this was a form of entertainment I wanted to sit through for an hour. Upon reflection post-show, I am so glad to have been proven wrong in this instance!
The show is based on Colin Ebsworth's family experiences in a cult founded by Sun Myung Moon and being part of the Unification Church. Nostalgic photos accompany Ebsworth's monologue and it gives off vibes like one of those mystery documentaries on Netflix (and I mean that in a good way!). The power of the visual imagery accompanying the story that unfolds over the next 60 minutes is crucial to immersing yourself in Ebsworth's world momentarily, as he cycles through the waves of how this cult affected family relationships and personal identities, resulting in a refreshing and reflexive snapshot of Ebsworth's character development in its purest form.
Throughout the show, audiences are introduced to several key members of Ebsworth's family (such as his dad, mum, uncle, grandparents, and siblings) and the bond and love that he has with and for them becomes increasingly obvious, warming the cockles of the heart. Audiences are also treated to a series of sharp-witted one-liners that are thrown into the mix without warning towards the end of a story sequence, resulting in a wonderful tornado of applause, laughter, shocked gasps, and silence from being in utter awe.
Ebsworth possesses a charismatic stage presence and infectious personality that shapes this show in a way that can tap into a spectrum of emotions. Bouncing between talking about the factual concepts of being in a cult and the hindsight that one walks away from, after being involved in a cult (and not necessarily by choice), Ebsworth's style of theatre can best be described as vulnerable comedy and it is thoroughly impressive in presentation and delivery.
Shows of this nature have baffled me in the past, where there are elements of comedy that are often peppered into a serious topic of discussion, but the latter can overpower the former, resulting in a deflated feeling post-show. Luckily, Ebsworth has mastered the craft of avoiding exactly this by putting together a show that deals with heavy topics of discussion, but that are talked about in a light-hearted and wholesome manner. Don't get me wrong, there are certain components of the show that will hit you right in the feels and Ebsworth's energy will beautifully personify those feelings, but the narrative with which he weaves the audience into the snippets of his life through a humour-based approach makes me only have more respect for performers of this nature with this talent.
Date attended: 04/03/2023
Overall review: ★★★★
Me, My Cult and I will be performed at The Bally in Gluttony as part of Adelaide Fringe till March 12, 2023. Tix can be purchased here.