Colwyn and Filip are boyfriends and the sketch-comedy duo, Woah, Alyssa! After a couple of years on
the Melbourne Improv scene and as part of another sketch comedy group, the couple
have devised a show for themselves which they have already toured to Adelaide
Fringe and Fringe World in Perth.
This is a fine debut for the pair, jumping from silly puns to
physical humour to sharp satire. The boys push themselves, where even in
two-hander scenes, they’ll jump into playing a third, fourth or fifth character
that liven things up.
The opening sketch about the history of same-sex kisses on
television should work better than it does, but perhaps they were shaking off
nerves because they grew in confidence as the show progressed. Soon we are
introduced to recurring characters: Barbara Binks, an over-the-top talent
agent, and her assistants Paxton and Kroffner.
One of the smartest writing choices these boys have made was to
connect the sketches with these three central figures and to build an ongoing
narrative. This seemed to increase the urgency and hilarity of most of the
situations, because the audience was getting the know the characters as the
show progressed.
The sharpest piece of satire is the interview with Sir Michael, an
actor who has made his career playing a female caricature named Velma Fanny. It’s
one of the many digs the show makes at dated humour and how much sketch comedy,
film and television have changed over the decades.
My absolute favourite part was the scene where Paxton is late to
meet his friend at a bar because he’d been at rehearsal. Then it turns out, he
was just rehearsing an argument with his boyfriend… and the scene rolls on from
there. Hilariously clever.
The title Woah, Alyssa! 1
confidently suggests this won’t be the only time we see this pair on stage
together, which is great. They have a strong script and after a slightly shaky
start, the show kicks into high, hilarious gear. I expect they’ll get stronger
over the season. And I look forward to Part 2.
Comments