Melbourne Reviews

Batten Down the Hatches! Secure the gold tarpaulin! The mullet is back and the mayhem is riotous as The Travelling Sisters take to the stage at the Malthouse for the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

Their latest show Thy – Thus – ‘Twas is fast, funny and farcical physical theatre that is fresh, frenetic and original.

The Travelling Sisters are three mates who met in Queensland, studied at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in France, before moving to London where they quickly carved out a name for themselves in the UK comedy scene. They have won a swag of awards and performed to sold out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, no mean feat!

Now in Melbourne the three female comedians – Lucy Fox, Ell Sachs and Laura Trenerry are performing as part of the Malthouse Theatre’s Melbourne comedic feast.

This trio return as Darryl, Vinnie and Berrick, three young blokes with a dream. The lively threesome pounce on to a black curtained stage as three mates with no talent but a whole lot of confidence attempting to create an epic theatre show. Their physical antics also stretch to swift costume changes and role swapping as the blokes’ mums.

This award-winning three-some obviously has a faithful following who take front row seats and eagerly embrace every nonsensical nuance. Those new to this physical phenomenon take a little longer to adjust to the triangular tour-de-force. Nevertheless, the quirky characters are endearing and intriguing, and quickly establish a rapport with all of the audience.

Lucy Fox bounds on to the stage first with a variety of comical stances and sporting a bright orange cascading mullet as Darryl. She is quickly followed by Ell Sachs as Berrick and the shenanigans begin. Laura Trenerry then enters as the fastidious Vinnie, a stark contrast to the frenetic antics of his cohorts.

All three are under the direction of Kimberley Twiner, who also helped create this show.

This is physical theatre – storytelling primarily through movement. Psychologists say that humans are hard-wired to laugh. But different forms of humour appeal to different audiences.

If physical humour tickles thy funny bone thus The Travelling Sisters, and particularly their mime crime scene are likely to be just the ticket.