Striding on stage dressed ironically as a parrot, Elf Lyons immediately had my attention.
Swan begins in a way that feels both chaotic and completely intentional. There’s broken French, bold physical comedy and the unexpected detail of having no pants. It quickly becomes clear that one woman is more than enough to hold the entire room, and Lyons does exactly that with confidence and ease.
From the beginning to the end I was completely captivated. Just when I thought I had a moment to breathe between laughter, Lyons would shift gears, at one point turning her back to the audience and speaking to herself in a deep burly voice that somehow made everything even funnier. Her physical humour is next level, moving effortlessly across the stage and using every inch of it to her advantage.
One of the most memorable moments was her dancing backwards toward the back wall, relying on audience members to jump in and save her at the last second. It was interactive, unpredictable and had everyone completely engaged.
There is a chaotic intelligence to Swan that really stands out. Beneath all the absurdity, Lyons weaves in strong views on gender and equality in a way that feels clever and intentional. Just when I thought the show could not possibly give any more, it ended with a full Monty moment I did not see coming. I left slightly shocked but also impressed by how far Lyons was willing to go to make her point.
Elf Lyons has finished her run at Perth Comedy Festival – check out the rest of the program here.