REVIEW: Kitty Litter
- Natasha Dyson
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
If you finally snapped, who would you turn to?
This week the MC Showroom has the privilege of hosting the world premiere of Hamish Johnston’s Kitty Litter, an outrageous romp following the escapades of two people reunited on the worst night of their lives.
This sharp-witted comedy unfolds into the mother of all messes, complete with revenge, duct tape, shattered glass, blood, Maccas, and the giant cat. Our audience was in stitches anticipating which direction we would be pulled in next, desperate to catch the next out-of-pocket quip Johnston’s script thrived upon.
Sian Crowe and Hamish Johnston’s chemistry as Robin and Dan had us hooked from the outset. Their dysfunctional twenties will-they-won’t-they relationship dynamic was as intoxicating as it was frustrating, with an awkward authenticity that made the outlandish events of the evening feel plausible. Stuart Daulman’s Brian was a crowd favourite, blending the right amount of self-righteousness with comedic bits to uphold his position as the punchline without fear. There was no room for dignity in this piece, a challenge delightfully embraced by all three actors.
Unfortunately due to the intimacy of the space and sight lines, we were pulled out of the fun slightly during moments of stage combat/intimacy which would’ve been covered from the front. This was only a minor disturbance in what was technically an excellent show.
Cameron Taylor’s direction and the pacing of this piece kept the escalation of stakes constant, with several shock-factor moments cleverly foreboded. The clarity of Jason Bovaird’s lighting design made for a satisfying watch; it was a delight to see the character Dan in the quest against down lighting.
There’s a heinous liberation in seeing a show where the set gets trashed. Theatre is too often afraid to be messy, but Alice Vance’s set is a vital character in Kitty Litter’s chaos. Indistinguishable from any apartment in Melbourne’s North, the space was welcoming and accessible to adults of all ages in the audience. There was something in this show for everyone.
Big overarching morals aren’t really the name of the game in this comedy, but Hamish Johnston’s astute social commentary on the way we treat ourselves and others in our twenties is a wonderful foundation for the madness. I look forward to further productions from A Serious Goose, and Johnston’s agile style of writing.
Congratulations to the whole Kitty Litter company on the sheer fun and inevitable success of this show. If you are in search of joyous escapism, or you’ve been betrayed and driven insane by a total loser, treat yourself to this revenge plot for a full-bodied laugh.
Check out Kitty Litter until 11th Feb here
