Theatre Review: Classic Penguins

Classic Penguins

Performed by Garry Starr

Conceived by Damien Warren-Smith                      

The Grand Electric until October 12

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP, MAICD

Garry Starr's Classic Penguins has opened at The Grand Electric. 

Where do I start with this show? 

Garry Starr entered stage centre, turning around on a swivel armchair to reveal himself smoking a pipe and wearing flippers, a tailcoat, an Elizabethan period ruff collar, a top hat and nothing else, so if you'd be offended by seeing his gear for the entire show, you might as well stop reading here. 

One by one, he went through a bookshelf full of Penguin classic titles, and of course Moby Dick was included. 

He drew individual audience members to help him to act them out. After the first few interactions, some people were understandably initially reluctant, but Starr’s charm enticed them to cross the line.

Garry Starr’s circus and acrobatic skills are impressive, and the trapeze allowed him and his tackle to fly over, and close to the audience. At one point, he was a naked human surfboard and audience members were the waves. Yes, a rigid, nude man was passed along the top of the audience. It was a new twist on crowd surfing. On the night on which I attended, the arms of two people collapsed and Starr almost fell head first onto the floor, but he stayed in character and didn’t bend or look panicked.

Yep, this production is extremely interactive, and there are numerous "Eeee-yew" moments, especially during the baby bird bit. 

Classic Penguins is unusual to the point of uniqueness; it’s engaging, entertaining and very funny. There are no slow bits in this show, no room to drift off to other thoughts.

The Grand Electric hosts very few long runs, but by season end on October 12, I expect that most of the gay men in the state will have seen it, not because of the nudity, not because of the highly tactile nature of the show, but because of the freedom, the utterly uninhibited expression by an outstanding performer and a receptive audience.