Friends band to together to stage slain comedian Eurydice Dixon's show
Melbourne comedian Eurydice Dixon had her next show mapped out. It would be called 'Inconvenient Empathy' and explore the notion of a committed feminist sympathising with arguments of men's rights activists.
It would be complex and challenging, as her comedy often was. Mostly, it would be funny.
Eurydice never got the chance to write the show because she was raped and murdered as she walked home from a set at Melbourne's Highlander Bar in June last year.
But at this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival, in a tribute to her memory and unique comedic talent, the show will go on.
The completed Inconvenient Empathy is the work of mates and fellow comedians including Greg 'Duff' Duffield, Sofie Prints and Andrew Roberts, who have taken Eurydice's concept and turned it into an hour-long show at the Old Ballroom in Trades Hall.
It has been a difficult journey for the writers, not only because of the emotion involved in completing their friend's work, but because of its confronting material which, between jokes, explores such ideas as men's high suicide and incarceration rates.
"It would be so good to have done a nice, feel good show," Duff said. "In a lot of ways it would have been much easier if she wanted to do a show about ducks. But that's not Eurydice. She would think deeply about subjects.
"In order to do the show the best justice, you have to be divisive and almost annoy people. I'm out of my comfort zone ... but this was the show she wanted."
The friends have performed Inconvenient Empathy to positive receptions twice before in more informal settings. But thanks to festival organisers, who have waved the registration fee, provided a venue and awarded them funds from the Ralph McLean Microgrant Program, Eurydice's show will now reach a far wider audience.
And would she enjoy their interpretation?
"That's a good question," Duff said. "I hope she would. Maybe she'd think we were stuffing it up and say 'Can't you come up with your own ideas for crying out loud?'
"You really just don't know what Eurydice would have wanted. She had such a unique mind it's almost impossible. ... for us, it's just so important to keep her unique mind and spirit alive."
Inconvenient Empathy also has the support of Eurydice's father, Jeremy, who has established his own company, called Awkward Giraffe, to promote the show and others like it.
The writers hope the show will live on after Fringe and involve more comedians.
It will be staged at 9.15pm on Thursday, September 19 at the Old Ballroom of Trades Hall. Entry is free.
To book tickets visit melbournefringe.com.au or call (03) 9660 9666.