Okay, here we go.
Catfish Trifecta is the sort of show that belongs in a Roman gladiatorial arena. The Circus Bar is a close second best.
The show itself is an experimental devised format, as evidenced by the fact they don’t charge for the privilege. But that’s not really why we’re here. What Catfish Trifecta recognises is that most of their audience isn’t here to witness grand displays of spontaneity, nor witty ripostes from seasoned improvisors. They’re here to see how close Catfish Trifecta can get to hurting each other without actually killing themselves.
Right from the bat, we have Joel Luscombe slathering his head in chocolate pudding. You don’t need context. I think he’s just like this. He’s playing an improvised Ebeneezer Scrooge who is faced with the reality of his attitudes as ghosts played by Mo Munn and Ralph Hilaga haunt him for one night. While his head is covered in chocolate pudding.
Mo Munn is an adorable mess, struggling to come up with examples of Scrooge’s poor moral compass without resorting to the worst of crimes. She’s at her best when she’s trying to hold the madness together, trying to rationalise insane offer after insane offer. The show is often too much of a match for her, despite her valiant efforts to reign it in.
The third member of the core cast, Ralph Hilaga, is a magnet for attention. Every time he stands on stage, there’s nowhere else to look. Oftentimes, it’s because he’s oozes charisma and charm, but mostly because he’s miming jacking himself off… poorly. It’s honestly a proper flex. He captures your attention and holds it. He could do anything with it, and he chooses to wank.
A huge part of Catfish Trifecta’s improv philosophy is the concept of schmucking. Having characters attempt to better themselves, but instead end up worse off than before. British sitcom bullshit. Everything that the characters do in this show embody that philosophy. The Ghost of Christmas Present tries to improve his interior decor business but Scrooge gives him nothing to work with. The Ghost of Christmas Past can’t convince anyone to abandon crocs, or convince them to wear them, she’s very self-confused. Scrooge himself has to enter into a melee with Jesus F Christ with a fake penis in order to learn his lesson. Nobody is allowed to win. And so nobody does.
Another thing I really liked was the opportunities given to graduates from Basejump’s training courses. Throughout the show, as the narrative demands, cameo appearances from CT’s students inject a novelty that serves the purpose of getting the audience more familiar with their growing ensemble. Some are even planted in the audience, standing up to get involved loudly.
And this is basically who the show is for. Catfish Trifecta are doing a show for their friends, and anyone else is free to get on board, or get out. It’s a free show, after all, you can leave anytime. The audience loves it, cracking up whenever their friends make a mistake on stage or get just a little too silly. I don’t know where they’d go from here, but wherever that is, they’ll have a legion of fans and friends behind them.
The execution, ultimately, is simple. They take on students and train them up. Then they present themselves as a chaotic show based on the principles that they themselves teach. Then they mime masturbation and devolve into a wrestling show, a completely different show to what you were led to believe.
That’s a Catfish Trifecta.
Disclosure: As a somewhat active member of the Wellington performing arts community, I may be quite familiar with a number of the performers in this show.
Having said that, I am not a liar, and there is zero bias in my reviews, shut up.