In Compagnia Baccala’s 'Pss Pss', the rubber-faced stars present a masterful array of art forms, delivering laughs on command and white knuckle gasps; it seems like the only thing the Swiss/Sicilian duo can’t do on stage is speak.
Over the past decade, mimes Simone Fassari and Camilla Pessi have traversed the globe with their debut show, 'Pss Pss', collecting over a dozen awards along the way. After more than 700 performances in over 50 countries, the work arrived in Adelaide having been honed, pressure tested, and designed to be almost universally relatable.
Standing on a black circular carpet and armed with only a ladder, a few pieces of fruit and a diabolo, the duo evoke chuckles with every puff of their cheeks, bulge of their eyes or waggle of the finger.
In the din of Gluttony, with '80s soft rock classics like 'Eye Of The Tiger' blaring from nearby speakers outside the soundless Ukiyo tent, the pair silenced all distractions as they competed for the audience’s attention with increasingly elaborate physical stunts, culminating in a stunningly unanticipated and daring finale.
Simone and Camilla take risks. It seems unlikely that their insurance company has ever seen their show, given some of the chances they take, particularly with audience interaction.
With devout faith in the strength of their characters, though, they bravely place their fate in the hands of the crowd, both literally and figuratively. When characters are this loveable, who could think of letting them down?
While Fringe shows can notoriously be hit-or-miss, this has been a hit everywhere it has gone, and it is unmissable here. Get in quick, before the word of mouth whispers become a roar.
★★★★★
