Take an underwater complex built to ultimately save humanity, add a massive explosion, some verbatim theatre, a soundtrack by Toto and a dog called Captain Friendly and you have Monster of the Deep 3D.
Sounds weird? Good. Then you know what you’re letting yourself in for. The creator of Monster of the Deep 3D, Claudia O’Doherty, is a member of Pig Island, the comedy group that produced 2008’s Simply Fancy and the Golden Gibbo winner of 2007 The Glass Boat. These guys are known for being seriously absurd, and although Monster of the Deep 3D does have a very distinct surreal strain, in this outing Claudia has gone for a less dense, more accessible production. This lends the show a real sense of lightness and openess and gives the audience permission to relax into the experience.
Claudia takes the theme and uses it to shoehorn a variety of different ideas into this hour long show. But when you have a made up show about a made up place with made up stuff in it, you can do that. Claudia also uses some fantastic visual props to great effect in this show. It would be good to see it performed in a venue which showcases these props well. In the packed Son of Loft room in the Lithuania Club it could be quite difficult to see at times (so if you’re going, try and get a spot in the front row).
Claudia is chirpy and immensly likeable. This show is not only one of the most original I’ve seen in some time, it’s fun, silly, tightly woven and full of laughter. Claudia O’Doherty is a sheer delight.
For more info and booking details go to the Melbourne Fringe Festival website