Oct 22 min read

Square - Sydney Fringe Festival (2024)

Presented as part of Sydney Fringe Festival. Written and Performed by Rachel Thomas. Directed by Madi Phoenix. Produced by Sarah Ballantyne.

A charming and funny search for meaning in her ability to be 'the funny one' as she comes up against Possums, bad dates, a bike helmet, Kate Ceberano tickets and a spiritual guide mother

Reviewed by Andrea Bunjamin

Erskineville Town Hall - The Spare Room

24-28 September 2024

Tickets: https://sydneyfringe.com/events/square/

Put simply, Rachel Thomas’s play Square is weird. The unapologetically, messy, yet ordinary kind of weird to be exact. And even though our lives often seem boring, this show is a testament to how the mundane can be exciting…especially with others watching.

We follow Esme Square, an aspiring bright-eyed standup comedian as she navigates a week in her life. From performing her comedy sets in dodgy places, to working shifts in Lululemon, to making up random songs, we see our protagonist through all her lows and highs. With an inner monologue that’s both relatable and bubbly, audiences are given a peek into the diary of a young adult trying to find meaning in her ability to be ‘the funny one’.

The one-woman-show, written and performed by Rachel Thomas features eight eccentric characters that colour Esme’s day-to-day. As Thomas alternates between narrating, impersonating and enacting, we see her attempt to make new connections and ponder on broken ones such as a flashback of an ex-BFF or working with a cool co-worker. Madi Phoenix’s direction ensures the different characters and perspectives are delivered in a cohesive and coordinated way that is easy to follow throughout.

Alan Dan’s sound design enhances the atmospheric tension, reinforcing the slowly building pressure that Esme feels as things begin to go wrong. Fittingly, the production’s set and props emphasize the sense of dysfunction and clutter you can imagine in her head.

The venue’s small but resourceful space transforms into a playground of items that Esme interacts with - a standing mic, an upright piano and milk crates containing key items. With the slight inclusion of audience participation, the production successfully utilises the quaint and unique space of Erskinville’s Town Hall Spare Room.

Esme’s world feels quirky. Her humour comes in short and sweet, while leaving much room to surprise her audience. Who else can turn embarrassing moments such as mishearing ‘sax’ for ‘sex’ on a blind date endearing. The strength in the success of Thomas’ comedic timing comes from her script – the delivery of her funny lines carrying the weight more often than her mannerisms. Between her light and sad moments, Thomas weaves through Esme’s experience with much ease that feels personal. Her ability to also place meaning in seemingly random everyday things make great motifs as we learn about her past.

Overall, Square is the type of debut play that could have many different iterations and forms - taking inspiration from a range of listed literary, cinematic, and comedic performers (i.e. many references to Joan Rivers). Square is a play that takes its own shape; reminding us about our reasons to tell our own stories and the joys that can come with it.