Closure at a Self Serve Checkout - Adelaide Fringe Review

How do you find closure from being ghosted, and more importantly, can this be found at a self serve checkout?

Closure at a Self Serve Checkout is a witty, comical, and deep insight into the lows and highs of dating people who seem to care little about your emotions, egos which accompany people with seedy moustaches, unattractive virtual representations of yourself, awkward compliments after sex, finding and loving your inner self, and revealing how she found closure from being ghosted. 

In Bobbie Viney’s debut one-woman cabaret and comedy show, she’s here to give you her definitive take on ghosting and share her overly-detailed personal story on being ghosted herself. 

A myriad of songs and monologues accompany an elaborate presentation featuring edgy text animations to help the audience keep track of Viney’s story.

The opening semantics of Viney set the scene as to what stories will transpire over the course of the hour, of which she guides the audience through the various stages of finding closure from her experience of being ghosted. 

Audiences will laugh, cry, be empathetic, and ultimately await eagerly in anticipation as to how Viney’s show title connects all of the stages throughout the show. 

Shifting between the usage of her personal experiences and references to pop culture and modern-day understandings and norms of dating, Viney is able to keep her audience on their feet, even if it means it’s at the expense of her own pain and heartache. 

The usage of her personal experiences as entertainment throughout the show highlights Viney’s background as a performer, actor, and self-proclaimed writer of silly songs. 

Much like the highs and lows of dating and being ghosted, Viney’s monologues and songs draw  parallel between more fun and eccentric moments, and deeper feelings and reflections in tandem, on many instances co-existing within the same song or monologue. 

Like a well put together grocery list, Viney’s use of a presentation is balanced, and seems to sync well with the overall progression of her story throughout the show. 

Viney is cool, calm, and mellow as she turns pain into pleasure for others. Shows centred around the idea of bad dating experiences can sometimes have a tendency to turn into a rant, but not with Closure at a Self Checkout. I’d call it more of a guide on how to get the closure you deserve when a relationship unexpectedly ends. 

With just a keyboard, microphone, and an elaborate presentation, Viney has put together one cracker of a performance for her debut show. Viney is at her most vulnerable self in Closure at a Self Serve Checkout, and her comedic talent, wit, and relatability will resonate with many. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2 

Show information: Closure at a Self Serve Checkout