(No) Refunds
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Reviewed by: Nati Ziv
Never has a comedy show had me doubled over cackling as much as Katy Murphy’s (No) Refunds. The performance is an interactive game show where one audience member, the star player, competes in a series of increasingly cheeky challenges in order to win their ticket money back. The hostess, show-stopping Southern belle Tiffany Gold, runs the competition effortlessly with her irrepressible charm, razor-sharp wit and stunning… personality. Resplendent in a fuchsia sequin dress and a blonde bob with bright blue eyeshadow, Tiffany holds the spotlight as though she was born in it.
The rather unique premise of the show sets the evening up for an hour of absolutely hilarious entertainment as one audience member becomes a performer, with all the trials that accompany it. Three such trials are conducted in the show, with the intention of highlighting the truths about the life of a performer: judgement, vulnerability and exposure. (No) Refunds asks: how far is this guest star willing to go to get their refund?
On a slow Thursday evening with only ten audience members and no star player, the privilege was handed over to General Admission through a game of chance, and a retired magician took the stage. We, as the audience, had already bonded more closely through the small and intimate nature of the venue.
I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The entire performance was a blast, with the audience and star player loving every second of it, so much so that we all had a drink together after the show ended!
Our three challenges were Trial by Typecast, Deepest Desires and Sex Sells. The first challenge had the audience reveal their first impressions of the star player, who was instructed not to react as the impressions were read out. After five variations of ‘sexy professor’, I was already in tears. Deepest Desires had Tiffany ask the star player increasingly vulnerable questions about their life, and with each answer, we were brought closer together. The final challenge, Sex Sells, saw one brave volunteer leave the stage with the star player for ‘four minutes in heaven’, and the remaining audience would guess what salacious activity the pair got up to (don’t worry, there was a stage tech supervising!).
Having a different star player makes the show fresh every night, not to mention the 54 different variations of the show arising from different combinations of games.
(No) Refunds is an incredibly cleverly designed show in which the audience connects with each other and laughs until their stomachs hurt, yet equally has the uncomfortable reality of the life of a performer brought to light.
This has been the easiest 5 stars I have ever given. It’s clear Katy Murphy is destined for great things, and I truly hope to see her reach the height of excellence she deserves.
