Melbourne Reviews

(l-r) Marko Simec, Joel Salom, Jim Dunlop and Erik the Dog. Photos - Jimmy Malecki 

Watching Gadgets is like watching a Hey Hey It's Saturday Red Faces' rendition: there's singing, dancing, juggling, slapstick comedy and of course a touch of the utterly bizarre.
 
Gadgets is the brainchild of former Circus Oz performer, Joel Salom, aka, juggler extraordinaire, who bedazzles the audience with his pants-dropping, ping-ponging, fire-breathing and batten throwing smorgasbord of party tricks.

This charismatic front man is joined on-stage with the wacky Jim Dunlop on drums and Marko Simec on keyboard - who, aside from providing some overly dramatic and aptly cheesy music - work as comic foils for Salom.

Like all good circus-esque performances, each act, while captivating in itself, builds on the previous act - heightening the level of excitement more and more, until the show explodes in a breath-taking/slightly nerds-gone-wild climatic ending.

Show highlights include special guest, crowd-pleasing, showing-stealing Erik the tin terrier Dog, who struts on-stage and shocks the audience with his doggie, toilet humour.

Erik the Dog is similar to David Strassman’s Chucky, in that he serves as Salom’s alter ego, saying and doing the things not even the bravest would say - and subsequently evoking squeals of laughter from children and young teenagers, and causing parents to squirm with embarrassment.

The show blends comedy, physical theatre, live music and wiz-band gadgets, gizmos and sound effects, successfully holding the audience amazed and in stitches.

While slapstick comedy is not my particular cup of tea, if you’re a fan of wizardly juggling skills and impressed by DIY gizmos, this is a show that’s worth checking out.


Marguerite Pepper Productions
Gadgets

Touring nationally until June 08

Visit the Gadgets web site www.joelsalom.com/inside