One of the more unique offerings at this year’s Fringe Festival, the crew of KOKOON are here to mark their debut on the Adelaide festival scene.

Hailing from South Korea, KOKOON’s members Sae Am, Joowon, Jaemin, Shuya, and Wonki seamlessly blend elements of KPop, idol culture and comedy into one incredibly unique boyband. A sensation in both their home country and Japan, I was immediately intrigued by their loud, colourful posters and knew I’d have to check them out.

Armed with my KPop specialist (aka Claire), we ventured into the Arts Theatre to see what delights this boyband comedy fusion would deliver.

It's obvious from the first opener - a booming dance track by BTS with impeccable choreography - that these guys are not just here for the laughs. They’re a tribute to KPop tradition as well as a cheerful send up of its known cliches. The boys introduce themselves and their “roles” as band members (i.e. the sexy one, the handsome one, the sensitive one). They’re backed by a banging soundtrack made up of KPop mega stars such as Big Bang, Black Pink, and Block B. Each song comes equipped with a perfectly executed dance routine that looks straight out of an original music video.

A key stand out “ace” in the crew is Wonki. He seems to be the odd one out with his nerdy haircut and foolish attitude compared to his more clear-cut counterparts. But don’t be fooled; his physical skills and dancing are as brilliant as his companions. He also boasts amazing vocal control, which he uses across many hilarious segments of physical comedy where he animates each action with exaggerated noises (almost like a Korean version of the Umbilical Brothers). If that wasn’t enough, he also gets his moment to show off his ridiculously cool beat boxing skills and a perfect impersonation of rapper Psy.

The crowd was clearly loving the action, cheering for each member’s moment in the spotlight and getting on their feet for a throwback dance to Gangnam Style. Aside from one or two overactive “stans” in the audience screaming inappropriately, it was a fun time for everyone.

KOKOON boasts a very accessible style of humor and musical theatre, and it’s impressive how well their act translates into an Australian context. The band uses their physicality in very creative ways, pushing elements of KPOP into new forms of performance art. An amazing act, bursting with energy, playfulness, and A-grade boyband power.

멋있다!!! (meositta).

Five Stars *****