In Gillian Cosgriff’s previous show – Actually, Good – which won the top prize at MICF in 2023, she asked people to make a list of things they liked. The show celebrated simple pleasures and embracing the positive. In her new show, she wants to know what we’re worrying about, perhaps with the idea that a problem shared is a problem halved.
But actually,
it’s not all that straightforward. Gillian knows that the song Don’t Worry,
Be Happy is a scam. There’s no worry/happy binary. We’re sophisticated enough
to do both. Worrying can be good for us. Happy is not the end result of “have
you tried not worry?”
Cosgriff is
a consummate performer. She does a little crowd work to find some common
ground between her and the audience and then two strangers. She gives as a
brief rundown of the myth of Pandora and her box; actually, a jar, if you happen
to believe linguists and historians. And then she uses our pre-show-offered
worries to explore the chaotic world of 2025, when we’re all giving too much of
our time to billionaires – and have mastered the use and pronunciation of the
word “oligarchy”.
Cosgriff sings an array of satirical songs that are clever and hilarious, and
sometimes so biting and truthful they take your breath away. I’ve always loved
Cosgriff’s shows because they are light-hearted and grounded in
emotional honesty.
This show is
the stand-out show of the festival for me, so far. After recently listening to
a discussion about how theatre finds it difficult to respond to present moment,
cabaret like this can be up-to-the-minute. Cosgriff wrote a number of shows
where she composed 8 Songs in 8 Weeks; her new show is so well-crafted,
but feels spontaneous. These worries might have been percolating in Gillian’s
head for a while (are motorcycles angry with her?) but some of the big picture
stuff could have been written yesterday.
Trying to
find a show guaranteed to make you laugh and think? Have
you tried Fresh New Worries? If not, you should.
- Keith Gow, Theatre First
Gillian Cosgriff is playing at the Arts Centre until April 20
Photo: Nicole Reed
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