PO PO MO CO show off their delightfully absurd Best Bits

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If we could describe PO PO MO CO’s Best Bits in one word, it would be absurd. The show is an unapologetically absurd dive into Lecoq-style physical theatre, with clowning rooted in that tradition.

PO PO MO CO's BEST BITS Photo: Claudio Raschella — Photo: Claudio Raschella

PO PO MO CO is a Melbourne-based queer theatre company whose work blends Lecoqian physical theatre with queer dramaturgy, creating transgressive, comedy-driven performances. The opening skit of the night has the four women standing topless in nothing but socks and a loincloth. Performed to Robin Schulz’s Sugar “sugar how you get so fly”, the humour in this act comes from the pelvic thrusts and facial expressions. It’s an attention-grabbing opener, but one that is not as strong as the acts that follow later on in the show.

Then two of the troupe wearing purple Grecian goddess dresses (well from the front anyway- bums on full display) are being puppeteered by another. This strange parody of wellness culture is like the weirdest yoga/meditation class you’ve ever seen. And to make it more ridiculous, the “teacher” is saying the words to 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up”. The words “what’s going on” sum up very accurately our thoughts at this point of the show.

The four of them come out on stage in flesh-coloured leotards, and with something long dangling from their waists. It wasn’t what we thought at all. They were giraffe necks! All performed to Toto’s Africa sung as you’ve never heard it. It’s another inventive act, though it didn’t quite engage us in the way the stronger pieces did

In our interview with Kimberley Twiner, she said “We asked: How does a ‘butt sing’? The answer is a hilarious lip-syncing butt puppet! We asked: How does a fart move? The answer – an utterly ridiculous contemporary fart dance. The list goes on. If it moves we can play it.” The next skit visualises that question: what does a fart look like? A woman in a suit stands on stage while another troupe member, armed with thick arm tassels, stands behind her. They look like car-wash streamers, and the interpretation is riotously funny.

Cats, both the animals and the musical, are the next target, with the troupe donning furry vests and hats and acting like cats: being skittish, showing some impressive flexibility and even coughing up fur balls. The piece is set to ‘Memories’ from Cats, with the lyrics famously changed to be very relatable for any cat owner: ‘do you shit in a box?’ or ‘do you want to come in or want to go out?’ The singer is the most bedraggled looking cat you’ll see and unhingedly uses the cats’ nipples (now revealed under their vests) like she’s playing bells.

A date scene follows, with a very horny couple who get increasingly loose, and physical as the date goes on. The waitress, still wearing her cat nipples around her waist, gives us some priceless facial expressions. A hilarious rap all about the clit performed by two women in neon pink and green snake skin suits is a perfect parody for men talking about their size. It’s wonderfully ridiculous, and something we’re now a little concerned we may end up accidentally singing in public over the next few days.

Photo: Claudio Raschella — The Grecian Goddess dresses from the wellness parody skit

The (2nd) Best Man’s speech shows us the fragile side of masculinity, when the best man feels second best, and heartbroken. It was the right balance of comedy and poignancy but it felt a bit longer than it needed to be.

Remember in our interview, Kimberley mentioned not just farts but also how a butt sings? The closing number for the night is the hilarious, and very clever interpretation, all performed to 90s club banger La Bouche’s Be my lover. It’s a very imaginative, crowd-pleasing, well-known PO PO MO CO classic, and the perfect way to end the show.

After an opening that had us wondering what we’d gotten ourselves into, Best Bits grew stronger as the show progressed. The ‘What’s Up’ yoga act, while mirroring our confusion with its ‘what’s going on’ lyrics, caused more bewilderment than hilarity. And although the ‘Sugar, how you get so fly’ opener was amusing, it didn’t feel as strong as the skits that followed. By the time the fart dance, and clit rap landed, the show’s inventiveness and genuine comedy were unmistakable. We recommend you go and see PO PO MO CO’s Best Bits at Adelaide Cabaret Festival, and let yourself be taken on their wacky, imaginative and absurd voyage.