Henry Naylor
Holden Street Theatres, from now to 13 March.
Review – Geoff Jenke
“Martha, I have a great idea for a Fringe show. I want to show some photo’s”
Henry Naylor had machine guns pointed at him, narrowly dodged a landmine, threatened he would disappear in a desert, all in the name of getting his facts correct for a play about Afghanistan. Henry Naylor returns to the Adelaide Fringe for the world premiere of his new show, Afghanistan Is Not Funny.
Using only 2 small tables and two chairs as props, Afghanistan is an autobiographical show about comedian Henry Naylor’s transformative 10-day trip to war torn post-Taliban Afghanistan in 2002. This is naturally just after the 911 events in America. Afghanistan is Not Funny is also a culmination of Naylor’s previous plays, Echoes and Angels, Borders and The Night. It is also the story of how Afghanistan is Not Funny came about, 20 years after his trip. Have we learnt anything about war in Afghanistan in those 20 years? It is a thought-provoking tale, although there are a few laughs along the way as Naylor introduces us to various real-life characters, some very famous, he has met over the years.
The play, directed by Martha Lott, is a travelogue, a slide show and a memoir of the trip, “to get a few facts and take a few photographs”. It is also the first time in more than 20 years Henry Naylor has performed in Australia.
If you only see one Fringe show this year, make it Afghanistan is Not Funny. Being at the wonderful Holden St Theatres, you don’t even have to travel into town to see it.
Don’t miss it. 5 Stars
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