Crepuscular. It sounds like the name of a bad horror movie. But, if you look up the meaning of the word, it’s quite the opposite. It means ‘resembling or relating to twilight’. While in zoology it means ‘(of an animal) appearing or active in twilight (before sunrise or after sunset)’. In her one-woman show titled Crepuscular, Abbey Dale tackles both these meanings as well as her own story to create a truly unique piece of theatre for the Adelaide Fringe.

The show takes place inside the cozy Hymn Bar. Situated upstairs on the corner of Grenfell Street, the Hymn Bar's walls are lined with unusual and eccentric paintings, the perfect setting for Crepuscular to take place. As the performance begins, we find Abbey sleeping on the floor before being woken by the fresh morning air. She regales us with stories of her mother, the book they once read together, as well as the creatures who come out just after sunset. It’s a quiet, introspective world that Abbey has created, and she really draws you in with her stage presence and confidence. Dressed in a silk slip and a pair of socks for most of her performance, this artist looks comfortable onstage. The notes that she reads from several times throughout her performance did strike me as odd, but when you’re performing a first-time show, with such verbose, descriptive dialogue, I can understand that she wanted to get her vernacular just right.

As the show progresses, we fast-forward ten years, where Abbey has become estranged from her mother. The book that they once read is still at the forefront of her mind, while the house they once shared has become cold and isolated. The script is beautifully constructed, and with Abbey’s own original songs peppered throughout the performance, it really does all fit together seamlessly. However, a lot is going on onstage, and she appears to have given herself too much to do. A stage hand helping with shadows and light, as well as sorting out a couple of tech issues, would have prevented the distractions I found in the show. Also, there is a lamp used, where the audience is asked to shut their eyes when it is turned off. I would have loved it to be featured more prominently, such as during the songs, because Abbey’s words are so poetic, you just want to embrace them and take them in without outside influences.

Crepuscular is a beautiful show that will only get better the more it is performed. The story is haunting and will leave you, at times, feeling isolated and alone, while at other times smiling at the scene unravelling before your ears. A lovely piece of work that brings some heart to the Adelaide Fringe.

**** Four Stars