Flabbergasters

One of Brisbane’s favourite production companies, Act React has delivered big time on the family friendly entertainment with Flabbergasters. It can often be a challenge to find a show that’s equally as engaging and uplifting for grandma as it is for the kids, especially when it comes to comedy festival programming. That’s why it is such a delight to see shows like this one finding a space in the Brisbane Comedy Festival at the Powerhouse.

Packed with magical illusions, courageous stunts, juggling, comedy, and non-threatening audience interaction, Flabbergasters had young and old laughing, shouting, and gasping throughout the energetic hour-long show. Performers Pete Booth and Joel Fenton were relaxed and at ease while improvising banter with the crowd. They had a warm and welcoming energy and they dealt with unruly, overexcited audience members with good humour and kindness.

Specialising in magic and comedy, Booth warmed up the crowd pre-show with some silly antics that had us in hysterics. Once the show proper commenced, Booth was joined on stage by Cirque Stuntman Joel Fenton. While most segments were run by each individually, the duo worked exceptionally well together between bits to keep the show moving at a great pace.

Booth and Fenton clearly have spent decades perfecting their crafts. Even those most cynical about magical illusion may have left scratching their heads in wonder at how Booth achieved some of his tricks. Fenton’s juggling and stunts were so daring that many audience members reacted as if he and his juggling knives might all come tumbling down upon them.

Some truly beautiful moments of audience interaction included allowing a child to win a balloon animal sculpt-off against Booth, with the set up appearing as if the odds were stacked against the child. Another was when both performers worked together to have a young audience member spin not one, but two plates! Generously, after the show, audience members were invited to take home a complimentary balloon creation. In fact, generous is a great description for how this show felt. Only the hardest of hearts could leave a performance like this without a huge smile upon their face.

Act React have a reputation for hilarious, interactive, pop culture-inspired theatre and comedy. They’re toured Speed: The Movie, The Play, Titanic: The Movie, The Play and Love/Hate Actually, The Play and numerous other funny shows to festivals around Australia, and Flabbergasters is a lovely addition to their stable. This is definitely a production company worth watching out for in the future.

Kitty Goodall