Review – FOMO
FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out is a hilarious, theatrical sketch-comedy not to be missed. Zoe McDonald plays seven characters (and then some) who run the Zoe McDonald Radio Show. We meet Maureen from Volunteer Security who runs an unnecessarily tight ship, the poetic Pamela who, with her dulcet tones, quotes many a classic (and some Aerosmith too), and Jill Zoe’s straight-laced, competitive co-host. Then there’s the tough and slightly off-kilter Jessica, Anita the ditzy, upbeat beautician, Dina the power-house motivational speaker, and Zoe – an autobiographical version of the show’s creator. She’s on the brink of meltdown, experiencing pressures of life as a media personality she must try to explain and justify her fear of missing out to her wacky colleagues.
FOMO is a well-slicked hour of laugh-out-loud entertainment, and McDonald’s performance is flawless. Directors Nathan Gilkes and Bryce Ives have created an immersive world, where it even takes a little while to realise that these characters are all aspects of Zoe’s psyche (it’s that good). Anna Boulic role as voice director has no doubt been of use here; McDonald’s ability to snap between characters with her voice alone is incredible.
Set in Radio Adelaide’s cosy studios the audience are handed individual headphones to use throughout the show, a brilliant touch adding another way in which to appreciate McDonald’s vocal range and immerse us into the radio world. The small studio is utilised brilliantly. McDonald fills the limited space, and even escapes to have a breakdown which we sit and laugh at through the studio glass – a show highlight.
Beyond all the fun and hilarity Zoe McDonald does have a point to make. FOMO is about the anxieties caused by modern day communications and the pressures we unnecessarily impose on ourselves as a result of comparisons of fake-personas displayed on social media.
We could’ve done without the friends and family audio montage reflecting on Zoe and their thoughts on the show. Although it was moving, and it added depth and humanity to Zoe’s “character”, it over-illustrated the point it was trying to get across and lessened the impact of the impending melt-down; it was tough to get back into the fictional world there from then on in.
Overall, Zoe McDonald is hilarious and even the mainstream Garden audience should be getting into this piece.
