FRINGE REVIEW: "Dancing in the Driveway" is En Pointe

Lady Beaufort is not as grand a venue as it sounds. A character home turned community space and FRINGE WORLD host, it’s a sweet peek into the world of alternative venues. And a house like this; a home, is the perfect venue for Evelyn Snook’s Dancing in the Driveway.

Dancing in the Driveway is vulnerable. It’s personal. And it’s a gem of Perth’s D.I.Y. theatre scene. The set is sparse: a projector and a painted box upon which Evelyn and Be Gosper sit and talk about dogs as the crowd files in. As the show begins, Evelyn paints a picture of her childhood; of a girl growing and dancing. She deftly weaves metaphor through her stories and, before long, you feel as if you know her; as if you’ve grown up alongside her.  

Of course, Evelyn’s story doesn’t stop at childhood and soon we’re following her teenage self as she travels the difficult and all-too-adult world of mental illness and treatment. It’s a surprisingly gentle journey filled with song, dance and poetics; an earnest account of her life, inviting you to relate to and learn from her struggles and path towards wellness.  

This dreamlike pace isn’t without flaw, however. At times, the unstructured nature of the show seems to weigh it down and the stories begin to ramble. As it moves in and out of memories, Dancing in the Driveway feels as though we’re flicking through Evelyn’s diary together. And, at times, we are.

There are as many sweet moments as there are painful ones in this show, but none sweeter than the music of the incredible Be Gosper. Full of love, heart and ache, Be’s music compliments the show and its theme’s in a way that makes this performance unforgettable.

Dancing in the Driveway is a triumph for Evelyn Snook. It’s written and performed with grace and honesty and full of love for the self and others. This is a show that asks you to look inside, find the lost child and let her out to dance under the starlight without fear, without shame, and with a heart full of hope of who you may yet grow to be.

4 out of 5 Stars

Dancing in the Driveway’s final shows of the season are 8th-10th Feb. Get your tickets here.