THEATRE: THE CHRONIC ILLS OF ROBERT ZIMMERMAN AKA BOB DYLAN (A LIE)

You can see why The Chronic Ills of Robert Zimmerman AKA BOB DYLAN (A LIE) – a theatrical talking blues and glissendorf had a sold out run at the Old Fitzroy earlier this year and received critical acclaim at the time as, “A fantastically engaging hour of off the wall theatrical comedy.” Revived this month for the annual Best of Independent Theatre (BITE) it hasn’t strayed from this path. Using everything from monologue, wordplay, song and slapstick, the play recounts the birth of Bob Dylan and his subsequent journey into making art and music with cultural icons like Joan Baez, John Lennon and Johnny Cash. But as the incarnate of the man himself states in the opening lines: “None of it’s true, but it is indeed the truth,” and this cryptically alludes to Dylan’s renowned illusive, storytelling nature. While the play doesn’t enlighten or reveal anything new about its subject and loses the thread of its rapid-fire word rhythm at times, what makes Chronic Ills a unique theatre experience lies with its eclectic structure and the zest to which the performers execute it. Lines and songs are mostly delivered with deadpan confidence, making it a humourous, absurdist romp.

Oct 20–Nov 6, Seymour Centre, cnr Cleveland St & City Rd, Chippendale, $24-28, 9351 7940, seymourcentre.com