Mel Malarkey Gets The Bum’s Rush

A tribute to vaudeville, Mel Malarkey Gets the Bum’s Rush is a gender-and-genre-bending delight, showing Charlie Petch’s range as a performer. Alternately outrageous, wistful, and funny, Petch’s character teeters on the edge of tragedy as the stage is pulled out from underneath the act. There is baggy-pants comedy, musical saw playing, direct appeal to the audience, and good music throughout. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you may even get offered a beer.

Mel Melarkey Gets The Bum’s Rush is a bitter-sweet tale of a performer having to say goodbye and a love letter to Vaudeville. While it appealed to me as a fellow actor, I believe anyone can sympathize with that feeling of having to leave a place where you’ve made so many memories. Oh, and also there’s a lot of comedic parts too. And a music saw! A one-of-a-kind show, I’m glad I got to experience.

in a word, this show is tender
Petch started off cold and nervous before a stone-faced audience, but once warm, the performance was
just all right, actually
delivery too monotone for my liking, never quite breaking free of all the nerves that come with a cold crowd
maybe if we all were drunk*, our favour would have been won and it everything would have been fine
the show sways between oddball Vaudeville performances and tender reminiscences on the era, the latter being stronger, if a little harder to follow
this show is lively and tender, but not juicy
it needed a pinch more consideration towards a bunch of things to get it over the wall of “mmm. ah.”
pour one out* for Petch, for the venue didn’t allow outside drinks
3/5
Watch it? a warm yes, especially if you’re the sentimental type or tipsy*

* The Edmonton International Fringe Festival and Roots on Whyte reserve the right to incapacitate and immolate intoxicated patrons.