Taste of Your Own Medicine

Some years ago, at FringeWorld, an obviously nervous local GP made a stand-up comedy debut in the back room of The Moon Cafe. Since then, Dr Ahmed Kazmi has gone from strength to strength, playing increasingly larger venues with highly successful and award-winning cabaret style shows including Cabaret Consultations and Dr Ahmed Gets Hitched (an absolutely gorgeous show which plays again in this FringeWorld season).

This year’s offerings play at FringeWorld’s most prestigious (and most comfortable) venue, the Heath Ledger Theatre. The format of Taste of Your Own Medicine resembles more a one man play than a cabaret and draws on the styles of Indian and Pakistani TV dramas - while remaining firmly tongue-in-cheek despite the gravitas of some of the situations. 

Set during the Covid lockdown, Dr Ahmed, separated from his beloved husband while pursuing Dermatology training in Melbourne, finds himself in serious pain. The show follows his trip to hospital (during the pandemic), a return to Perth and hotel isolation, operations, and successive hospital visits, in a highly dramatic hospital style drama that puts your favourites in this genre to shame. Featuring dramatic crawls across the floor, the ghost of his dead mother and Imran Khan, this is a surprise filled show,

Always funny and extremely personable, the Opening Night audience were onside throughout, with the one missed gag of the show saved with a quip that it would not be in the show at the next performance. Tech at the first performance wasn’t quite on the ball (not unusual in a complex show during Fringe) and the audience just rolled with it. The killer moment was Dr Ahmed’s husband throwing a prompt from the audience; such a loving and hilarious gesture, that they would be forgiven for keeping it in the show.

A great show to see with your favourite medical professional; my daughter, a nurse, found some clever gags aimed specifically at those with medical backgrounds. This show will resonate with anyone who has ever been ill, anyone who suffered hotel quarantine and those who love a good laugh.

Kimberley Shaw