More Fringe in Brief

Two more shows seen over the weekend.

Rubeville

At Northcote's Black Lung Theatre until Sunday October 15

Genius. Sheer bloody genius. That's the best way to describe this insane, hilarious, unsettling and chaotic show, which walks the knife-edge between self-indulgence and deliciously subversive theatre with absolute perfection.

Imagine George Clooney as a feverish con-artist, instructing his bumbling-yet-disturbing sidekick on the best way to run a scam, and both of them infatuated (for radically different reasons) with the junkie prostitute who will shortly OD in their living room.

Now imagine dirt-smeared performers baring their buttocks at the audience; actors breaking out of character to complain about their limited and cliched roles; loud arguments with the band who also appear on stage; and a television set that pours wine into proffered cups.

That's the world of Rubeville - the single most subversive and enjoyable show I've seen in this year's Fringe Festival. It puts everything else to shame. See it - see it now!

LCUK - Falling In and Out of Luck

At Fitzroy's Bar Open until Sunday 15th October

Spoken word performances aren't everyone's cup of tea, and often with good reason. Having attended more than enough badly written, flat and monotone readings of 'poetry' to last me for the rest of my life, it's a delight to see a writer of the calibre of Sean M. Whelan in performance. Coupled with the atmospheric sounds of Melbourne band The Mime Set, Whelan's surreal and sensitive texts are brought to unique life.

I would have liked to have heard Sam Wearing singing more, as she has a beautiful and strong voice, but it was also a great development to see her sharing more of the spoken word delivery with Whelan, as she counterpoints his slightly limited vocal range superbly.

The band were dynamic, intense and moody, and overall it was an excellent night's entertainment, and a grand way to end a rather challenging weekend.