The Shrink and Swell of Knots

One man, timber and rope. A story, some life experience and a couple of charming anthems. It’s hard to know what to call The Shrink and Swell of Knots but it’s a sentimental one man show.

It’s a simple tale: Recently a man has died while unlodging a fallen tree. His heart failied him states his close friend, our lone actor. Moved, he decides to make a fitting coffin: one that the recently departed would have approved of… but where to start?

You get the sense that The Shrink and Swell of Knots is work of love from creator and performer Ben Grant. He recently won the Green Room Award (Best Male Performance in Independent Theatre) for another La Mama show last year. It’s a personal and heartfelt message that he shares this time: it’s all about knots. Knots in every sense, but not least the knots each of us tie ourselves up in.

It’s a fun little work although it does seem that taking a critical eye to the piece: giving it a another edit, trim and polish would help it be what it strives for. In any case it’s a wholesome, nourishing dish.

WHEN: until Saturday 19 August; Wednesday and Friday 6:30pm, Thursday and Saturday 8:30pm, Sunday 4:30pm
WHERE: La Mama Theatre, 205 Faraday Street, Carlton
WEB: lamama.com.au/now-showing/winter-2012/the-shrink-and-swell-of-knots