This Is Not A Love Song: Deep From Within The Mind Of Greg Fleet – Adelaide Fringe Review

Tuxedo Cat’s Perske Pavilion, Thu Mar 5 I imagine many of us have gone back in our minds to important times in our past and relived the events over and over again, and perhaps even imagined how things would have worked out if we had behaved differently. Greg Fleet allows himself this liberty and brings the past back to life via the character of Jimmy. It’s a curious and engaging idea that mostly works well. He positions himself as an observer of the action while he watches his younger self, played by Shane Adamczak, squander the chance of a mature relationship with his first real love. The show is interspersed with the music of their times with all characters and musician (Michael de Grussa) joining in the singing of the songs they loved. The songs are carefully chosen and add a layer of reflection to the narrative, and are catchy and infectious. Most of the show features the two young lovers in a realistic portrayal of their love’s rise and fall, and occasionally the older man interacts with the characters of the past via a kind of backwards time travel. This results in occasional humour, and a few rude shocks, but is mostly quite endearing. However I thought the presence of the older Jimmy on stage as a witness to the past was a little awkward at times, and might have been more effective if dimmer lighting occasionally made him less visible. Adamczak and Tegan Mulvany (also the show’s director) do a good job as the young lovers, and the ensemble singing is really enjoyable. It’s interesting to see what comedians come up with when they turn their talents to something more serious. I really enjoyed this. Michael Coghlan This Is Not a Love Song continues at Tuxedo Cat’s Perske Pavilion until Sun Mar 15. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. Image courtesy of Paul Robinson