Review: Jofus and the Whale

Jofus and the Whale
Fish and Twiner's Bait Shop
La Mama
9 February 2021
La Mama Courthouse
to 21 February
lamama.com.au

Lily Fish in "Jofus and the Whale"

The first night back at La Mama since March 2020. Friends, strangers and sparkling plonk! What an unmitigated delight! 

And Jofus and the Whale is even more delightful. And perhaps the perfect metaphor for getting out of 2020 is Jofus escaping from a whale's gross and squelchy – so squelchy – insides.

Jofus in red nose, white tights, red striped socks and a tailored button-up jack and matching beret is Lily Fish's clown. Fish and her director Kimberley Twiner are founding members of the outrageously wonderful ensemble PO PO MO CO, who spent a lot of lock down dancing in the front yard of a house in Brunswick for passing traffic. PO PO MO CO often make shows for grownups, but Jofus is for everyone.

It’s a story of a Jofus and a whale. And a fish called Roger. And a dog called Samantha. It's a bit Moby Dick, biblical Jonah, Everybody Poops, Jacques Cousteau, and a reflection on obsession.

And it’s physical comedy at its most- skilled and honed. Being multiple characters, contemplating quests, and taking on the responsibility of being the first show in a theatre-as-loved-as-much-as-Melbourne-itself is a mighty task. Being your authentic clown that could only be from your heart, and letting audiences know and love you without any barriers is also a mighty task.

In her director's notes Twiner talks about clowning,  being alone and the important thrill of play and being stupid: "When the idiot is truly initiated, they have become brave, brave enough to do something very scary, to stand there, alone to look people in the eye, and to simply be one big-huge-absolute-unforgettable-unmistakeable dingus."

Jofus is a dingus, a dingus who is as thrilled to be back in theatre as theatre is thrilled to see Jofus. Twiner’s direction keeps the story moving and doesn’t let Jofus be indulgent, and Lisa Mibus’s lighting creates a world that’s easy to believe is under the sea or in a whale.

Jofus and the Whale is joyous. And wonderfully odd in all the ways that leave you grinning inanely for an hour. Underneath your mask, of course.

MICF: Po Po Mo Co

Nosfer-ARSE-tu
Po Po Mo Co
12 April 2018
Trades Hall, The Archive Room
to 22 April
comedyfestival.com.au

Po Po Mo Co

Melbourne's Po Po Mo Co take queer clowning so far over the rainbow that the rainbow looks dull in comparison.

With a pink-sequinned curtain, spooky villagers and bum puppets*,  the indie troupe re-imagine the famous 1922 German Expressionist film as a sexed-up panto, and ensure that "She/he/they is behind you!" never gets old.

With host nurse Regina (who qualified from the make-everything-sexy Halloween university), Nosfer-ARSE-tu is all cheek as a wealthy doctor leaves his wife to travel to a mysterious castle to pursue the truth that lies in his heart, and his arse. And don't worry, the wife gets to do some deep exploring of her own.

Po Po Mo Co are super camp, super queer and so outrageously post-postmodern that they defy description.


*Even if Betty Grumble does it better.

How to Fringe 2017: Claire Sullivan

Claire Sullivan
Comedian, performer, actor and writer
PO PO MO CO  are a queer, alternative comedy troupe

PO PO MO CO Presents: Recreation & Leisure
September 23–30
Fringe Hub, Lithuanian Club – The Ballroom

PO PO MO CO. Photo by Theresa Harrison

If you could invite anyone to your show (and you knew they would come), who would it be?
Well, Leigh Bowery obviously. But Bowery is dead. But if you could somehow bring him back from the dead and give him tickets to see our show that would be fantastic. PO PO MO CO LOVES LEIGH BOWERY.

(SM: if you don’t know who Leigh Bowery is, find out.)

The Melbourne Fringe in three words.
Exciting, inspiring, synapse-firing

A favourite Melbourne Fringe memory.
Just running around Melbourne late at night, after doing my own solo show to go see another show, to go grab a drink with a friend and then dancing all night at the festival club in the warm September air.

What is your experience as an independent artist being part of the Melbourne Fringe?
Melbourne Fringe is what you make it. You work hard, you learn. As an independent artist it’s up to YOU to realise what it is that you want from Melbourne Fringe. Fringe will support you, but you also need to take it upon yourself to make the most of the opportunities that will prop up.

What makes the Melbourne Fringe unique?
It’s big and small. It lets performance artists use Melbourne as an arts playground for the duration of the festival.

Your advice for choosing what to see in the Melbourne Fringe.
Go see something unexpected. From a show in a cupboard to one in a ballroom. See the exciting and the unfamiliar; that’s what Fringe is all about!

Do you think there’s a better system than star ratings for reviews?
Well, star ratings are pretty good for posters. But I think the use of language. In giving great descriptive pull quotes is probably best. Stars are a bit arbitrary.

Five shows/events that you will not miss at the 2017 Melbourne Fringe
Madame Nightshade’s Poison Garden (normally she’s a PO PO MO CO-ian)
The Travelling Sisters: NOO SHO
Hannah Camilleri: Vision Statement
Super Woman Money Program by Elizabeth Davie
Josh Glanc: Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Charmedian