The name of this show is clearly a play on words, but also the implication of confused chickens is fairly accurate too. Nobody really knows what is going to happen in these kinds of shows and that is a big part of their appeal.

Likewise I do wonder what role I can best take in reviewing such a show. The next Fluster Cluck will only share with this one its excellent and efficient technical team. I think the word is best served not by a critique of the show but a written record.

Comedian story teller Jon Bennett is our MC. His stories are funny and his sense of humour infectious. I wish I was going to see his ‘Gorilla’ show instead of having to come home and write about this one. But it is a ‘school night’ as we say. His next and last show is Jon Bennett: Jonbenét at the Gryphon, 7.30pm Friday 23^rd. 

Our opening act is Wellington’s beloved mind reader, Mike Kay. Dang it – one day I’m going to work out how he does it but this is not the day! He has us all scratching our heads and counting on our fingers. Happily he is in Fluster Cluck for the rest of its run so you can catch him too, and try to catch him out!

Next up is Juicy Lucy (Lucy Shand) who has a rich mezzo soprano voice and sings a velvety infusion of ‘Habanera’ from Carmen, ‘So in Love’ by Cole Porter, ‘Cry me a River’ by Arthur Hamilton and finishing with George Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’. She has a fine voice and a lot of fans in the audience!

The Bogan Yoga ‘Stretchercise Gurus’ hit the stage next with awesome exercises based on bogan pastimes. We follow along to the demonstrations and I seem to have lost 15cm off my waist so it clearly works (or maybe it’s just my dignity)!! You can catch the hilarious Bogan Yogis at Scruffy Bunny Improv Space at 2 and 4pm on Saturday 24^th.

After a short break to catch our breath, Jon Bennett introduces us to Rob Gee. Rob is a spoken work performer, whose poems actually RHYME in a natural flowing of words and story. He is from Leicester in the UK and draws upon a rich experience as a psych nurse to tell hilarious and warm tall stories. You can see his last show in this Fringe on Saturday 24^th at the Gryphon 7.30pm.

The most discreet brothel keeper in Wellington is next: 81 year old Patricia Goldsack (Katie Boyle) who takes us through the ropes (and the lubes) of Swingers’ Night. Katie always makes me laugh and Patricia is a fabulously funny invention!

Last act of the evening is the eponymous ‘The Man’. In latex tails and bowler hat and face painted yellow and black, he is creepy and his humour dark. He is very much the Fool in the traditional sense – the one who says what nobody else is saying. I don’t know who is behind the face paint and I can’t find reference to any acts under this name in The Fringe so he remains a mystery. [See this review of his 2017 show – Ed.]

So there you have it. The Fringe website lists the acts for each of the two remaining nights and these types of shows are a great way to get a sample of what is on. It’s worked for me and has helped me plan my last few chances to catch a Fringe show this weekend. Maybe I’ll see you at one of them!

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