Fringe review: Mel McGlensey is Normal
The veteran clown tries to behave ‘normally’ for an hour, with quirky and inventive results. ★★★★
In Normal, Mel McGlensey finds herself trapped inside a simulation, with only one route to freedom: she must behave as normally as possible for a full hour. The problem, of course, is that nobody can quite agree on what ‘normal’ is. So, the crowd need to get involved by choosing categories through cheers and applause to decide what happens next. It’s a playful idea that makes things feel unpredictable. No two performances will be the same and it’s always fun to get involved.
McGlensey is of course a clown with a style that’s expressive and odd. The ease with which she responds to the audience’s choices shows real skill and fully immerses us in her journey to become normal. The production values are high too, created in collaboration with Douglas Wilson who designed and coded an actual videogame that forms the on-screen visuals. If you’re looking for punchlines and polished anecdotes, this show might not be for you, but if you’re open to a bizarre, quirky and genuinely chaotic experience, Normal comes highly recommended.
Mel McGlensey Is Normal is playing at The Bally at Gluttony from February 20 – March 1
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