I had enjoyed Alanta Colley’s previous show “Origin of the Faeces” in 2021 and had wondered why she had not done a follow-up show for a couple of years. Surprise! It turns out she had chronic fatigue syndrome and upon exhausting her options in traditional medicine she decided to attempt alternative therapies but also do it via the scientific method.

This stems from her time volunteering in Uganda with a doctor who was using alternative therapies to try and treat malaria. Upon reporting the doctor to the higher ups, they instead emailed the doctor who threatened to sue her for libel and then disappeared.

There are four different alternative therapies discussed: what basically is an E-meter the Scientologists use, homeopathy, acupuncture and a traditional Ayahuasca (Iowaska) ceremony.

She did have rules about if she was going to go through with the therapy including the number one being that it not cause her any harm. Not sure why she did not mention the death during the Ayahuasca ceremony in Australia but that was for several reasons and not just that specific treatment.

Also she does gloss over the fact that in the end she ended up going with a more traditional treatment of exercise physiology which is more diet and exercise (I have done it before, even with the food logs on a colour-coded chart) but she hardly goes into what that involves.

The Ayahuasca would have originally been part of a cultural practice that would have taken many weeks to prepare for and does not really line up with provided as a commercial service. The same with acupuncture is mainly offered from doctors and paid for by health insurance as people want it even though it is more of a panacea.

I did enjoy the show but at the time I was still processing the previous show by Lou Wall which has a massive thing in it that kind of means it would be best not see other shows straight after so my enjoyment of this show suffered.

I have seen Alanta advertised in various science debates and such around the place but never seem able to go. She does seem “adorkable” in her presentation and does not back away from presenting the scientific method and standing on stage in her boots as she is.

Unfortunately this show has finished its’ run already but I would look out for Alanta when she does a show in the future or is appearing as part of a panel or debate as she does communicate her message well.

Rating: 4/5

Show details:

Tickets here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/trick-or-treatment

Adult:

All Tix $39.00

Concession:

All Tix $35.00

Group (6+):

All Tix $31.00

Tightarse Tuesday:

$30.00

Broke Butterfly:

All Tix $15.00

Wed 27 Mar – Sun 31 Mar: 8.30pm;

Tue 26 Mar: 8.30pm

The Butterfly Club – Upstairs, 5 Carson Pl, Melbourne

Show length: 50 Minutes