This satirical revue format is all about food glorious food together with all our prevailing attitudes and obsessions. Matt Byrne as writer, director and in the guise of “Green Thumbs” (who may or may not eat his straw hat!) leads his troupe of three on a dietary and food fad expose.
With him on stage are Lauren Weber as “Tegan the Vegan”, Jayke Melling as “Gluten Free (the third!)” and Adam D’Aspice as “Meat Lovers”. Each of them delivers more food puns than you could ever poke a French stick at.
Of all the sketches within I liked the sequence on coffee trends best of all. The notion of needing to get up early in the morning to milk the almonds really appeals. The footy sequence was okay too but, surprisingly, lacked a reference to the ubiquitous “footy frank”.
Indeed other food icons peculiar to our state failed to get a mention. The Menz fruchoc and Balfour’s frog cake together with the daddy of them all, the South Aussie pie floater sadly don’t get a guernsey.
The flatulence routine, which was certainly not for the tone deaf, failed to blow me away. It went on a little too long, but the audience loved it.
I was pleased that my favourite icecream Golden North was referred to in the dessert course.
Stage presence honours for the night must go to Lauren Weber. Her “tick” routine was slick and delivered with a delightful punch. She knew her lines and delivered them well.
The first performance gremlins were certainly out and about last night and there were many stage and technical glitches. Continuity, pace and timing all need improvement which will invariably happen over the show’s lengthy season.
“Vegans” is playing at the Don Pyatt Hall from Wednesday to Saturday (mostly) until March 14. I suggest if you are out and about on the Parade a meal somewhere and a look at “Vegans” is a pretty fair choice. It won’t break your “Fringe” bank and, if last night’s audience reaction is anything to go by, it’s worthy of a visit.
Matt Byrne’s VEGANS!Matt Byrne Media
Norwood Concert Hall – Don Pyatt Hall
View Website →