Bold and bodacious, why wouldn’t I start crowing about Year of the Rooster (the third part of what has become known as The Beast Trilogy by Spinning Plates Co.)? The others were The Crocodile (2023) and Rhinoceros (2024). Year of the Rooster is theatre of the absurd on steroids, with larger-than-life characters that bring attitude. The subject is illegal cock fighting. No beg pardons here – just straight for the jugular. It presents as rich commentary about toxic masculinity, the American dream and a win at all costs mentality.
Dickie Thimble is a wealthy Oklahoma businessman who runs the unlawful racket and has done very nicely from it. He is a spruiker who rides roughshod over his operation and everyone associated with it. Specifically, he seems to have it in for a down-on-his-luck McDonald’s employee Gil Pepper, who is set on training a champion rooster. And now Gil firmly believes he has one. It is a pumped up, aggressive beast named Odysseus Rex (or Odie for short), that Gil feeds Chicken McNuggets and injects with steroids. When we meet Odie – the first character to whom we are introduced – he makes quite the impression. He has an axe to grind with the sun (yes, that which rises every morning), which continues to infuriate him.
Gil lives with his needy, ageing mother, Lou, who smells, doesn’t change her clothes and gets around on a recliner, with a dog on her lap that is barely breathing. Lou has a penchant for a specific Macca’s condiment, which Gil swipes from the workplace where she has been stationed for the past five years. To add insult to injury, when the store manager leaves, Gil is overlooked for promotion in favour of a 19-year-old go getter named Philipa. Philipa has her eyes set on running the whole of McDonalds and then moving on to Walt Disney World Resort. While hardly over the moon about the situation, Gil takes that in his stride because his focus is preparing Odie to fight Dickie’s experienced campaigner, Bat-Dolphin.
Part Greek tragedy, Year of the Rooster is the highly imaginative work of American playwright Olivia Dufault. It is Homer’s Odyssey meets Tennessee Williams and opened off-Broadway in 2013. It is a wild and wacky black comedy that tickles the funny bone from its memorable opening. Some of it is downright hilarious. Part of the joy is in seeing Dann Barber’s off-the-wall costuming, which is loud and proud. In short, it is nothing if not out there. I liked the cardboard-covered circus ring feel of the set, with its three lit up entrances – also the work of Barber.
As for the performances, they are mighty – all of them – wonderfully led by Zachary Pidd as the not all that bright rooster. Their mannerisms are sensational. The incessant patter of James Cerche as the foul-mouthed cowboy Dickie hits the mark perfectly. Jessica Stanley leans well into her role as the derided Gil Pepper, who is in for a roller coaster ride. Sporting a towering, dishevelled wig, containing hair curlers, Natasha Herbert paints a forlorn figure as Lou, who expects Gil to cater to her every whim. And then there is AYA, who transitions most effectively from the acerbic and showy Philipa to an overblown chicken, known as Lady Luck.
There is no calling fowl (yes, the spelling is deliberate) on Year of the Rooster. It is time to feather up and peck your way through the crowds to see a show that leaves an indelible footprint. Highly theatrical, with strong direction from Alexandra Aldrich, it is on at fortyfivedownstairs until 22nd March, 2026.
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Far Away (fortyfivedownstairs) – theatre review
- Venus in Fur (Lightning Jar) – theatre review
- Endgames (fortyfivedownstairs) – theatre review
Alex First is the editor of The Blurb. Alex is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He also contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
