Love Bites At The Hands Of Alice Fraser – Adelaide Fringe Review

Producers Garden, Tue Feb 25 This was an excellent idea for a panel show, hosted by the gracious Alice Fraser. This is a themed chat show around Love, but because there are comedians involved it tended more towards sex. The strength of a show like this is in the dynamic among the panel and with the host, and tonight’s show was well put together – Alice Fraser, ex lawyer turned comedian, positively Austen-like in her politeness posed the questions, Sarah Bennetto, storyteller, with an 11-year relationship behind her, Yianni with a personal best of four years and a late starter romantically and Marcus Ryan who was getting comfortable with porn around the age of 8 and I think said he had two years as his longest relationship. What was refreshing about this show is it wasn’t just shagging stories and unusually among comedians nobody tried to outdo each other in experiences and they even allowed some surprisingly witty interjections from a small but perfectly enthusiastic audience. With topics ranging from early sex education to ‘what happened next?’ scenarios allowed everyone to contribute and there was even ‘problem page’ of dilemmas supposedly sent in by previous audience members which required advice. As a chat show it was enjoyable enough; and touchingly honest and revealing at times, they weren’t practised old stories, polished by overuse but confessions, quite endearingly bumbling or unappealingly sleazy at times. The laughter came from the honesty and spontaneity of the team, with Ryan at one point surprising himself ‘I’ve never said this on stage before’. Fraser needed greater firmness as the chair, as the comedians’ instinct to keep talking rather than listening meant that some interesting points got dropped. A smart and entertaining show, with the right panel and where blunt truths were more powerful than sharp wit. Julia Chamberlain Love Bites continues at Producers Garden and Channel 9 Chapel Of Love – Comedy Club until Sun Mar 15. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.