As a performer, Matthew Mitcham is not a natural comic. In Twists and Turns, the cabaret of his own life story, there are numerous jokes and double-entendres that Mitcham delivers with an awkward lack of confidence that leaves his audience stranded for a cue of precisely when to laugh.
The tale he tells of being a “daggy kid” from Brisbane who found fame in competitive diving is not always staged with great clarity, either. Amid the self-conscious gags and audio recordings of his mother, the sudden appearance on stage of a drag artist in a purple wig is a narrative red herring that takes more than a few minutes for the script to resolve.
But if you believe it’s harsh to begin a review of Twists and Turns with some frank criticism, you haven’t seen the show. As a piece about Mitcham’s personal struggle to let go of the perfectionism that won him an Olympic gold medal but almost killed him in the process, acknowledging things that are not perfect are sometimes even more beautiful for being so is kind of the point.
Mitcham was barely more than a teenager preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics when glibly mentioning to a reporter that he lived with his boyfriend outed him to the world. As one of only a handful of athletes prepared to risk sponsorship and endorsement dollars by embracing his sexuality and relationship before the media, Mitcham become a hero to millions – and his diving at the Beijing games an experience of intense personal and public scrutiny.
What the world didn’t know what that as a kid who’d struggled with depression his whole life, Mitcham’s attempts to offset an inward conviction that he was “a nothing” by pursuing personal achievement at the expense of everything were reaching an explosive collision.
This is personal high drama with extraordinary stakes and as such it’s the natural stuff of cabaret. Fortunately, while his comic timing needs a little work, Mitcham’s singing, dancing, and ukulele-playing do not, and Twists and Turns is an impressive showcase not only of these abilities, but also – what a treat – his gymnastic talents, which are played out on a trampoline.
The music direction by Jeremy Brennan (of Jersey Boys renown) is creative and effective, adding touches of Satie and Glass to a musical narrative that provides Mitcham with opportunities to shine through show tunes, chanson – and Lorde. And while the script may never quite make drag sidekick Spanky’s role particularly clear, whatever she’s doing she looks fabulous, is genuinely hilarious – and, as is pointed out – can actually sing.
Twists and Turns is not perfect. It is, however, a highly entertaining hour spent in the company of a fascinating and talented young man whose story suggests that, whatever his shortcomings of any kind, they are unlikely to hold him back long.
- Matthew Mitcham’s Twists and Turns is at the Seymour Centre, Sydney from 26-28 February – more details here
