Words: Alex Grunberg
Image: Hudson Hughes

4 Stars

Lil Wenker as the Western gunslinger Bangtail – sharpshooter meets lover meets existential crisis in the making – enters the stage with confidence and an abundance of energy. As roles are handed out, call-and-responses successfully assigned and hilariously failed, we soon learn that this is a show dependent on enthusiastic participation. And Lil Wenker has the enthusiasm, banter, and clownish physicality to keep everyone primed to embrace their silliness when cued.

Lil Wenker balances comedically enforced consent with zero respect for boundaries as the walls between audience and performance space disappear in the revelry. It is impossible for the audience to guess where the tale is going to go next. At times, it seems that it is impossible for Bangtail to guess where the story is going to go next. And if the chaos sometimes overwhelms, Lil Wenker is happy to find the comedic opportunities in both the planned gags and unexpected encounters. Some of the funniest moments came during the viewer interactions that could never be replicated, making each show unique to its audience-
turned-performers.

Bangtail is a very fun show led by an exuberant performer who is here to entertain, dance, philosophise, and gallop across the stage on an imaginary horse – and that imaginary horse could be you.

Lil Wenker: BANGTAIL
Pleasance Courtyard, Cellar
16:15
Aug 6-11, 13-25