When you are The Moon, you can pretty much guarantee you’re going to sell out a room.
From the moment you amble past the splendid trimmings of the State Theatre to your seat (I swear, the statuary changes shape while no-one is looking), that ‘alabaster retard’ himself is hovering above stage, amping our anticipation for the surreal and placing us firmly in the landscape of The Mighty Boosh. We will also be introduced to his snarling Dark Side, and while I love the stuttered musings of The Moon as much as the next person, part of me was hoping to see Noel Fielding expand his peculiar universe with some fresh inventions.
While the show was consistently hilarious, there were clear troughs and ridges. As Fielding lurched from one side of stage to the other like a kangaroo wearing snowshoes, he was at his best when improvising, dropping bizarre asides and creating an impromptu mythology from certain audience members. There were several characters he cycled through in the course of the night, but this is the Fielding I enjoyed the most – the little boy conjuring stories with his imaginary menagerie, amazed that he is still allowed to be building things of nonsense at the age of 41.
Speaking of, the guy sure doesn’t look his age. I had the opportunity to catch him up close as he spotted the charming (if about to be mortified) newspaper reviewer beside me. Leaping from the stage, he dashed over to try and prise the notebook from her, only to be met with the kind of protectiveness usually reserved for expectant tigers. There were multiple expeditions into the audience, and though he leaves a trail of embarrassment in his wake, such is the good-natured banter and clear pleasure of his romp that you can’t help but be endeared.
In its way, reviewing comedy is a tricky thing. You don’t want to ruin any of the surprises, but certainly there are standout moments to look forward to. His perplexingly believable transformation into an adventurous teabag; the arrival of the Chicken Man; and the animated, plasticine world that kind-of-sort-of functions as the show’s plot. Sure, there were duds that still bewilder me with their heavy-handed inclusion. The appearances of Antonio Banderas (played by Tom Meeten) fell flat, and the second half of the show was strikingly better than the first.
But trust me – this is an experience that will have you chuckling for days.
4/5 stars
Reviewed at the State Theatre on Wednesday April 22 as part of Sydney Comedy Festival 2015.
