Elixir | West Australian Spiegeltent | til Feb 25th | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

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Sci-fi, circus and comedy collide in this brilliant Fringe World show from the boys at Head First Acrobats.

Opening with one of the stars gnawing on a severed limb, it’s clear from the outset this isn’t your typical circus show. A zombie outbreak is coming, and these three scholarly stuntmen are here to discover the elixir of life.

Dr. Koontzmann and his two companions spend the hour sampling a number of potions and concoctions that unleash skill sets that allow the guys to perform some of the more impressive acrobatic feats I’ve seen at this year’s Fringe festivities.

Aside from the incredibly skillful displays, the trio’s slapstick comedy propels the narrative. If the audience wasn’t gasping at the stunts on stage, they were in fits of laughter as the dopey scientists attempt to keep each other in line and on task to record the effects of the elixirs.

The show is also narrated by a feminine, mechanical voice – whose deadpan sense of humour immediately reminds me of Portal’s GLaDOS. A neat little nod to the geeks in the room.

At times, the boys would break character as they struggled not to laugh at each other’s antics, but it only added to the fun and the audience was drinking every last drop. On that note, don’t sit in the front row if you have an aversion to unexpected liquids.

By the end of the hour, we realise the show has come full circle – and we discover the origin of the opening scene’s severed limb. Make sure your appendages are firmly attached before you enter the spiegeltent!

The fellas joke that the show’s hashtag is #BestShowEver, but it’s not that far from the truth. Elixir is definitely one of my favourites this year.

Let the boys take a bite before Fringe World ends this weekend!

Elixir is at the West Australian Spiegeltent until February 25th. Tickets and more information available from fringeworld.com.au

Leigh Andrew Hill