‘The Curse of the Golden Dildo’ is a hilarious, but very much an adult sitcom, straight from the pen of Curtin Graduate, Tiahna McBride. This madcap, dark comedy was presented by Lighthouse Digital Marketing for Fringe World.
This 1-hour show has now finished its season, but it ran at the Hayman Theatre One, Building 302 in the grounds of Curtin University, Bentley. The production ran each evening from the 20th – 30th January and was part of 2022’s Perth’s Fringe.
Because of the language and topics in the show, the Fringe World classification was M and Hot.
Every couple of years, there will be a theatre student who manages to not only try different aspects of the theatre, such as lighting, makeup, costume, acting etc, but conquer them with aplomb. Tiahna McBride is one of those artists.
Whilst a student, Tiahna wrote several memorable – and saleable comedies, her most popular was ‘Help! There’s a Yugoslavian in my Fridge’ and a couple won Fringe Awards.
Tiahna was blessed to have eased COVID restrictions that allowed her to have a full house for each show.
The scene: A modern day, smartly decorated first floor flat in Perth.
The Set: The very smart set was built by Mutta Beilby (?). it was fully furnished, with a musk-pink sofa, a pine dining table and chairs, a sink unit to the right side and a window on the audience left. A shower room was in the wings.
Original dramaturge was by Finley award winner, Matthew Arnold.
The production team was guided by Hayman stalwarts, Stephen Carr, and Leigh Brennan.
Voice over actors: Christian Dichiera was the news reporter and Great grandma Nellie was played by Tiahna’s real-life grandmother.
Stage Manager: Sacha Emeljanow
Crew: Danika Bentley, Laura Davenport (Marketing Director)
Makeup: Creepy demon by Tiahna McBride.
After a few draining months at work, prim, and proper June (Keira Oxby – Murdoch Theatre Company) is ready for a change.
When her Great Grandma writes to tell her that she is sending a family heirloom which has brought her a great deal of happiness, the last thing she expected is a mysterious phallic object. All June knows about Grandma’s past is that she ‘knew’ the British King, George V.
A huge package arrives, leaving June in utter incredulity and bewilderment.
Slowly, shy June finds the courage to tell her free spirit, hippy and totally wild roommate, Sage (Izabella Day – a WAAPA graduate) about the package. June need not have worried, as Sage is a member of OnlyFans, and Tinder so is well informed on sexual matters.
June decides that the item must be destroyed before anything else can happen.
Ellis R. Kinnear – at his best – played the gift’s demonic Ink, with humour.
Director Tiahna McBride eventually brought this show to life, after the course funding was cut due to COVID. After honing the script, Tiahna attended an advanced scriptwriting course, where she managed to develop the play’s dialogue, insert more zany humour, and reduce the number. Then under mentorship, instead of settling for verbal humour, Tiahna had a stroke of genius by inserting a dance routine, when Sage and the Demon brought the house down. Fabulous cast, perfectly selected. Without doubt, this play will tour the commonwealth provinces – we all need a good laugh at the moment.
Brilliant show.