Described as a ‘goofy drag king comedy’, I wasn’t sure what I was in for with Kathy Maniura: Cycling Man. Having never seen a drag show that wasn’t swimming in sequins and feathers, the notion of spending an hour with a single performer on a small stage with a simple set, and not a sequin in sight intrigued me.

Fortunately, what I got was a complete delight. In a fusion of comedy, monolog and physical theatre, cycling is just the vehicle for a delicious satire and razor-sharp evisceration of the metropolitan upper class. It is also very, very funny. Maniura completely embodies the character of Oliver, a MAMIL who has arrived in the emergency department after crashing his very expensive bike and is now in the midst of a full blown existential crisis.

Maniura, clad throughout in bulging lycra and a bike helmet, excels in making what is very nearly a one-performer show feel big, with the action spreading outside the boundaries of the stage, and willing audience members roped into the action. This is a masterclass in stagecraft, with simple props, videos and powerpoint slides all employed to build the picture of Oliver’s seemingly perfect London life as he slowly pieces together just how it all went wrong.

Kathy Maniura: Cycling Man is pure gold and comes to the Adelaide Fringe thanks to support from the Fringe Fund, proof of the need to support artists so we can continue to enjoy hilarious, original live performances like this.

This show is an absolute joy and deserves to be sold out every night. Simply brilliant. 5 stars!

Proudly reviewed by Nat Castree