Once Were Pirates – Speakeasy
Philosophical drama muddies the waters of this dark comedy a little too much for our liking.
Overview
On paper, Speakeasy's Once Were Pirates has everything you could want out of a Fringe show. A dark sense of humour, an award-winning writer, an energetic and talented small cast and, of course, pirates. While all these elements work well on their own, the show as a whole is lacking. As the characters fight and gripe about their somewhat confusing circumstances, you're never quite sure whether you're watching a slapstick comedy or a contemplative drama. Because of this, it doesn't quite satisfy as either.
Wrangling absurdity into the everyday, Emily Collyer's story follows the new workaday lives of reformed pirates Shane and Gareth (Ben Clements and James Cook). Living amidst a sea of knick knacks and rubbish, the pair spend their time devising get rich quick schemes and wrestling with the difficulties of getting by in the normal modern world.
As Gareth accepts the constraints of his new workaday life faster than Shane, the pair develop a great on-stage dynamic as an unconventional odd couple. Tensions between the two are amusing and get a big reaction from the audience with their slapstick physical humour. At times their outlandish style and high-energy performances are reminiscent of the work of gross-out greats Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson.
If utilised for the entirety of the show, this relationship would have made for a great dark comedy but the story too often delves into philosophical drama. While some reviewers found this to be rewarding, I found it to jar with the absurd nature of the work. It's hard to give genuine empathy to these characters with no discernible backstory or outside context. If we can't muster sympathy for the squabbles between Captain Hook and Smee, how can we offer it to two confusing Aussie counterparts.
On a faultless note, the set design by artist Alexandra Hiller is beautifully ornate and well-utilised. Garbage bags pile atop one another to frame the action perfectly, and the grand romance of piracy is subtly recreated onstage with considered props and intriguing shadowplay.
Like a grand ol' ship sailing the seven seas, it's a shame the story itself was a little too turbulent for our liking.
For more works at the 2014 Melbourne Fringe Festival, check out our top ten picks.
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