PORCELAIN PUNCH TRAVELLING MEDICINE SHOW Garden of Unearthly Delights Until 17 Mar 2012 Review by Aaron MacDonald “Porcelain Punch” is the first in the Garden’s exclusive lineup of Bikram Comedy shows, where you sit with 30 other people in a poorly-ventilated room the size of my bathroom located about one mile from the surface of the sun. It’s a great idea, because you sweat out about three kilos per show. Jokes aside, “Porcelain Punch” is a revue of half a dozen actors, some involved in other shows in the Fringe, framed as a bunch of travelling snake oil salesmen and carnival acts. They’re here to entertain us, but ultimately to sell us their etonymous ponic, Porcelain Punch (five bucks at the box office after the show). It’s funny in parts, but drags in others. Some acts need to be shortened while, others could be dropped. All the performers are clearly talented, and there’s a great sense of comedic timing most of the way through. There’s a few belly laughs to be had, and some impressive singing and dancing (and hula-hooping). It doesn’t help that the show is located at the very back corner of the Garden. The show will be more bearable as the weather cools, although the production team ought to give serious though to trying to flog off ice-cold bottles of Porcelain Punch to audience members as they go in, rather than as they leave. Entertaining enough, if you like oldy-time vaudeville. Rating: 2.5 stars (out of 5)