On a balmy
eve in Naarm/Melbourne the rattle of train upon city line straddled the edge of
development. On the cusp, the threshold, in the basement, or vault as it has
come to be endearingly known, of Speakeasy theatre, a biographical show
unwound.

Thomas
Pidd, a self-proclaimed “Jack of all trades, and master of… well, maybe a
few…” exists as many things, with a plethora of skills, passions and interests
driving his multitudinous being. It was here in the intimacy of the
subterranean cavern he laid forth his performance entitled Complete Chaos. The
show, a critique, a comical and in-depth enquiry into the notion of ‘complete’,
an idea riddled with problematic connotations at the hands of our contemporary paradigm.

Through his
exploration of sexuality, neurodiversity and how a sense of self is woven into
all that makes up modern society, however jarring or assimilatory that may be, Thomas
delivered a show that carried endless giggles, consistent, yet unpredictable
surprises, and a sincerity that allowed for visceral resonance – the intrinsic
humanness of sensing an incongruity within the current zeitgeist.

Threading
the show together was a questionnaire synonymous with the diagnostic tool
applied for recognition of ADHD. A refrain that drove the narrative of the
performance, despite ongoing distraction affecting the protagonist’s ability to
focus on any given task, aspect or question. A meta-expression of
neurodiversity itself. And yet so true in its portrayal, following the ebb and
flow of it actually seemed, well captivating. An ode to the celebration of
neurodiversity, a perspective that should be accounted for and frankly revered
in our society.

All this manifest
in the modes of storytelling, singing, physical theatre, cabaret, circus and
multimedia, the performance paradoxically offered a microscopic expression of
the disorder within clarity and vice versa, a binary, or rather spectrum
ubiquitous in the human experience.

Everything
seemed rounded out by the exceptional costume design, featuring fish nets,
illustrious make-up and high-heeled, pointed-toe cow(person) boots. And so, it
became apparent that neurodiversity ought to be celebrated, particularly when
the creative expression of it is adorned with a puppetry prologue.

A Friendly
Beast is a creative company worth supporting and seeing live, they recognise
that as artists one must wear many hats, and be open to ongoing learnings from
all involved in the industry. A true testament to devoted creatives all-over. This
was a show to remember.