Local theatre troupe Scary Goats Theatre are back with The Last Song, running as part of this year’s Melbourne Fringe. The Last Song is an original story written by Chloe Towan and directed by Patrick Slee, which sees two high school friends reunite after ten years apart as the world is faced with an apocalyptic event.
Much like Scary Goats’ last production, The Last Song manages to do a lot with very little and delivers a comedy with a lot of heart, featuring two leads with very strong comedic chemistry.
The Last Song is set on the outskirts of an Australian town on the night that a meteor is set to collide with the Earth, wiping out all of humanity. On this night, Ollie and George meet, reuniting for the first time in ten years.
The two recognise how they have changed and reconcile their past. Framing all of this is a radio show which, in the style of something like the Triple J Hottest 100, counts down towards humanity’s final moments.
Undoubtedly, the strongest component of this production is the performances by the comedic duo Chloe Towan and Liliana Braumberger, who play Ollie and George, respectively.
There is an incredible spontaneous energy to the entire performance. Whether the narrative is at its silliest or its most dour, the duo feel completely locked into each other. If something goes wrong, if a bottle gets kicked over or a bag of lollies spills to the floor, the two work it into the performance like the blunder was in the script.
It cannot be stressed enough how consistently and effortlessly funny this show is. The odd couple dynamic between Ollie and George is the vein of comedic gold that The Last Song mines from the opening until its final bows.
George is a straight-laced and neurotic corporate type, while Ollie is too relaxed and unbothered for her own good. Their costuming goes a long way in establishing these characters. George wears a monotone suit while Ollie wears a mishmash of exotic articles, all topped with a large, incredibly frilly red coat.
In the face of the world-ending event where two lives will suddenly be cut short, a provocative question breaks through the comedy: which one lived the better life?
A lot of time is spent interrogating George’s life choices, and how she has become so self-serious and obsessed with pursuing her ideal of maturity. Ollie, on the other hand, is too laid back to have ever had any real ambitions.
It would be nice to see more time spent exploring Ollie’s shortcomings in life. It feels like the show is saying that Ollie was right and George was wrong, rather than having the two meet somewhere in the middle.
Beyond this and perhaps a couple of moments where the narrative gets too bogged down in philosophy for its own good, it’s a very genuine and heartfelt story.
Patrick Slee’s sound design is the backbone of the production, framing the story through a radio broadcast counting down to the end of the world. The broadcast features an announcer and a curated playlist of songs suited to the looming apocalypse.
As a fun twist, audiences can vote on the final track via QR code before the show begins. This clever device, echoing and subverting cultural events like the annual Triple J Hottest 100, adds another layer to what makes The Last Song such a unique production.
The Motley Spielhaus is a very small venue that manages to pack in a decent-sized crowd despite its size. Set design is suitably minimal, with some small boxes and camping chairs used to create the impression of an outdoor setting. Lighting design, also by Slee, contributes significantly to the atmosphere and establishes this secluded setting.
The Last Song is a very entertaining production that earnestly asks questions about how we choose to live our lives. It shows us that even in the face of the apocalypse, there’s room for laughter, heart, and some cracking good music.
The Last Song is presented by Scary Goats Theatre and runs to 18 October at Spielhaus, as part of the 2025 Melbourne Fringe Festival. Corner Kulinbulok Lane and Berrbang Lane, Melbourne, Vic 3000.
Tickets are available here.
Website: https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/the-last-song
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/scarygoatstheatre
The production from Scary Goats Theatre is A Twist of Fate: Halloween Special, running from 30 – 31 October.
Photo credits: Kate Weston
