racks in the Garden Reviews

Cracks in the Garden (Zoo Venue, 10:30p nightly until the 29th) is first and
foremost, damn funny. New Zealanders Jo Randerson and Gentiane Lupi are
seasoned comediennes, practicing the craft with confidence and outrageousness.
Secondly, the show is a brilliant sketch revue skewering the conventions of
woman's roles, the patriachy and overall authority itself. The random series of
sketch presentations are framed by a "second show" of backstage infighting,
covered by bursts of fake "please stand by" music (provided by tech coordinator
Melanie Hamilton, a defacto third character). The sketches themselves are
impossible to describe, they have common framework (stand-up act, Renaissance
fop, Disney-type cartoonish, hip-hop) but they are imbued with an absurdity
that seems to dictate an otherworldly sense and have layers of commentary
beneath their facades. Randerson and Lupi seem to be mucking about the roles of
women in society, but in essence they are pointing towards every individual's
slavery to convention, how insidious this capitulation can become and how
absurdly funny the life instances are that these conventions create. Randerson
and Lupi are truth definers, and their brand of truth will have you rolling in
the aisles. A brilliant must-see.

*****Revelation and Revolution 18 Aug 2005 Reviewer: Pat McDonald, USA

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Strong characters, perfect timing, and an original voice make this two-person
show (three if you include the offstage tech who is referred to often) a fun
hour of fast paced takes on doing a two-person show. When we meet the two
performers, Jo and Gentiane, they show us the first of many facets of their
characters, a couple of giggling girls just doing a show. As the show goes on,
they peel off the layers of their relationship, showing us the funnier sides of
their back-stage world. How they deal with the bits that go wrong and the jokes
that bomb. The arguing, the insecurity, the pressure, the backstage drinking;
we see it all. It works because we believe the "onstage" and the "off-stage"
comediennes. We start to wonder if they can make it through another show
together or if this is it? Taking jabs at European movement -theatre, stand-
ups, children's theatre, theatre of the absurd; they hit their targets with
markswomen like accuracy. The ideas and images they create may be a little out
there for some, but it's a gem of a show. I liked it so much I saw it twice.

****A really fun show! 17 Aug 2005 Reviewer: Noel , USA

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