Not everything that emerges from an egg is destined to fly, but Jasper Foley has the audience rooting for his ascent in En Haut (Up Up Up Up Up). Doomed to begin again from an egg, he brings the audience along for the ride, wrestling with them when necessary, in his delightful journey to rejoin the heavens from his mortal starting point.
The show features Georgian chants, a form of polyphonic singing that’s thousands of years old. This inspired choice contrasts beautifully with the clowning and overall silliness that dominate most of the performance, adding an unexpected gravitas. The dramatic lighting, music, and pared-down stage elements lend the show a sense of grandeur and depth.
The performance begins with a creature—essentially a yolk man—emerging from a gorgeous egg on stage. The lighting is nothing short of stunning, and the only other presence is a trio of Georgian singers chanting, bathed in violet light. Jasper, the egg man, is utterly charming in his earnest exploration of the world he’s been born into. He’s particularly gifted in his interactions with the audience. Though it started off a little slow (to be expected on a Sunday afternoon), he eventually had us all chanting in Georgian style as he cried out to the heavens and began his ascent toward the skies.
En Haut is beautifully directed, with vignettes that echo the structure of baroque compositions, complemented by an original backing track. Jasper effortlessly navigates both the silly and the dark, seamlessly shifting between the two. Starting as a twerking yolk emerging from the egg—amazed by the simplest things—he also delivers moments of intense drama with a sharpness that resonates as his character struggles to reach the heavens. It’s brilliant clowning, of course. Jasper connects with the audience and turns us into an accompanying Georgian backing track for the show, surprising ourselves as we connect in song and giggling at the sillier moments as he pulls out disgusting quantities of yolk-like slime from the yolk sac he wears as a sort of nappy throughout.
The Vault in Fool’s Paradise was an apt venue for the show, with its tall ceiling and dramatic tent that framed the egg and ladder. However, its lack of soundproofing was a disappointment. I was seated fairly far from the stage, and I could often hear music from outside more clearly than the beautiful Georgian choir singing on stage.
Larger than life and utterly bizarre, Jasper Foley presents a show that is both original and enchanting—a captivating exploration of rebirth and growth.
Recommended drink: Connect with the show’s Georgian inspiration and down a shot of Chacha – Georgian traditional vodka. It’s original, strong and leaves you a little bit dazed.
Performances of En Haut (Up Up Up Up Up) have now concluded at Adelaide Fringe 2025.