By Jennifer Beasley.
Con Coutis mimes his way out of an unescapable prison with sound effects and a spice of help from the audience.
I swear your honour, I ain’t done it. I’m innocent!
Yes, I’m sure. A likely story, Jennifer Beasley, but you are now a captive audience member with all your other partners-in-crime, headed by the rubbery Con Coutis. You think you can just walk out of here? Not without laughing so hard you’ll fall off your chair!
Cue the magnificent sound effects and the incredible abilities of Coutis as we journey with him to escape Heck Island, maximum security prison located on a lonely isle somewhere in Coutis’s brilliant show.
A skilled mime artist, with great facial and physical mobility, Coutis constructs a story that begins with traditional stand-up, lolling us, his fellow prisoners, into complacency. But – before we have any thoughts of escape, the tempo changes, sound, lights, ACTION!
My fellow inmates, with their gracious permission of course, partake in audience participation. Rachael in the front row has her name turned into a song. Jade equally has a bit part to play, and I also made a one-word contribution! Whee, famous!
But the inmate star of the show is Lindy, who gets to play a key role in this laugh fest.
Brilliant use of voice overs, breaking the fourth wall and his outstanding mime skills (the nonchalant leaning on the golf club was so subtle yet took great core effort) transforms what could have been ordinary into an extraordinary adventure as the audience journeyed with Coutis to escape from this prison (not that any of us wanted to leave!)
Intermingling Masterchef, golf and fast one-liners, this excellent production weaves a story of likable fellow characters interned for no good reason against a system that suppresses individuality. Sly references to climate change, the banality of MAFS and the illogical timeframes of Taxi/Uber makes this show a must see!
The buzz when it ended indicated the heights of approval! Go see this, and let’s see if you can escape from Heck Island! Loved it!!!
Escape From Heck Island plays at The Playhouse @ Malthouse Theatre at 7:15 PM until 20th April 2025.
