Presented by Extraterrestrial. Performed and Co-written by Florian Wild. Directed by and Co-written with Oliver Ayres
Florian Wild demands we be trans and proud! Monster is a punchy hour of flawless vocals and belly laughs.
Reviewed by Carla Di Maggio
The Loft, Chapel Off Chapel
Wednesday 29th January – Sunday 2nd February 2025
Tickets: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/monster/
Type: Cabaret/Drag/Queer Celebration
If you liked: Rocky Horror, Drag Cabarets
Florian Wild’s Monster explores transness throughout his life, from growing up catholic, to grappling with transphobia on Parliament steps – this show is unafraid to explore it all.
Florian creeps up behind us and introduces us to their unabashedly truthful world as he takes us on a journey through their life with complete trust and honesty. As an audience member, I felt inspired. I felt welcome and I felt exactly at home. But what amazed me was the fact that Florian was so playful with his material. A standout example of this was when they commanded the will of an audience member by making them hold the mic for them. Not just for a short period, no, while they performed The Dismemberment Song. He challenged his audience by taking long strides to and from the stage. Florian was excellent in this interaction because we were not laughing at the audience members’ struggle to keep up but rather the impossible task Florian had set.
If you weren’t already stunned by the vocals and the theatrics, Florian’s costume is simply gorgeous. The artistry in their costume works with the show, bright reds and whites shock against the black box theatre. I was obsessed with the clean white aesthetic adorned with drips of shiny red diamantes. OBSESSED.
The lighting also exaggerated the contrasts in their costume as the performance began in the dark with Florian quite literally creeping on stage. Then, thunder cracks, we catch a glimpse of the band THE RED SCARES as Monster is born. Throughout the show, the lighting brilliantly reflected the tone of each moment: dramatically horrific, anxious fun and honest confessions.
Ever since watching this performance, it has played with my mind (fondled the folds of my brain, if you will). I have a wide smile on my face writing this review, but earlier on, reflecting upon the content matter, I realised that this show is important for our current political climate. In any queer space, Florian acts as our mirror, showcasing our emotions and bringing them under the spotlight. But they are also human and unafraid to say that he is “tired”; this show is desperately needed.
Florian’s stamina is outstanding, and although he does take a couple of breathers throughout the show, he does so in such a playful way that you would never guess how tired he may be. The show’s direction, although simple, allows Florian to shine.
My only qualm with the show is that I wished to languish more in the silences. Florian is such a brilliant storyteller that he has his audience in the palm of their hand to the point where you could hear a pin drop when he opens his heart to us. His honesty is such a talent that I would not have minded sitting in it for longer.
I sincerely recommend seeing Monster in its limited season. The show is what I needed at that moment in time, and it has the power to touch the hearts of many.
Theatre Thought: What makes something or someone a Monster? Is it always fantastical, or are monsters just creatures we haven’t bothered to understand?
Monster plays as part of Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival until the 2nd February. Tickets can be booked at https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/monster/
