100 Years of Lizards is one hour of pure 100% wacky fun. Have you ever wondered if lizards are poised to take over the earth? This show will reveal their dastardly plan to you. It also has dancing. And puns. What more do you need?
100 Years of Lizards is set on an island where a sentient race of lizards have retired after their genocidal attack on the dinosaurs. Dancing is banned (velociraptors danced, and look how that turned out) and the lizards lead a quiet, lazing-in-the-sun-on-a-rock life... that is, until the rebellious Lizard Prince (Alex Williams) meets the not-quite-as-she-seems lizard scientist Janet (Kym Parrish). Add in a TV host determined to eat as many rare creatures as she can in an effort to preserve her youth (Stephen Jones), the Lizard Queen she murders (Kym Parrish again), and a park ranger whose best friend is a plastic bag called Prince Eduardo (Alex Williams again), and you have all the makings of a very wacky show indeed.
I'm sure some people would come along to 100 Years of Lizards and leave feeling totally bemused. Patrick Lenton's surreal style of humour is not for everyone. It reminded me a little bit of The Mighty Boosh in its level of bizarreness. It's the kind of comedy that polarises, that you either get or you don't, you either like or you don't. Me? I loved it. Next time I go out dancing, the lizard dance is definitely getting deployed. Keep in mind, though, if you do come along, that this is not your ordinary comedy. This show is weird. But hilarious.
All three cast members turned in absolutely exceptional performances. It was a demanding show, requiring the performers to be able to act, sing, and have superb comic timing, and it was cast absolutely perfectly. I particularly want to commend the way the performers were able to switch between roles: Alex Williams' too-cool-for-school Lizard Prince was almost wholly indistinguishable from earnest ranger Dirk, while Kym Parrish was virtually unrecognisable as the Lizard Queen when she was playing Janet (and Janet's alter-ego as a fake gypsy spy).
I absolutely loved this show. I laughed the whole time (and for some time after). It's easily one of my favourites of the Fringe so far. I don't think it's a show for everyone - Patrick Lenton's brand of absurd humour is probably not going to hit the spot for all audience members - but if you love wacky fun, then this is the show for you. Absolutely recommended.
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Sexy Tales Comedy Collective presents
100 Years of Lizards
By Patrick Lenton
Dates: 20 - 26 September, 2012
Venue: New Theatre, Newtown
Bookings: 2012.sydneyfringe.com
