A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism - Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre

Reviewed by Kate O'Sullivan

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A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism is an ambitious and deeply personal work that blends political theatre, family history, magical realism, and mythic adventure into a story spanning three continents and across time. Following three women as they uncover long-buried family truths, the production tackles complex socio-political themes with both warmth and imagination.

The first half is where the show is at its strongest. It carefully establishes a world where reality and myth intertwine, creating a compelling atmosphere of magical realism. Clever stagecraft and well-executed "magic" effects give the production a dreamlike quality, while thoughtful lighting transitions help transport the audience between locations, memories, and emotional states. There is a confidence to the storytelling here, allowing moments to breathe and the mystery at the heart of the narrative to slowly unfold.

One of the production's greatest strengths is the way it navigates between its three protagonists and their respective timelines. Despite spanning different continents, generations, and lived experiences, the transitions feel fluid and intuitive. There is an almost ephemeral quality to these shifts, as characters, memories, and moments seem to drift in and out of one another. Rather than creating confusion, this approach reinforces the production's magical realist sensibility and contributes significantly to the dreamlike atmosphere that permeates the work.

Importantly, the production understands the value of humour. Comedy is woven throughout the piece and provides welcome relief from some of the heavier subject matter. Rather than undercutting the drama, these lighter moments make the more serious themes land with greater impact.

Unfortunately, the second half struggles to capitalise on the promise established earlier. Where the opening sections take their time building atmosphere and intrigue, the latter part of the show races towards its conclusion. The accelerated pace leaves less room for the magical realism elements to resonate, and some of the wonder that defines the first half is lost as plot points arrive in quick succession.

This rushed approach is particularly noticeable in the way the various storylines ultimately converge. While the production is highly successful at moving between the three narratives throughout the show, the final connections between them feel more tacked on than organically embedded into the fabric of the piece. Many of the revelations arrive in the closing moments rather than unfolding gradually across the performance, making the eventual convergence feel less satisfying than the journey that precedes it.

The ending itself feels abrupt, bringing the story to a close without offering a particularly clear emotional landing point for the audience. There is also a sense that several narrative threads are introduced but never fully explored. References, such as the gala invitation, feel significant when first presented, yet ultimately remain unresolved. Rather than creating intrigue, these moments evoke the feeling of a Chekhov's gun left unfired.

The production makes effective use of projected translations for dialogue delivered in Spanish and Hebrew, allowing audiences to engage with the multilingual storytelling. However, several captions appeared slightly late or disappeared too quickly, making them difficult to read in full.

Musically, the show is beautifully supported by a score that helps stitch together the various threads of the narrative. There were some balance issues between the singer and accompanying guitar, particularly in the higher register where lyrics were occasionally overwhelmed by the instrumentation. It is a small technical issue, but one that impacts key storytelling moments.

Performance-wise, the cast delivers strongly across the board. The ensemble handles the shifts between humour, heartbreak, and fantasy with assurance, and the accent work is particularly impressive, especially from performers required to move between multiple vocal styles throughout the production.

While the second half does not quite reach the heights promised by its enchanting opening, A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism remains an imaginative and thought-provoking piece of theatre, filled with strong performances, inventive storytelling, and moments of genuine magic. Its strengths lie in the worlds it creates and the stories it uncovers, even if its final destination feels somewhat less certain than the journey itself.

Image credit: Daniel Grant

Reviewer Note: Tickets for this review were provided by the theatre company.