Presented by: MILKE
This is Garry Starr’s masterpiece. Pure madcap frivolity from a clown who is perfecting his craft
Reviewed by Justin Clarke
Tue 04 Mar – Sat 08 Mar: 8:15pm
Sun 09 Mar: 7:15pm
Tue 11 Mar – Sat 15 Mar: 8:15pm
Sun 16 Mar: 7:15pm
Tue 18 Mar – Sat 22 Mar: 8:15pm
Sun 23 Mar: 7:15pm
Tickets: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/garry-starr-classic-penguins-af2025
Type: Clowning, Literary Humour, Comedic Nudity, Audience Interaction
If you liked: Garry Starr: Greece Lightning, Jeromaia Detto: When I Grow Up…
5 STARS
It’s official, I’ve seen Garry Starr’s genitalia more than any other man’s. And you know what? I’m not mad about it.
Garry Elizabeth Starr returns to the Fringe circuit, this time looking to save literature by retelling the well-known classics written by penguins. Let’s make that, retelling well-known stories printed by Penguin Classics! From Frankenstein, to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Love in the Time of Cholera and Journey’s End, Garry is ready to tackle them all.
The one thing you should expect when entering a Garry Starr show, is that you will see nudity. Lots of consistent nudity, and it will be near you at some point. Don’t think you’re safe just because you sit in the back row…
But that’s not to say this is at all crass or non-consensual. The most beautiful thing about a Garry Starr show is his ability to gently push against what audiences will consent to take part in on stage. Whether that be throwing fruit at Garry himself, offering up $100 of their own money, or crowd surfing in a packed circus tent. In Classic Penguins the boundary between audience and performer is well and truly smashed to pieces, and the show is all the better for it.
This is debauchery at its most linguistic level, with a penchant for occasional levels of genius in its writing and setups that will truly bruise your ribs from laughter. Has he saved literature? Possibly. Has he mastered the ability to make his audience partake in audience interaction they never thought possible? Absolutely.
If there’s one show to put on your Fringe show list this year to push your theatrical taste, make it this one.
Want more from the Adelaide Fringe Festival? Explore all the shows on offer this year here.
