Lachlan Werner review: The best ventriloquy show you’ll ever see

Let’s be clear, Lachlan Werner’s name is on the poster but he’s not why we’re here. The star of the show is a small, soft and vaguely malevolent (but ultimately loveable — don’t tell her) witch named Brew.

She’s here to do her nightly ritual by sacrificing a virgin. The virgin is a very meek and demure Lachy, dressed in robes and understandably scared of the spooky sexy ritual Brew is trying to make him perform.

Ventriloquist Lachlan’s command of the puppet (sorry, Brew) is next-to-none. He wafts her around the room, bothering audience members to gather their offerings for the ritual — though this audience apparently haven’t been to one virgin-sacrificing ritual before and have NOT come prepared. Rude.

This is ventriloquism at the highest level. It’s a pretty basic thing to say but Voices of Evil is complex and layered to the point that at times you do forget that there’s only one real person on the stage. And then the other times, when she’s frantically flailing her arms around and attempting to grab hold of a wooden spoon with her little fabric mitts, Lachlan expertly uses her doll-ness to its comic advantage. I think I could watch the two of them high-fiving for hours.

As the show unfolds, Lachlan’s physical comedy and timing gradually become more prominent, turning from nervous witch’s assistant into…something else. It’s a show about queer acceptance, self-esteem and coming out of your shell, but saying too much more wouldn’t be fair. I want audiences to have the same delicious surprise that I did. All I’ll say is this: Lachlan’s versatility as a performer is outstanding and he deserves all the praise for his ability to create such a revelatory show. This is possibly the best ventriloquy show you’ll ever see. I’ve certainly never experienced anything close to it.

Just make sure you’ve got your offerings at the ready: honestly, who turns up to a ritual empty handed?

Lachlan Werner: Voices of Evil is at the Pleasance Courtyard (Cellar), 10:30pm, until August 27th. Tickets here