Welcome to opening night of Masterpiece. Admittedly, according to the introduction, every night is opening night but never mind. This show leans beautifully into a tradition of classic clowning at Adelaide Fringe and is an enthusiastic and energetic performance.

We start with one simple objective: to hang a painting. Who knew there could be so many hurdles? Once our stars (Rae Colquhoun-Fairweather and Will Bartolo) realise they have an audience, it’s impossible to keep them on task. The audience participation is so seamless that you’d be forgiven for wondering if they’re plants, but really our reactions are a testament to the skills of our clowns.

Musician James Tarbotton adds to the hilarity as he live-reacts to the action on piano and violin, without ever dropping his deadpan expression. Colquhoun-Fairweather and Bartolo have the audience onboard from the get-go and have a perfect mix of gusto and subtlety. Kids and the young at heart enjoy the show most, and the room is filled with laughter. So, how many clowns does it take to hang a painting? Well… you’ll have to go and see.