By Peter Hodgson
Look, life is hard and we all just want to feel better. Itâs only natural, and nature is comforting. So it makes sense to turn to nature itself to feel better, right? Right?!? Thatâs the question at the heart of Trick Or Treatment, a science-centred comedy show that tracks Alanta Colleyâs investigation of various alternative treatments for the chronic fatigue that can rob her of energy, time, creativity and joy.
Public health practitioner, comedian, storyteller and big brain Colley wants us to look at the parallels between big pharma and big chakra. The ways weâre guided towards specific treatments that may or may not be in our best interests but which are certainly interesting to someone elseâs bottom line. So weâre taken through four treatments from the perspective of data collection and evaluation (weâre informed thereâs another audience watching an empty stage elsewhere as a control group).
 These treatments – homeopathy, acupuncture, some e-meter kinda thing that measures your skin conductivity to apparently determine how much money you should spend on expensive treatments, and psychedelics – are laid out in terms of âWhat are they said to treat? How are they said to treat it? What do the experts say? And what are Alantaâs findings?â
You may expect a certain cynicism going into this show, but thereâs a lot of heart to this story. There may be some alternative-medicine shysters trying to bilk scared people out of their money, but the critical eye is directed at those shysters, not the ordinary folks just looking for something, anything, to help them feel better. We look at the mechanics and dichotomies of homeopathy, the history and applications of conductivity meters, the consumer demand for acupuncture, and the claimed benefits of psychedelics in resetting the worldview. We also look at the placebo effect and how it can be employed to achieve real benefit. And weâre given a first hand rundown of an ayahuasca ceremony from soup to nuts (or rather, from tea to psychedelic mindf**k). But not once do we feel Colley is punching down at those who seek these treatments. Some of the practitioners sure take some hits though.
The show is tied together with a Powerpoint presentation and audio-visual cues executed with perfect timing and wit, from a hilarious chart about the research and evaluation phases of the scientific method to the uncomfortable juxtaposition of elevator music and âŠwell I wonât say any more but if youâre frightened of needles youâll want to bring along a stress ball.
 Trick Or Treatment is a hugely entertaining, educating show, and Colley is such a warm, confessional storyteller that you feel drawn into her world within minutes of the show starting, and thinking about it long after itâs over. You may never want to drink arsenic again!
Trick or Treatment is on at The butterfly Club until March 31
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/trick-or-treatment