REVIEW – EVERYTHING I KNOW I LEARNT FROM MADONNA

Another entertaining one-man show has hit the iconic Old Fitzroy Theatre just in time for the Mardi Gras warm-up. As director Fiona Hallenan-Barker says, “You don’t need to be gay nor a hardcore Madonna fan to enjoy Everything I Know I Learnt From Madonna”.

Written and performed by Wayne Tunks, the show returns after a successful season in Melbourne at La Mama for Midsumma in January this year, just the kind of pub chat production that works best in intimate spaces like the Old Fitz.

It is obvious how much fun Tunks and Hallenan-Barker had working on this piece, evidenced by their shared undying love of their muse, Madonna. Tunks goes through the intricate details of his love life, from his time as the only chubby effeminate child at a school on the outskirts of Blacktown, to the uneasiness and exuberance surrounding his Madonna-themed coming-out party, to the most wonderful and most traumatising relationships he has embarked on since.

While it took a few anecdotes for the audience to warm up to Tunks, they were soon completely under his spell and drawn into his most hilarious and heart-wrenching moments.

Lighting by Larry Kelly added to the intimacy and emotion of the piece, as did the clever multimedia set design featuring projected lyrics from Madonna’s songs intermittently referenced by Tunks. (MH)

Until Feb 22, Old Fitzroy Theatre, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo, $32, mardigras.org.au