MARVELLOUS SNAKE BOY at the Factory Theatre
In Alexander Richmond’s new show, MARVELLOUS SNAKE BOY , Doctor Josephine has rescued Snake Boy from the family of red-bellies that he was raised by for 18 years in the Australian Outback. She now has to teach him how to be human. He needs to walk instead of slithering. He needs to learn to talk and discover what are good words and what are bad words. With words he can progress to comedy. He also needs to learn to use his hands and other there are life skills he needs to acquire.
Snake Boy needs the help of the audience to learn these skills. Snake Boy has an endearing childlike innocence which he uses to coax them to join in the fun. This is an interactive show and no one should feel nervous about sitting in the front row. Alex has constructed a character and a comedy show that does not pick on the audience. He draws them and has lots of fun with them.
The use of music, audience participation, karaoke, joke telling, a PowerPoint presentation and even some old fashioned pantomime gives the show some variation. It makes the evening an entertaining and involving evening. I liked the inclusion of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and Rick Springfield’s Jessie’s Girl in the narrative. They may seem like discordant components but when you are going through the process of learning to be human everything is suitable to be included.
The fact that there is a story makes this a more interesting show than simple stand up and Alex’s snake humour grew on me as the evening progressed. We also get to see the evil side of a snake for some added complexity.
MARVELLOUS SNAKE BOY from Baby Boy Bolognese [Facebook] part of the Sydney Fringe festival. It is on at the Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd Marrickville, Saturday 1st September.
Snake Boy is Alex Richmond, Dr Josephine is played by Daniella Pilla and Juliet Rae Timmerman briefly appears as Mongoose Man.
