Less than a week after the final performance of their unique and endearing real life love story, 'Love Life Laundry', the duo from Circus Sorbet takes on one of cinema’s most prolific genres, the spy action film, and still manages to make their show unique and endearing.
Circus Sorbet’s Anthony Tran and Fay McFarlane have won the hearts of Adelaide Fringe audiences over the last three years with their award-winning show, 'Love Life Laundry', which gave an inside look into the pair’s decade-long relationship, which included Anthony’s recovery from a broken back. Fringe artists can sometimes find it difficult to follow up from autobiographical works, because often the truth is stranger (and more powerful) than fiction. With 'Spyhard', though, Circus Sorbet face no such challenges.
Like Head First Acrobats’ 'Elixir', which sat supporting Circus Sorbet in the Ukiyo tent for the Adelaide Fringe premiere, 'Spyhard' merges circus acrobatics with cinematic storytelling. Drawing on familiar tropes from blockbusters like 'Mission Impossible', 'True Lies', 'Mr And Mrs Smith', Anthony and Fay adopt the roles of American and Russian spies who need to infiltrate a well-guarded facility, steal the McGuffin, and maybe fall in love in the process.
With the use of just a handful of props, like a laptop, a suitcase, and some guns, 'Spyhard' creates a Hollywood blockbuster atmosphere on an independent circus budget. The lighting and sound design are pivotal in telling the story; Anthony’s spy agency handler delivers deadpan instructions over the speakers, which often juxtapose with his comedic actions, while action scenes are soundtracked by 'Mission Impossible' and 'Pink Panther' themes. It helps that Anthony and Fay look the part of action heroes too; Anthony parodies action stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, while Fay looks like Angelina Jolie in 'Tomb Raider'. Despite their appearances, and their acrobatic prowess, they never miss an opportunity to poke fun at themselves, or each other.
Like with 'Love Life Laundry', the pair’s real-life chemistry arising from their decade together adds to the performance, such as when their characters engage in a steamy courtship dance, where Fay backflips in high heels. Each circus segment is placed into a storyline context; the ropes are climbed because they are scaling a building, or because they are hanging from helicopters. Beneath all the action, there’s also some heart; a message that we can overcome our upbringings, and that looks can be deceiving. All of this combined results in one of the most spontaneous and unanimous standing ovations you’ve ever seen. Like 'Mission Impossible', it’s likely there will be many 'Spyhard' sequels at Adelaide Fringe.
★★★★★
