Film Noir Frog
Reviewed by: Nati Ziv
Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
Film Noir Frog saunters onto the stage with slicked-back hair, polished leather shoes and a smart black trench coat, dripping with the cynicism that is so belovedly typical of the genre from his very first line: “This town is dirty…”
So unfolds the horrifying crime that plagues the citizens of this small town: an arson attack has struck the local bowling alley. And who else to be the main suspect but the outcast detective, Film Noir Frog?
This show was a joy to watch from start to finish. The audience is immediately pulled in as interns of the detective, who is trying desperately to prove his innocence to our main antagonist, Morally Questionable Detective.
Obviously, the tone of the performance is established early on as a production which takes itself not-so-seriously at all. Expect witty one-liners, fourth-wall breaks, meta humour and terrible ventriloquism.
As well as the swagger, bar fights and Velcro cigarettes appropriate for the genre, Film Noir Frog has a particularly unique twist that makes it so much fun: the protagonist is a puppet!
I think the only thing that lets this show down is its clarity of communication, especially regarding its plot twists. Other audience members and I were confused about what was happening at the big reveal.
To me, Film Noir Frog perfectly captures the essence of the Fringe as a platform for fantastically unique, creative expressions of theatre. It’s a bloody great watch, the brainchild of a cast who truly love what they do. Go along, bring your friends and enjoy the silliness of Film Noir Frog!
★★★★
