A show about Charles Manson is not something you'd usually see on the Adelaide Fringe schedule, let alone a semi-serious one. However, after Partying with Manson's success at the Goodwood Theatre last year, this Fringe show finds itself at the Garden of Unearthly Delights in 2026. With a title like Partying with Manson, you may feel like you're in for plenty of laughs and maybe some silliness. Well, you can forget all that. What I discovered instead was an engrossing theatre performance piece that is actually a one-woman show and is carried from start to finish by the remarkable actor Helen O'Connor. 

It's a sparse set that welcomes audiences into the Le Cascadeur tent at the Garden of Unearthly Delights. A couple of chairs and a box are the only things onstage that will catch viewers' attention. This is a show about Susie Atkins, one of the core members of the Manson family, and it is told through her eyes. Writer Stephen Sewell has delved deep into the Manson archives to produce this fascinating story, and Helen O'Connor plays her role(s) with aplomb.
Susie Atkins had an extremely tough upbringing. Running away from home at only 15 years of age, she found herself go-go dancing at various clubs before being discovered by Charles Manson. Sensing her vulnerability and a need to be loved, Manson twisted his words and made Susie (and several other young, vulnerable women) into his own distorted version of a family. Eye-opening, heartbreaking, and captivating, Helen's performance of this story will have you riveted from start to horrific finish. 

As much as I enjoyed Partying with Manson, The Garden venue seemed totally out of kilter with the show itself. This is a dramatic theatre production and would be much better suited to a venue like the Goodwood Theatre. A very noisy air conditioner, a squeaky entry door, and a noisy show next door sometimes took away from this quiet performance piece. But apart from that, you'll have a much greater understanding of cult leader Charles Manson and the whole Manson family, if that interests you. It may be a niche topic, but Partying with Manson is one of those shows that will be at the forefront of conversations come awards season.
****1/2 Four and a Half Stars