Despite the spot-on, grating, posh accents of Broke and Fabulous in the 21st century, I could not tear myself away because the script was just so damn hilarious.
Broke and Fabulous in the 21st Century is set in an incredibly dressed apartment in an old theatre. Rich fabrics, antique furniture, paintings propped up on the floor, a total mess, its-expensive-to-look-this-shabby-chic. We meet Lexi (Dale Robertson) and his lover Alex (Rowland Stirling) in a sprawled out, post-coital state — a juxtaposition of campy and closeted. The tone for the show was set immediately by the actors’ performances, the set dressing and costume design (or lack thereof, see the red silk boxers Alex strutted about in for the entire show.)
The number of incredible one-liners in this show was unbelievable — the writing was sharp and funny.
Petunia (Olive McHugh) entered the stage with a crash. Her non-stop verbal diarrhoea meant I didn’t even notice her take gulps of orange wine: by the time her ranting was over, the bottle was empty. McHugh, adorned in furs, stilettos and lingerie, brought an explosion of energy to the stage that meant that I began to love this insane, spoiled and totally unreasonable character, despite my certainty that if I ever met someone like Petunia, I would run the other way.
This show was like being shouted at for an hour, but I didn’t mind because these characters were so fabulous! And when the plot thickened, twisted and turned, I didn’t want the show to end. I was so enveloped into their ridiculous little world that I half expected this fast-paced tale of identity to continue even once the lights were turned off and the bows had been taken.
Wine sloshed, weed-brownies were consumed by accident, Jesus was described as “the ultimate Neppy-Baby,” and I loved every second of it.
Broke and Fabulous in the 21st Century is showing until 31 August at Dram, Gilded Balloon Patter House. Buy tickets here.
Image by Alexander Hansez, provided for press use.
