Kate McLennan, famous for her award winning character based show about a Debutante Ball ‘The Debutante Diaries’ and Fiona Harris who directed The Debutante Diaries’ but is probably more famous for being on Skithouse, have put a lovely show together that is about nostalgia, ambition and hope. They are performers with a lot in common, coming from the wrong side of the tracks; Kate from the country then Geelong and Fiona from Altona North, both fought against the odds had rough times at school and matured into talented comic actresses.
A large part of the show was about growing up including charming and funny childhood photos, home movies and lots of anecdotes. They also read out some of the stories they wrote at school, which was cute and a little embarrassing but didn’t make the bigger connection to the show for me. I was particularly intrigued by passing references to oddities such as Kate’s family wearing homemade undies. It was also a revelation to see such beautiful confident women as awkward, pimply, daggy teens. I felt that this would be a great show to take your teenaged kids to see.
Kate and Fiona’s reminiscences were interspersed with filmed vox pops from their friends about the themes covered in the show. As they admit most of their friends have similar lifestyles and experiences so their world view is pretty similar, but luckily they are all fairly well known and gifted comedians, so they were a treat to watch. Video guests included Tony Martin, Cal Wilson, Tom Gleeson, Robyn Butler, Terry Psiakis and Scotts Brennan and Edgar. There was the odd technical hitch with this but it hardly mattered because it was so much fun.
I know I shouldn’t write a review about what the show was not, but I wanted to know more about their friendship, how they met and more about the dynamics of the relationship. They had both had problems fitting in and making friends as kids, Kate had been nicknamed ‘Brickhead’ (frankly I was astonished at how she was able to pass over the nickname so lightly, as it must have been horrible I know) and Fiona’s best and only friend for some time was a tree, so I was keen to learn how their friendship was formed and how important being friends to them now is. There was a lovely rapport between them, but to work as a truly comic duo I felt they could have explored their personalities and exaggerated them a bit for comic effect. Otherwise the banter was amusing and they worked off one another well.
The publicity material for the show gave me the sense that the title might’ve been meant ironically, but the girls really did intend this show to be a celebration of how they came to be living happy, successful lives…. until a bit of a hiccup occured which for me added a vital comedic crack in the perfect picture. Kate and Fiona have moved away from the security of fictional comic characters to create a stand up show that is more personal and as a Fringe show is really still a work in progress. For example, at the beginning of their show they talk of their Vision Boards and I feel it would’ve been nice for them to give us a sample, instead we have large pinboards from each on the sides of the stage displaying old school photos and essays etc and a blackboard on stage where throughout the show they list dreams as they are mentioned and tick successes and cross those that are shattered. I felt the use of the blackboard which seemed important at the beginning of the show petered out and had no pay off which suggested to me that it either needs work or should be dropped. Overall I didn’t mind the odd glitch and their testing out of material, because what they had was a very enjoyable and nostalgic romp through their lives and an exploration of childhood wishes for the future that led to an unexpected show stopping finale. Livin’ The Dream is a fabulous fringe experience that I recommend to other dreamers.
Visit the Fringe website for booking details.