Adelaide Fringe: Frank Woodley – Fool’s Gold

Frank Woodley plays the fool with seemingly little effort. His physicality and bumbling ramblings on the surface may make the superficial feel like they’ve walked into a drunk man’s delusion.  But Woodley’s brand of comedy is much deeper than this and far more whimsical and irreverent.

The Arts Theatre is showcasing a number of Australia’s favourite comedians including Frank Woodley (best known as Lano’s other half, now separated).  A combination of story-telling, play-acting, slapstick and even a bit of magic and calisthenics thrown in, Fool’s Gold meanders for just over an hour without a lull.

Woodley’s skill is leaving a joke to lie… allowing the audience to interpret, absorb and eventually laugh at the punchline – sometimes several minutes later – never milking it (perhaps just squeezing the teat).

Some of it is absurd (a one man re-enactment of a brainstorming session with Hitler and his Nazi party a particular puzzling chuckle), some is heartwarming… some is borderline racist (yet endearingly respectful as only Woodley can be).

Putting all of these elements together, Woodley is unique, a chameleon of comedic performance and a joy to journey with along the meandering stream of consciousness shared with us. There’s a reason he’s an Australian comedic treasure.