Its 1400s Germany and your best friend has just been burnt at the stake, and it’s maybe your fault. Cheery, right? But don’t be put off by the morbid situation, this darkly humorous show is fuelled by sharp wit and entertaining comedic chemistry between two peasants (played by Maya Le Roux and Bianca Waechter) and a witch they’ve employed to conduct a séance (played by Derya Celikkol).
From the moment the audience arrive in the studio, the atmosphere is one of supernatural unease. The lighting is low, the background music eerie, and the images projected on the backdrop pave the way for a mystical, serious, witchcraft-filled show. But this unearthly tension is quickly broken by the arrival of the two peasants – or wenches, if you will.
They arrive on a stage which is simply set, with a table and three chairs, against a cloth backdrop. Throughout the performance, images are projected onto this backdrop, helping to seamlessly and comedically link transitions and heighten the atmosphere on stage. Paired with the effective use of lighting and sound, this performance succeeds in creating an atmosphere that complimented rather than overpowered the comedy, allowing the acting to have the full focus of the audience.
The sharp wit and comedic chemistry of the two peasants was truly the highlight of this show. In moments where the jokes felt that they may be bordering on cringey, it was swiftly recovered by their darkly hilarious and witty bickering.
Beyond all the jokes, this show harboured a thought-provoking message about social media, pursuit of fame, and guilt and responsibility. While I had perhaps expected the show to take a more feminist route, being centred around witch trials after all, I was pleasantly surprised with the different route they chose to take, and the balance between social commentary and comedy was well drawn. However, it seemed that some of the more current pop-culture references got lost in translation, particularly to older audience members, earning the performers less laughs than they probably deserved.
Aside from a few cringey moments, this performance was well-executed and highly enjoyable. The simple yet effective staging worked well, and the concept was both comedic and clever. But overall, it was the hilarious chemistry between the two peasants that truly stole the show, and it is certainly worth a watch for that reason alone.
Wenches! is running until 23 August (excluding 10 and 17) at Olive Studio at Greenside at George Street.
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of Antonia Reinisch, provided to The Student as press material