Bonnie & Clyde meet the Desperate Housewives in the funniest way possible. Rating
Excellent
The world of Wilder! is that type of absurd that resonates very well with an audience. It uses the stereotypes of a small town, and it amps up all its quirky characters to the max. There is a trivialness to every conversation before the middle point, and a hilarity to the seriousness with which they are treated, that works because of the amped up stereotypes the show relies on. To this, the show adds an inverted gender hierarchy that just tops the absurdity wonderfully. The big twist in the middle is built up very carefully, dangling an obvious red herring while laying down the perfect clues. The resolution with the bully is also constructed from the beginning, making it very satisfying to watch. The setting, the tropes, the subversions, and the plot are crafted with an immense amount of precision, and it is thoroughly enjoyable.
What visually stands out most from this production is the fight choreography. It is a very physical show, deriving a lot of its comedy from it. The fight sequences are energetic, engaging, and clear. The slow motion fight near the end is both the highlight of the show, serving as the climax and the funniest scene, and the part that needs a bit more polishing, as the two fights happening alongside each other pull attention from one another.
The 1950s aesthetic is thematically great, but not entirely consistent. It fits very well with the idea of a small town where gender is very well-defined (even if it is women who stand on top). It also adds an element of comedy when seeing such a well polished couple as the Wilders lose control and fight. The rest of the characters, though, do not match that aesthetic visually, even though they are part of the antiquated town, creating a bit of dissonance in the visuals.
The cast of Wilder! is packed with comedic talent. Kgalalelo Thakadu’s Sheryl-Anne is the perfect frustrated and delusional woman. Jess Vince-Moin’s Phyllis is a garden obsessed megalomaniac, able to convey authority with simple gazes. Evie Weldon’s Martha stands out as the weird neighbour, playing up all the eccentricities of the town’s outcast, the bottom of the social pyramid, without falling into cringe. Thomas Billiouw’s Gregory finds the comedy in the simple and small reactions of a man at his limit. Danny Van Brabant’s Gloria exudes both sensuality and manic energy at the same time, being both the perfect housewife and murderer.
Wilder! is a five year long project that already stands tall and proud. Whatever form it takes after this tour finishes, I am sure it is bound to be as hilarious as the version currently running.
Written by Thomas Billiouw and Dany Van Brabant
Directed by Jillian Osborne
Fight Direction by: Becca Was
Assistant Stage Manager: Lily Roake
Set Design by Amy Marsden
Cultural Consultant: Ella Ashton-Shaw
Song Composed by: Josh Rosewood
Wilder! has completed its run at this year’s Camden Fringe.
