Uta Uber Kool Ja | ALOFT Hotel Room | Until Feb 5th | ★ ★ ★ ½
I often daydream about going to a rock star’s after party and getting exclusive access back to their hotel suite to “bathe in their celebritation”. I never expected to play out this fantasy in a shipping container in the middle of Northbridge on a Tuesday night.
Are you open to immersive theatre (a wanky term for “being part of the action”)? Do you live for the behind-the-scenes drama of showbiz? Then now is your chance to get in bed with the one and only “UTA” (Georgina Symes). Not quite a has-been, more of an almost-was, this truly delusion wannabe is often more interesting than a real celebrity because she’s got nothing to lose. Uta’s melodramas are tragically comical, like a car crashing into a dildo factory. She is so desperate to be relevant, yet so ridiculously spirited that you might just find yourself rooting for her by the end of the 75 minutes.
Uta’s long suffering assistant George is playfully acted by renowned HIV activist Nic Holas. I found out after the show that two actors had met working together on a stage play 6 years ago, and the mutual devotion of their friendship shines through the farcical co-dependency of their alter egos. Eccentric George friskily guides you from start to finish through the manic-depressive evening. The more you get involved in Uta & George’s games, the more you’ll enjoy yourself.
Previously the show was performed in actual hotel rooms in Sydney, Perth & Adelaide, with the audience meeting George in the lobby amongst regular hotel guests and heading up to Uta’s suite. Now on it’s comeback tour, the venue is still a hotel room (provided by ALOFT) – only the plumbing doesn’t work and it’s in a shipping container in the middle of the Pleasure Garden. Although the authenticity and ambience of a real hotel is lost this way, the makeshift room is well constructed adds to the delusional, make-believe elements of the show.
A final piece of advice: Remember to always say YES & tell the truth UNLESS she asks what you think of her.
Hairy Mantoinette
Party with Uta Uber Kool Ja and Eccentric George at the ALOFT Hotel Room in the Pleasure Gardens until Sunday February 5th. Tickets and more info available from fringeworld.com.au
