Review by Lucy Holz
Playing on the Cabaret Stage at The Motley Bauhaus, We Forgive You, Patina Pataznik is 45 minutes of energetic sketch. Created and performed by the duo Jake and Liv (Jake Glanc and Olivia McLeod), this show delves into their traumatic adolescent experience with devious high school bully, Patina Pataznik.
Directed by Lucy Rossen, this show is in its infancy, with fresh jokes and costume pieces still being tried and tested. Split up into a series of sketches connected by one central storyline, this is a performance for the theatre lover.
We are transported through time and space through basic but effective prop, costume and projector use, giving this show an improvisation inspired feel. These skits rest in a place beyond improv but still heavily rely on its principals, suggesting at how the show may have been created.
Rossen’s directing style is cohesive and self aware, embracing the bare bones style of the comedy festival. Characters are all played and voiced by Glanc and McLeod with comedic accents and disguises signalling to the audience that a transformation has occurred.
Glanc and McLeod are a strong duo and the show is well balanced between solo moments and cohesive tandem work. Use of the projector also keeps the pace engaging, with the show ending earlier than we expect and leaving us wanting more. Despite corpsing from both sides, the pair remains committed and enthusiastic throughout.
Glanc shines in his solo work, tackling audience interaction well and easily handling the curveballs that come with it. His personal anecdotes are the funniest part of the show, as the humour rings of truth and draws us into his world.
McLeod undoubtedly has a passion for music theatre, and uses the projector to her advantage, creating an entire ensemble of Olivia’s to dance behind her. Her quest for revenge against Patina creates a relatable character and builds such an audience rapport that I find myself rooting for her to shoot her 14-year old nemesis.
This show leans heavily on nostalgia, with some jokes leaving the audience in stitches but flying completely over my head. Nonetheless I did at one point have to force myself to stop smiling as my cheeks were becoming sore, surely the sign of a successfully hilarious sketch show.
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