Review: Infinity Mirror, Fringe 2024

It’s about the millionth Sunday of the Fringe, and I am flagging but Michael Kunze is not. 

Infinity Mirror is a welcome injection of energy and a great blend of long-form comedy storytelling, singing and improv. A bit of everything? Yes, there’s even multimedia.

In Infinity Mirror, I threw ham, gave hi-fives and was shot. I was blasted by a horse.

Michael Kunze’s story is about the surreal rise and fall of a Hollywood movie star. Each chapter acts as a little sketch, but they’re all strung together in a plot arch. 

The show is rated 16+, probably not for the Tom Hanks sex party but just in cumulation of a few scenes while also keeping the improv options open.

Tone

There’s a friendly start to Infinity Mirror that’s welcome and reassuring. However, it’s also an ambush hiding in plain sight, slightly surreal, and soon, Infinity Mirror begins to ascend into absurdity.

I’m going to describe Infinity Mirror as optimistic. In some ways, it’s a redemption story, as much as it’s a warning about hubris. It’s absolutely a critique of today’s entertainment culture, but isn’t that a fun thing to do?

There’s a work ethic in Infinity Mirror that I like. There’s an evident tonne of work that’s gone into it, but there are also in-story rewards for someone who buckles down to get stuff done. Okay, sometimes the path taken is weird, and the results are incredibly odd, but there’s always progress.

Kunze deploys his infectious smile with liberal abandon, and it feels great even when things are getting weird.

What to expect

Underbelly staff told me that Infinity Mirror often starts a little late, but that was not the case for me. We started promptly, with Michael making sandwiches in the appropriately named Delhi Belly as the audience took their seats.

The audience participation kicks off immediately, setting the tone in a reassuring way. 

Expect a series of self-contained adventures or chapters within the larger story.  Michael’s character sets a challenge and then has a wave of victories and successes as events unfold.

There are costume changes, of sorts, at least so that a small pile of clothes will decorate the stage by the end of the performance.

There are songs, dancing, and action off the stage, and it’s very possible support staff will get shot. I think most people get shot. Nothing to worry about.

Overall

I left Infinity Mirror with more energy than I had arrived. Michael Kunze succeeded in transferring some of his zest for life, even if it was a quirky energy, to me.

It’s hard to imagine anyone who likes comedy at the Festival Fringe not enjoying Infinity Mirror. It’s not stand-up, but you can even view each of the bizarre adventures as their own little routine if that’s what  you prefer.

If you still need to see something at the Fringe, even if you have and could benefit from a bit more humour, Infinity Mirror should be on your radar.