Alice Fraser: Empire (MICF)

Alice Fraser's Empire is ostensibly about quantum physics and the Disney villains who fascinated her in childhood. The Sydney comedian even wears an elaborate black and red sci-fi costume (she mood-boarded "emperor of the universe" and retro spaceships). Indeed, Fraser's giant shoulder pads would make the cast of Dallas - and the whole '80s for that matter - well jel.

But the quantum physics and Disney villains are allegories in a larger narrative. "This show is about power," Fraser states. In fact, following her raw previous shows, Savage and The Resistance, Fraser is still ruminating on her Buddhist upbringing and parental relationships. She again talks about her late mother, who battled MS, and, more so, her stoic father.

Warm and engaging, Fraser discloses that, to this day, she dreads conflict. For her, Empire has become a form of therapy - Fraser learning to assert herself. It also signifies a feminist coming-of-age and gradual awakening.

Fraser's bio emphasises her illustrious background in academia, corporate law and, recently, TV-writing. The much-travelled stand-up has found new fans via her cult podcast, Tea With Alice. It's no surprise, then, that Fraser's comedy should be so cerebral and almost off-puttingly deep. In fact, Empire may be too expository and densely analytical. It feels at times unfocussed, and there is an abstruse breakdown of the difference between "sex" and "sexiness". Later, the musical Fraser randomly performs a song on banjo, which seems to jar with the spirit of the rest of her performance. Nonetheless, the way she eventually pulls together divergent tangents is impressive. 

Fraser's occasionally gloomy existentialism doesn't necessarily lend itself to 'ha, ha' comedy (she is branding it as "art-comedy") and so Empire won't be for every MICF punter. But for those seeking a gig that'll get the neurons firing, it's quality.

Alice Fraser presents Empire, till 23 Apr at The Chinese Museum, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.