Reviewed by:
mindshare
Review by Alicia Sullivan |
15 March 2024
Trigger Warning- Self harm and Suicide
Welcome to the Psych Ward- the opening number of Hot Fat Crazy, sets the tone for the show. With its quirky lyrics, audience participation and sock puppets playing instruments, we are introduced to Eadie and her offbeat journey within a fictional psych ward with the help of Tommy. This cabaret comedy sketch show is unapologetic and not ashamed to explore mental ill-health with some wackiness and creativity whilst making poignant points about the financial cost of treatment and the dismissive attitudes of some health professionals.
Eadie and Tommy work well together and bounce off each other like seasoned performers - it is hard to believe that Hot Fat Crazy is their inaugural show together. This was the first time they have performed in Adelaide and the Fringe is the perfect place to introduce the city to your talents and a new show.
Both Eadie and Tommy showed off how versatile they were, whether it be their comedic skills, choreography, or musical ability. Tommy played different characters throughout the show, at one point Tommy played a homophobic cat who likes to pee in the laundry. The homophobic cat went out into the crowd which elicit laughter and little bit of fear as to who the cat would target. The performers were very well adept in incorporating the crowd into the show.
Hot Fat Crazy was laden with original songs from different music genres like sultry jazz, Australian hip-hop and country. Eadie’s vocal range being a real highlight, her voice smooth but powerful. Eadie’s and Tommy’s voices complimented each other especially their harmonies.
Not everything worked well during the show, some jokes missed their mark, and there were little hiccups with timing and the microphones cutting out. For my own personal taste, I am not a big fan of sexual innuendo, there were moments where it worked like the scene with Eadie and her diary (played by Tommy) but other times it was just cringe.
Though Hot Fat Crazy was an unconventional and hilarious look at what it is like to be in a psych ward, there were elements of realism subtly woven in. It was obvious throughout this show, that Eadie has had lived experience within a psych ward and Hot Fat Crazy is an outlet for her to share her journey in her own unique way. Nothing about mental health is linear and Hot Fat Crazy does a great job acknowledging this. Eadie is unashamed about who she is, and her struggles with depression.
Hot Fat Crazy is camp and absurd in all the right ways.