Tall tale has ring of truth
Mandurah Performing Arts Centre's new Fishtrap Feast Season continues with Absolutely, a giant-hearted story from a giant-sized storyteller.
At six-foot-nine and with everybody saying, "you should play basketball", Allan Girod's journey into performing was not a typical tale.
Absolutely threads together incidents both unfortunate and laughable in an autobiographical solo story as he finds himself pursuing a path he never imagined - being a performer in Cirque de Soleil.
Playful, touching and true, it moves from loss to hope to finding a place to belong.
It is honest and conversational in its presentation.
"The act of storytelling connects intimately with the audience," Girod said.
"There's no artifice, you're simply sharing your heart and frailties."
Audience members are transported to important chapters in life and diverse locations, from broken suburbia to a small Wheatbelt town, to the inner sanctum of Cirque du Soleil.
Absolutely had a sold-out season at Perth Fringe World in February last year, where it was awarded the first runner-up ABC Radio Performance Award.
It has since toured the largest performing arts festival in the world, the Edinburgh Fringe, and received high acclaim from critics.
Absolutely will show at 7.30pm on April 30 and May 1 and 2, with an 11am matinee on April 30.
Tickets and more information are available from www.manpac.com.au .
