The ‘femme queer clown’ quartet Po Po Mo Co (as in ‘Post Post Modern Comedy’) began their show with no introductions and no explanations, just an amusingly awkward warning that there was going to be nudity. And yes, there was too. And quite a lot of it.
Running through an hour-long collection of their best bits (hence that title) from the last 10 years, this featured many musical numbers, all of which were, shall we say, a little weird. After a sort-of-mime set to Baby Bash’s Suga Suga, they then leapt into a bizarro take on 4 Non Blondes’ beloved one-hit-wonder What’s Up? (with extra shrieking), and then an operatic version of Toto’s legendary Africa, showcasing some uncomfortable-looking puppetry.
The audience began to laugh and cheer so much that it very nearly became hard to hear, but that wasn’t a problem as the music kept on coming: a jokey mock-hip-hop song about something that probably can’t quite be mentioned here; a raucous and leggy shot at the Cell Block Tango from All That Jazz; and more. The only sketch that featured actual proper talking (a sad and boozy best man speech from a wedding) did rather stick out, but it was surely there to give the three other members a few minutes to get their breath back.
Finally, an elaborate (and intimate) set-up led to a performance where La Bouche’s Be My Lover is mimed along to in an unusual manner which, ahem, was certainly, um, memorable.
Yes, my eyes nearly Po-Po-Popped out of my head.
To view the Adelaide Cabaret Festival program, visit: cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
