The Angry Piñata Unstitched is a series of loose sketches and ideas performed by CJ Fortuna and pals (there was no programme for the show so I can’t tell you who his pals were, though they were all good performers). It’s performed at the Red Stitch studio on Mondays and Tuesday nights when the theatre company isn’t doing a show. It’s a wise move by Red Stitch to programme a comedy show during the festival as it gives the venue another life outside of its usual season of shows.CJ Fortuna is an interesting performer who is particularly strong at creating off the wall characters, such as his Angry Piñata and the man who sings about just wanting to light up his a cigarette. But overall there seems to be a lack of confidence in presenting the sketches to the audience as about 60% of the show is on video. Ordinarily this would have been fine, particularly if the show had some complex set changes or costume changes but there isn’t anything that justifies the amount of time the audience spends watching this show on screen instead of on stage.
Most of the sketches could have been performed in front of the live audience and would have been funnier as a result, because watching the show on a screen removes you slightly from the action, and makes it harder to become involved with the stage action when it returns. At time CJ Fortuna’s humour is a little obvious and it would have been nicer to see a little less of the clichéd humour (e.g. Batman and Robin as a gay couple).
Having said all this, CJ Fortuna and his pals have some really interesting and odd ideas that it will be interesting to see them develop. As a performer Fortuna is at his best when he is creating down and dirty characters that seem on surface to be mean and nasty but underneath have a softness that invariably makes you grow to like them. It is these characters that I’d love to see more of and that makes Fortuna and pals a group to watch.
Red Stitch Actors Theatre presents
The Angry Piñata - Unstitched
CJ Fortuna
Venue: Red Stitch Actors Theatre | Rear 2, Chapel Street, St. Kilda
Dates: 24th Mar - 8th Apr
Times: Mon - Tue 8pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Prices: Full $20, Conc $16
Bookings: 9533 8082 & at the door