Review by Steve Bennett

Possessed is the age-old story of a meek, clumsy model boat-building hermit whose body becomes partially taken over by the spirit of a long-dead Irishwoman, with whom he falls hopelessly in love. Anyone who’s seen Steve Martin’s classic film All Of Me will be familiar with the two-character-in-one-body idea, and Woodley convincingly switches between both personas with the slightest of gestures or grimaces.

He also plays the narrator, an ancient Italian mariner who speaks with the same otherworldly huskiness as Noel Fielding’s Moon in The Mighty Boosh, and makes a brief appearance as a gruff blues singer.

The various characters allow him to explore every form of comedy, from repeatedly cracking groanworthy puns, indulging in surreal nonsense, showcasing characters and engaging warmly with the audience. But it’s the truly impressive physical set pieces that stand out in this enchanting tale.

Near the start, Louie Winkelman, our reclusive and simple-minded protagonist takes about five minutes to dozily ascend a flight of stairs. In the wrong hands, his repeated stumbles could seem tediously contrived, but the impishly goofy Woodley pitches it just right, producing one of the funniest visual routines you’re ever likely to see on stage. It’s not just the impressive physicality, but the creation of a complete, empathetic character that makes it so good. Woodley, whose default setting is the hapless dufus, has clearly learned a thing or two from his silent-era heroes.

Similarly justice cannot be done by simply describing other raucous scenes: from the manic chasing of a magnetised rat around the intricate set, or even his take on the classic swinging-plank gag. It’s Woodley’s endemic charisma and artfulness that makes everything work so perfectly. The script may have him possessed by a fictional ghost, but he’s clearly possessed by a great comedy talent, too.

He remains energetic and playful throughout, performing with a metaphorical knowing wink for all but the show’s most serious moments. A brilliant visual design, including some beautiful animations, and classy soundtrack that skips easily from the foreboding to the cartoony help set the perfect mood for this meticulously constructed carnival, too.

Possessed is pitched broadly as a family comedy, but manages to being overly safe or twee, thanks to its solid narrative and a couple of nearer-the-knuckle gags aimed squarely at the older member of the audience that will sail over tinier heads.

Woodley’s quite a comedy star in Australia, helping him fill this sizeable theatre, but despite winning the Perrier in 1994 with erstwhile double-act partner Colin Lane, he has never made any serious attempt to crack the UK market. It would be a shame if that denied British audiences a chance to see this uplifting, high-spirited and impressively funny show. Woodley’s comic genius could easily span the globe.

Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Melbourne, April 2008

Review date: 1 Jan 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett