Kathy Maniura: The Cycling Man comedy review – A Lycra fun
A sharp, cheeky takedown of cycling culture blends British banter, drag king chaos and pop-infused silliness
The Brits are like our favourite cousins here in Aus, though we don’t always see eye-to-eye when it comes to mushy peas and endless cups of tea. But the moment one of you comes over with some witty bants and a mission to take the absolute piss out of cyclists, suddenly our two nations are one: what a beautiful thing.
Set in the emergency department after a tumble, we are introduced to a very big, very strong boy, known only as The Cycling Man. His body laden with Lycra, his face bloodied and bruised, armed with nothing but some questionable GoPro footage and a copy of the Financial Times for comfort. As a cyclist of obviously world-shattering importance, he recounts his journey and the undeniable significance of his existence (and if you can’t pick up on the sarcasm here, there’s a chance this show might not be for you).
Some of the more uniquely British humour cycles straight over the audience’s heads in this show, but for the most part most folk are in stitches. Clever from its conception and outstanding in its execution, it blends pop music, comical crowd interaction and sketch-style entertainment alongside the mysterious and offensive bulges of a drag king persona.
Kathy Maniura: The Cycling Man performed at The Breakout at The Mill continues until March 22; main picture: Joanna Dart.