Written by Nez Maurangi and Kathers Anderson
5/5 stars
After a successful season at World Fringe and Adelaide Fringe 2022, the Head First Acrobatic Company return to The Vault at Fool’s Paradise (Victoria Square) with their acrobatic gravity-defying performance of GODZ – a dramedy following the chaotic adventures of four Greek Gods: Hercules, Apollo, Dionysus, and Cupid.
Excitement is palpable in the air, as the audience quickly fills up the designated queuing area, ten minutes before doors open. The doors of The Vault open and it’s a mad dash to get front seats – arguably the best seats in the house. Zeus’ voice rings through the audience, his humorous announcement encouraging everyone to take pictures (except in certain acts), setting the tone before the show even begins.
Photo by Nez Maurangi
Darkness fills the high, domed room. One by one, a spotlight from above centres upon the statue-still figures of our four Gods. Hercules, Dionysus, Cupid, and Apollo pose before us, their muscular bodies presented as if they had been plucked straight from ancient Greek artwork.
Each God serves a role. Hercules is the main protagonist we follow throughout the story: he has a confident swagger that gives big golden retriever energy and we are made to empathise with his plight as he is often the victim of the other Gods’ mischief. Apollo is the bridge that connects the past and future, integrating modern art forms in both his main role as Apollo and his minor role as Hades, while Dionysus is a parallel of that one drunken uncle who is the life of the party – he’s charismatic and he knows it!
Photo by Nez Maurangi
But the true star of the ‘Godz’ is Cupid. He could be the ancestor of drag queens with the way he sashays across the stage, demanding the audience’s attention. Not only is he a death-defying acrobat who stands atop a constantly tilting throne of chairs as Cupid; the audience is treated to a series of twirls, tumbles, and trapeze set in sparkly glitter shorts, a white beard, AND six-inch platform heels for his rendition of Zeus.
Everything was on point in this performance, especially the selection of music, which featured appropriate bangers (including a snippet from the game, Hades). The Gods were so on point that a thrust from Hercule’s pelvis made one male audience member ‘woohoo’ so loud, he became the official thrust woohoo-er for the night.
Photo by Nez Maurangi
As is appropriate for Greek Gods, the audience were left lusting after all four, while aware of their unobtainable status. There was an attractive, sexy appeal to the way the performers pranced, strutted, and flew across the stage. The confidence and comfort the Gods had in their own bodies, and their fellow castmates, emphasised not only their chemistry, but also a complete bond of trust developed over the years.
Photo by Nez Maurangi
As the saying goes, “Grab life by the balls”: ‘Godz’ takes this literally and goes a step further. Look out for these guys – they’re hard to miss, and join them at The Vault before their 2023 Adelaide Fringe run ends.
On Dit 