Review – HolePunch
HolePunch is a show about an office and the three main characters who work there. It incorporates cabaret, acrobatics and comedy as it follows the trials and tribulations of these office-workers and their exploits in a mail room. The three main performers, Tash Dombrow, Michelle Zahner and Caitlin Armstrong, play the intern, the manager and the middle-management bloke respectively. The main plot point is that the photocopier isn’t working and they don’t want to call “Billy the IT guy” to fix it, and so begins their journey to try and remedy this issue themselves. Along the way we visit subjects such as forgotten birthdays, unrequited love, the pitfalls of being the boss and office shenanigans. A lot of the jokes are colloquial in style, taking jabs at Brisbane (which is the original of the show), Adelaide (where it was performed, obviously) and the current political discontent, and there are a generous amount of puns which seem specifically tailored for dad-joke enthusiasts.
The ladies of HolePunch attempt to cram a lot of different styles and plot twists into the hour-long show, and they succeeded in disappearing into their roles completely. The acrobatics were impressive and quite funny to watch, the monologues were quirky in deliverance, the strip tease was just awkward enough not to be confronting or gratuitous, and the set was just simplistic enough to give it a real office feel. The sound and lighting was right on the money too, emphasising characters and props where needed and then smoothing out for the remainder.
The issues I found with this particular performance were minimal, but seemingly easy enough to rectify. The ongoing joke of glass smashing when anyone mentioned “Billy the IT Guy” began to feel stale as the night went on, and actually worked to halt the flow of the plot. It’s just that the idea of the IT guy being a nightmare is really overdone; it’s like someone making a joke about airline food, and it just felt a little tired. The showdown between the boss and the intern had lots of potential, especially when it kicked off with the Old Western music as they prepared to dual. It was a really smart way to commence that section of the show, and I was genuinely impressed by their choreographed acrobatics. But then it just went on and on to the point where it bordered on ridiculousness. A really good theme or idea can be so quickly demolished if it outstays its welcome, and in shows like this timing is crucial; just a little bit less, and these conceits would have worked brilliantly.
That being said, it was an interesting story and the characters were really funny. The musical numbers were cute and fit in well. It had a good overall thesis and the stars of the show are clearly very talented performers, musicians, singers and acrobats. There is a lot here, and it would appeal to a range of people. Aside from the few things that I felt needed a little tweaking, it was an enjoyable night.
