Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen @ Space Theatre, Adelaide 1/3/2025
Have you heard the one about the comedian with the boyfriend who can’t laugh? It’s a tragicomedy of epic proportions.
Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen is a one-act, one-person stream-of-consciousness black comedy about a continually single, expertly neurotic stand-up comedian (Samuel Barnett). When he finally meets his Mr Right at age 36, his inner saboteur rears its ugly head as he begins a hilarious journey of self-sabotage.
Written by Marcelo Dos Santos and directed by Matthew Xia, Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen resembles a stand-up comedy routine. The set is minimalist, with only a red curtain, stool, and microphone stand. Throughout his routine, Barnett invites us into his world of queer love and emotional vulnerability resulting in a performance that effortlessly blends humour with unexpected tension.
Elliot Griggs’s lighting design is spectacular. The timed contrast of colours in precise locations on the stage impacts the rhythm of the performance in such a way you are drawn deeper into the narrative. This lighting complements the script’s oscillation between rapid-fire comedy and its subdued, reflective pauses.
Dos Santos’s writing is sharp and, at times, crude but always candid and funny.
Max Pappenheim’s sound design places the focus entirely on Barnett. The absence of a musical soundtrack leaves space for us to lean into the occasionally uncomfortable silence punctuated by Barnett’s sudden shifts in tone and mood. These deviations create a fascinating contrast, amplifying the sensation that something “terrible” could be around the corner.
Barnett’s fluctuating microphone usage is a superb method to allure us. When he places the microphone down and speaks/ yells to us, the façade of the performative comedian falls. This simple act distinguishes the comedian from the person, allowing us to resonate with the emotions he experiences.
Barnett’s performance is masterful. Every word, every movement, every facial reaction is perfection. His energy ebbs and flows as he relays his story of Mr Right, compelling us to become so invested it begins to hurt. Then, as we cry with him, he drops the killer punchline, and our tears transform into laughter.
Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen is the stand-out performance of the Adelaide Festival. With humour that is often dark but relatable, it proves that even without traditional theatrical elements, the right performer and script can create an unforgettable experience.
Adelaide Festival Review By Anita Kertes
Season Closed