Joni: Play (Like) A Man comedy review – Skating a fine line
Susanna Pukkila’s roller-skating comedy turns the locker room into a wildly absurd spectacle
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Did you watch Heated Rivalry and think, ‘Man, I wish this show had more hockey’? Well, neither did this reviewer, but seriously, Joni is the next best thing. While ice hockey is generally foreign to Australians, we now understand that the overall vibe of the sport includes skating, grunting, pushing players against barricades and homoerotic undertones. Joni has all of that, plus more, as Susanna Pukkila presents an hour of unhinged comedic genius.
It is no mean feat to perform on roller skates; Pukkila does it for the entire show, despite the amount of (fake) bodily fluid from the match spilled on stage. We enter a familiar scene: the locker room before the big game, where every audience member is transformed into an integral team member. If audience participation is not your thing, it will be after seeing this, as Pukkila has a disarming knack for inspiring camaraderie. Our team is heroically captained by Joni, a man who is as dedicated to victory as he is to keeping his emotions in check. Between the game’s three periods, our captain employs different tactics to bring out the team’s best, each more absurd than the last. The already action-packed match ends in a penalty shootout, resulting in a victory for… actually, you’ll have to find out for yourself.
Pukkila’s commitment to character is unparalleled and makes for a show that is hysterically funny and wildly entertaining. What a magnificent way to round out this year’s Fringe season.
Joni – Play (Like) A Man continues at The Crawford Room at The Courtyard of Curiosities at the State Library until March 22.