Presented by Martin Dockery. Tuxedo Cat. 25 Feb 2016.

 

Martin Dockery is possibly the most mesmerising story teller that I have ever seen or am likely to ever see. From the moment he first assumes the stage and flashes his piercing eyes in your direction you are hostage to his wit, comedic flair and magnetic personality. Above all, you are spellbound by his consummate writing – a model lesson in the use of adverbs and adjectives – and by his exquisite and athletic body language where he uses every muscle and sinew to proclaim a message and embroider every word.

 

He is singular. He is an artist and his paint is a lavish palate of words.

 

The Bike Trip is Dockery’s re-telling of a story by Albert Hoffman, who was the accidental discoverer of LSD. On the day Hoffman ‘invented’ LSD he first tested it on laboratory rats and and observed they became more energetic but appeared to suffer no ill-effect. He then tested it on himself and took what he thought was a small amount which turned out to be a HUGE dose; his bike ride home that afternoon was more exciting than usual to say the least! Hoffman wrote an account of his journey home and Dockery has used it as the basis of his one man show in which he also describes his own experiences on psychotropic drugs.

 

Through the telling of the story you really want to believe Dockery’s idea that mind altering drugs can have the impact of reawakening in us all the yearning to connect with each other ‘minus the bullshit’.

 

I have never known an hour to pass so quickly and for a smile to be etched so deeply on my face.

The Bike Trip is a must see show.

 

Kym Clayton

 

When: 25 Feb to 14 Mar

Where: Tuxedo Cat

Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au