Erin Harrington reviews Grifted and Talented with Jim Fishwick, presented by Jetpack Theatre, at Little Andromeda, Friday 11 April 2025.
Multi-hyphenate creative and improvisor Jim Fishwick knows how to get the best out of performers. Their new improv? performance? comedy? humiliation? show format Grifted and Talented (a title both great and triggering) is a clever bluff-based variety show. Three performers show off hidden talents, lie about what they can’t do, and try to convince each other of their (in)capabilities, with points and pride on the line.
The hour-long show draws most obviously from formats like Would I Lie to You? and Taskmaster, but it also reminds me of Fishwick’s earlier, excellent improv show Saboteur, which toured some years ago. This unpicked improv’s collaborative ‘yes and’ formula by asking one of the players to try to undermine scenes without being caught, drawing in the suspicious audience as much as the other players, many of whom were intimately familiar with each other’s play styles. There are some similarly fascinating dynamics at play between Jeff Clark, Riley Harter and Troubadette – the first two going hard with big smiles and cheerful confidence, the latter playing things defensively with a large dose of snark. They leverage their knowledge of each other’s skills, and explore their suspicions / annoyances about each other’s strengths, all of which gets thrown out the window when their hopes and expectations are subverted.
The show’s design goes for a lurid 70s pink and orange palette, supported by some nicely designed animations and slides. Fishwick looks the part of cheerful MC in a very snazzy, garish silver jacket and shoes, and a possibly regrettable red ruffled shirt. It’s a pity there’s not room to do a Steve Parr slide. They are accompanied by assistant Mackenzie Gardner on the scores and the iPad, all sweetness and light. The pair keep things running along at a good clip, offering commentary and provocations plus occasional negging. There’s scope for a bit more music during tasks, which would further squeeze the game show conceit, although I can see that show is already very prep-heavy.
Four rounds build in intensity, as the performers (who may or may not remember what they’d told Fishwick ahead of time) are asked to show off skills, convince others of their (in)capabilities for points, play musical instruments, and then finally go head-to-head. The audience is deeply invested, at times rowdy. Some big questions from the night: can Troubadette, who has already proven herself to be an ace tap dancer, play “Classical Gas” on the guitar, or make an origami frog in under 90 seconds? Did Riley’s time at NASDA include juggling or harmonica lessons? Can Jeff, a Muppet-obsessive, do a ventriloquism act with a gorilla hand puppet that has deeply menacing eyebrows? The most suspenseful: which nerd knows pi to the greatest number of decimal places, and what’s their trick? The tasks give the performers a proper opportunity to shine, or debase themselves. It’s really engrossing.
Grifted and Talented is a riot – a rare show that makes you want to book again for the remaining performances, and to keep enjoying that uncertain space between victory and abject failure. Highly recommended.
Grifted and Talented plays one more show at Little Andromeda, Saturday 12 April, then travels to Auckland, Wellington and Sydney. Information here.
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