Brimming with humour, vulnerability and an undercurrent of existential unease, it is easy to see why Marcelo Dos Santos’ Feeling Afraid as if Something Terrible is Going to Happen, starring Samuel Barnett, has garnered the critical acclaim it deserves.
Premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022, followed by a 2023 season at London’s Bush Theatre, the 70 minute production was lauded for its sharp humour, poignant writing and compelling performance by ever-enigmatic Samuel Barnett.
Barnett delivers a magnetic performance, bringing to life a neurotic stand-up comic grappling with modern anxieties and the absurdities of the human connection. Commanding the stage with a charisma that is equally captivating and deeply relatable, Barnett cleverly draws the audience into the labyrinth of his character’s psyche.
His ability to oscillate seamlessly between biting comedy and poignant introspection is brilliantly delivered.
Dos Santos’ writing blends dark comedy with raw emotion. The script is peppered with sharp observations about love, fear and identity – making for a story that feels both intensely personal and relatable. The dialogue is sharp and honest, eliciting laughter one moment and heartfelt acknowledgement the next.
Director Matthew Xia brings a deft touch to the production, infusing the piece with an infectious energy while ensuring the emotional weight of the story remains intact. His direction is a seamless dance between the comedic and the profound, allowing the play’s themes to shine without ever feeling heavy-handed.
Xia’s staging cleverly mirrors the inner chaos of Barnett’s character, employing minimalistic yet effective design choices that amplify the narrative’s intimacy, tapping into the idea that perhaps our deepest fears and greatest joys are inextricably linked.
The productions ability to profoundly speak to the shared experience of living with apprehension in an uncertain world, builds to a killer of an ending that many don’t see coming – offering a cracker start to Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival. A must see!
Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen
Fairfax Studio – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Performance: Wednesday 15 January 2025
Season continues to 1 February 2025
Information and Bookings: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
Playhouse – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Season: 5 – 23 February 2025
Information and Bookings: www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Space Theatre – Adelaide Festival Centre, King William Road, Adelaide
Season: 26 February – 2 March 2025
Information and Bookings: www.adelaidefestival.com.au
Image: Samuel Barnett in Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen – photo by Mark Gambino
Review: Rohan Shearn