Adelaide Fringe: Alexis Dubus – Cars and Girls

After just a few moments in the tiny fringe venue it’s pretty clear that this show is in Rhyming verse. Oh no, here we go (again)! I’ve seen a few in that genre this year. And for me rhyme in theatre just doesn’t do it at all; it kind of creates a barrier rather than pull one completely in. But that said, Cars and Girls does manage (well, actually) to hold its own, tell a good story and show the considerable acting talent of our main man on stage.

Alexis can tell a great yarn and create a giggle or two along the way; and his on the road adventure stands up within the rhyming shell that it dwells. Rather than going against the verse, he goes with it and it brings an almost singing simplicity to the piece. He has a nice voice and that is a huge plus in regards to the poetry form that it’s written in.

It’s all about travel; being on the road, getting into cars and trucks – and yes, meeting and falling in and out with a few girls. We go with him to France, South America and the USA. We get a glimpse of a brothel, a music festival, some bars and plenty of on road stops. We also meet some fabulously amusing characters who come to life as Alexis Dubus plays them, becomes them and talks too and with them.

[pull_left]It’s all about travel; being on the road, getting into cars and trucks – and yes, meeting and falling in and out with a few girls.[/pull_left]

We feel the darker side of life drifting in – slightly; and while in the beginning it seems that this boys own adventure may plunge into an edgy and dangerous underworld it doesn’t; it’s kind of innocent, sweet and human. And that is what makes this show appealing.

Alexis is a nice guy (it seems in the story) and while he snorts a bit of coke with a truck driver, gets wasted here and there on booze and pot and plays with a couple of hippie chicks, it’s all pretty tame (in regards to being young and on the road).

From the Fringe program it seems like this show has seen its solo performer travel around lots to present it. It’s a good show and I can see why it has grown legs. The acting is fine, the script is engaging, the poetry interesting (sometimes) and the journey that he goes on is fun and fresh.

In the end Alexis meets the right girl and falls in love (we sort of know it’s on the cards); and the women in the audience swoon (a bit) and the rest of us smile. The (not terribly complex) show is mainly about looking for love and eventually finding it. And that is a story that (most) people will warm to if it’s done well… and mainly, Alexis Dubus – Cars and Girls is.