Amiable and courageous, Melissa Crotty’s show A Ship of Fools is an enlightening and very well-crafted show which is witty, thoughtful and offers a fresh take on a range of topical issues that face us all.

Cleverly written and performed in its entirety by Melissa, A Ship of Fools is a dry exploration of Melissa’s personal experiences of the insanity of our world today.

Right from the start, Melissa injected enthusiasm into her performance and formed a pleasant rapport with the audience that kept us entertained throughout the hour-long show. I was interested and intrigued by the range of vastly different experiences Melissa openly shared with us, from how to refuse food from dumpster divers to sharing (the edge) of a double bed with Gough Whitlam (fully clothed).

These experiences linked in well with current political and economic issues, with an emphasis on global warming, and this material added to the continuity of the show. I thought this was a fine performance, with no props or music, just pure, low-key stand-up, delivered with passion and insight and genuine laughs.

Given Crotty’s softer voice, perhaps a bit more audio or even a microphone wouldn’t go astray in future shows. I was sitting towards the back and felt a little more voice projection would have helped, otherwise the show was fantastic.

If you’re concerned about the state of the world, go and see A Ship of Fools, a very funny, thought-provoking and original show. In Melissa’s own words, ‘we all need to hope and to stay afloat’ in this rapidly warming world.