one4review | On 17, Aug 2025

We entered not really knowing what to expect but hopeful; however, The Mequetrefo landed as a mixed bag. Parlapatões offer this fast-paced, minimal spoken-word show in the day-to-day life of four compadres. They start in a makeshift bed, and what ensues is a comedy of errors through a series of classic clowning that will take you back to some really old-school escapades. A giant wind-up key, a classic giant rubber mallet chase with one character stopping to look at the audience and give us an ‘eeep’, and a blazer that just won’t go on, even after several attempts. This really is the show in a nutshell; expect silly japes and nonsense in this Brazilian clowning outing.

The stage is constantly changed using two ladders and various props, a bedroom, and a car. These ladders make up so many sets it’s rather impressive and inventive. The high show never really catches a breath; it’s unabashedly traditional, and sketches are slapstick and move from one set piece to another. There’s a nice channel-hopping section we all enjoyed and resonated with. A warning would be to expect to get wet, more so than usual kids’ shows, and I could see some smaller children not happy with exactly how wet, and neither were their parents.

The cast have clearly done this show and worked together for a long time, as their timing and physicality with each other are clear from the off. Once you get into the rhythm of the show, you’ll either tap your toe at each section, knowing that there’ll be another soon, or you may also check your watch. There’s no one moment that stands out against the rest apart from the soaking, and it may have been nice to see the clowns get a bit wetter than we did. It’s a fun hour that takes you back to classic clowning but is light on surprises.

***

Reviewed by Matthew

Underbelly Bristo Square – Fresian

11.20 (1hr)