Review: THE MISS BEHAVE GAMESHOW at Arts Centre Melbourne

Review by Kathleen Reynolds

Ever felt the urge to jump up on stage and do something crazy midway through a live performance? Well, I'm about to clue you into the perfect opportunity to tick that one off your bucket list.

Art Centre Melbourne presents The Miss Behave Gameshow, a super interactive games night as a part of this year's Midsumma Festival. Originally derived from Las Vegas, this international hit show returns to Melbourne to obliterate the invisible wall we tend to draw between stage and audience.

We are into two very important groups: iPhone users and everyone else. Their first success is clear, who doesn't love some healthy competition? Then we're in for a night of the most hilarious contests, brilliantly hosted by Miss Behave. Don't expect to show off your general knowledge skills because this is not that type of quiz. We're put through a number of hysterical challenges that will force you to lose all of your inhibitions and trust me, you will end up doing anything to get a point for your team. There are no rules when it comes to earning points, which allows the audience free range to really use their creativity and think outside the box. It's not simply a show, it's an entire experience.

Whilst there's a loose structure to the night's events, it's largely dependent on how the audience responds, which means every performance is completely unique. What's even more impressive is Miss Behave's ability to direct such an unpredictable situation and build incredible trust with the audience so quickly. We're made to feel comfortable to do absolutely anything and share some intimate secrets with a bunch of complete strangers. In this way, it becomes more of a social experiment that will compel you to let go and just be yourself - no judgement. We can take a leaf out of the book of Miss Behave's flexible and fabulous assistant, Tiffany, who flaunts and flirts her true self across the stage with envious confidence.

Beneath the naked shenanigans and sex talk, Miss Behave has a strong voice of encouragement to her audience members. The show survives and depends on the audience using their voices. If we don't speak up, nothing happens, which Miss Behave reminds us is exactly like life, "the more you give, the more you get". Even their props and set, which is 99% made of cardboard boxes, makes a true statement: we don't need glitz and glam to have fun, all we need is each other. Her little words of wisdom throughout the show encourages us to simply be ourselves, have a voice and ultimately be kind to one another.

To give you an idea of how much fun I had, my face was in physical pain from smiling and laughing for 80 glorious minutes. Don't miss this one, it's a knock out.

Miss Behave Gameshow is playing Fairfax Studio at Art Centre Melbourne until Sunday 27th January 2019.

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