This 50-minute, World Premiere Lockwood Production is at FringeWorld, in ‘The Flaming Locomotive’ theatrette, opposite the main entrance to the Museum in the James Street Mall.

Curtain up at 6.30 each evening until Saturday 20^th February.

The central feature of the set is a clever combination of a fridge, a bookcase and a laundrette washing machine, all ingeniously combined into a three-sided unit. Another most effective idea from Cherie Hewson, who designed the set and costumes.

The lighting and sound, along with the stage management, was by Andre Van Vulpen.

         ‘Text’     In the middle of the night, a woman (Talei Howell-Price) wakes up to find that her wonderful, loving husband of ten years (Benj D’Addario) is sitting in the kitchen drinking gin. He seems depressed, and has bottled up a Pandora’s Box of emotions that he is itching to unload onto his caring wife.

A very powerfully written piece, filled with genuine tension and written with a duologue that is completely believable. As the act progresses, the layers build on each other until the pressure is palpable. Superbly acted.

       ‘Williamsburg’     a young Australian girl (Emily Rose Brennan) has been on a working holiday in America, where she met a handsome young man (Christopher Sansoni). Unfortunately his attitude to life is a little immature, and when she asks him to come back to Australia with her, this ‘mummy’s boy’ seems less than agreeable.

Most people will regrettably have had a similar relationship, and so appreciate the heartache it causes. Again, beautifully scripted, handled and presented, with some delicately handled emotion that could have so easily been killed by overacting.

A brave move to try something so new for the first two plays and they worked wonderfully well.

      ‘Let’s Launder Together!’     When a young man (Barnaby Pollock) arrives at the laundrette for the hundredth time, he suddenly realises that on this visit – for the first time ever – the girl of his dreams (Salacia Briggs) is sitting waiting for her machine to stop. Should he approach her? Or will he be rejected?

Damon’s usual genre of work, with his precise quality and talented observation in every line. Barnaby captured the depraved young man, who despite his age was still in his pubescent stage. His cheeky grin, hilarious. Salacia played it cool, whilst being equally excited. This script was Lockwood as we know him.

Three plays which gave a good and varied mix. Top class.

A night of huge entertainment was guaranteed – they kept their word.

Lockwood, who was nominated by Actors’ Equity for a Best Actor award, has since appeared regularly in major productions at the Heath Ledger Theatre. Likewise, Sam Longley has appeared at the State Theatre. Both actors work in Improvisation and as a result are very well known for their wacky humour, and fabulous rapport. This kind of comedy is becoming quite rare these days, with the natural quips almost being a thing of the past. The couple have captured the essence of Woody Allen’s old stand-up routine, with clever use of puns, double-entendres and a full-bodied comedy script with laughs every 15 seconds.

If you saw ‘The Godfather’, in one scene, a horse’s head appeared on a film producer’s pillow; this is the ‘true’ story as to how the horse head got there. If you had written a play about the Mafia, where is the one place you would avoid performing the show? Italy!! Not for these two madmen, they took the show to Italy – for an astounding six seasons – and even won the prize for Best Play at the Rome Fringe; before going on to the New York Fringe.

This crazy 50-minute production can be seen at The Studio Theatre, in the Subiaco Art Centre, 180 Hamersley Road, at 7.30 each evening until Saturday 6th June. The show can be seen at a later date in Mandurah and Merredin.

The scene is the Fonzie Brothers’ flat in Miami. There is a bentwood hat stand, a small side table with an old fashioned ‘phone and a large sofa. Set and costume designer, Cherie Hewson, has crafted an amazing prop that had the audience rocking in their chairs with laughter.

The atmospheric, Italian soundscape and musical composition was by multi-award winning musician, Stephen J. Hearne. The well-designed lighting was the work of Andre van Vulpen.

       After a year working in Hollywood, Eddy Fonzie (Damon Lockwood) has returned to live with his rather nervous brother, Philippo (Sam Longley) on the East Coast.

      Philippo, who has always wanted to become a famous and respected gangster, has just been offered a major job by the mob – an offer he can’t refuse. The task is a grisly one (don’t worry folks, there is no gore), a mission he is not too enthusiastic to carry out, however, his brother Eddy is keen to try anything.

Magnificently directed by Damon Lockwood, you find yourself unable to blink in case you miss another priceless expression or gesture. Although probably rehearsed to incredible detail, and performed around the world over seven years, every move and mannerism flowed perfectly, with the performances still having a wonderful freshness to them. The duo’s timing was immaculate, being reminiscent of Laurel and Hardy at their best.

The fast moving show occasionally went into a humorous, slow motion routine. Even though this farce was slick, I suspect that there were an extra couple of private joke lines, with a few additional punches and slaps as these professionals soaked up the audience’s enthusiasm.

50 minutes of riveting absurdity, so seldom seen these days. Definitely worth going to see, even on the wettest of winter’s nights, be sure to go for a warm, feel-good chuckle.