Review: Em Rusciano at Perth Concert Hall
Em Rusciano's Outgrown Tour at Perth Concert Hall
Friday, July 26, 2024
Australian singer and stand-up comedian Em Rusicano hit Perth Concert Hall on Friday night for her first performance here since 2019.
In the years since we last saw her here, Rusicano's life has been turned upside down by the diagnoses of ADHD, autism, and early-onset menopause. Her 15-date national Outgrown Tour explores her journey in coming to terms with these diagnoses, both personally and publicly, including her powerful speech at the National Press Club about discovering her neurodivergence.
Em Rusciano
As the crowd moved from the foyer and bar area into the Concert Hall, they were greeted by a colourful stage filled with oversized fake flowers.
The show started with a Welcome to Country and a voice introduction for Rusicano from the PA before she entered the stage in a green overcoat decorated with flowers.
She kicked off the performance with a rendition of her song I’m 39, humorously updating the lyrics to reflect her current age of 45. Transitioning into the comedic portion of her set, Rusciano then delivered hilarious jokes about her vagina, the lighting technician, and white heterosexual males.
She then touched on the main themes of the show, including ADHD, autism, and menopause, while also packing in the punches towards her husband and magic mushrooms. While the jokes throughout her set caused tears of laughter from the audience, Rusciano also revealed her vulnerability by discussing the personal impact of her diagnoses. It was the perfect balance of comedy and serious reflection on how both she and society as a whole reckon with such challenges.
Em Rusciano
The show was full of surprises that kept the audience hooked, particularly during the introduction of her song Menopausia, which featured a striking green and purple dragon with red eyes emerging onto the stage.
Rusicano also sang a song about the backlash she received from speaking at the National Press Club, particularly from The Daily Mail, news.com.au, and a true crime podcast, which left her unable to get out of bed for a month. Despite its serious theme, the song was beautiful and showcased stunning harmonies by the vocalists.
Em Rusciano
The show ended on a high note with Rusciano singing her own version of the song Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked. Leading up to the song, Rusciano went through the statistics on cervical cancer, how ADHD people connect with neurotypicals, and the need for neurodivergent individuals to stop ‘fixing themselves’, all while putting green paint on her face.
Outgrown is a hilarious and multi-sensory look at neurodivergent beauty, providing a neurotypical with insight into the world of an individual living with ADHD and autism. Armed with an amazing charisma and remarkable support band, Rusciano is a comedic force to be reckoned with. If you get the chance to see her live, be sure you don’t miss it!
ALEIGHSHA GLEW
Photos by Linda Dunjey
