Matthew Mitcham's Twists And Turns

Part of the fringe, Mardi Gras vibe, Matthew Mitcham’s Twists And Turns doesn’t lie: it’s an up-and-down tale about an up-and-down Matthew.

It’s also an up-and-down production. As a candid, autobiographical story, it ticks all the boxes. Matthew Mitcham, an undeniably beautiful, and majorly successful (he won a gold medal, remember?) white male suffers from two major societal stigmas: homosexuality and depression. It’s his story of coming to terms with these issues, removing barriers that were erected by his society and himself. Yes, it’s been done, but it’s still important. Frustratingly, the production doesn’t push its artistic limits. It pigeonholes a major part of his homosexual identity into the camp, clubbing, sex-nut, driven by excess. I don’t deny him that right to express this but to express it as the preacher to the ‘Go girl’ mentality choir stagnates it. An audience broke into rapturous applause at every reference to a “big black...” and any Mean-Girls-esque sass. Cliché was an easy hiding place and we would have liked to see something more sinister. This being said, the songs were moving and highlighted the show; the soundtrack is well worth a purchase.

Matthew Mitcham is stunning, talented, troubled, and brave, brave, brave. He just needs to step out from beneath cliché and onto a more challenging podium. He’s talented enough to make it, too.

Everest Theatre, Seymour Centre (finished)